How to Date On a Budget

wheretofind Are you on a tight budget? A little creative thought on your part, and a laid-back, open-minded person, can make a great date, and still leave some change in your pocket. Plus, it's a great way to make sure you're not dating a gold digger!

Steps

 * 1) Take a walk. Whether it's in a park, or downtown, or wherever, walking for the sake of walking is a good way to see how you and your date get along. Can you two hold a conversation? Are your silences uncomfortable, or do you glance at each other and smile?
 * 2) Go hiking. If you and your date are nature lovers, this is the ultimate cheap date. All you really have to pay for is gas to get to the hiking trail, and snacks. Make sure you are prepared, though; bring water and wear layers.
 * 3) *Want to make it memorable? Go barefoot hiking.
 * 4) *Don't get lost. Even if you impress your date with your survival skills, it'll still be more of a stressful experience than anything else.
 * 5) Take a photography tour. If you don't have a digital camera, buy a few disposable ones -- they're not that expensive. Then wander around and take pictures. This is best for creative, fun-loving types. You can take pictures of each other in wacky poses with all kinds of faces; you can photograph things big and small, from unique angles. And you'll have something to remember the date by - how romantic!
 * 6)  Hit the books. Spend a few hours at a local bookstore or library. Talk about your favorite books. Browse the art and photography books and point out what you each like. Giggle at the section with all the sex books. Go through architecture books and talk about which houses you like. Be as corny or as intellectual as you'd like! ...If you're not bookworms, go to a music store instead!
 * 7) Make dinner for your date. A meal made from scratch can actually be quite inexpensive, as well as delicious. Making gnocchi, for example, just calls for flour and potatoes. Throw in a few candles (and perhaps some home brewed wine?) and you've got a romantic dinner on your hands!
 * 8) Go ice skating. It's a great excuse to hold hands!
 * 9) Play pool or darts. The best place for this is a bar. If you go during happy hour, you can get cheap drinks and food too.
 * 10) Go to a pick-your-own farm. Pick berries, pumpkins, fruit...or maybe even milk a cow! Bonus points if you can use your fresh-picked produce for a home-cooked meal.
 * 11) *If there are any wild edibles in your area, like dewberries or wild rice, go for that!
 * 12) Visit wineries. Some offer free tastings, others charge a few dollars. If you get free wine glasses out of it, that could make for a nice memento. (Psss...if you're not really into wine, read How to Acquire the Taste for Wine and How to Taste Wine before embarking on this date.)
 * 13) Check out the local music scene. If you live in a medium or large city, there are probably plenty of bands that put on free shows, or charge around a $5 cover and are great.
 * 14) Take a dance class together. Many dance studios and instructors offer free or low-cost beginner group lessons. Consider swing, salsa, or (for a little extra intimacy) tango.
 * 15)  Hit the gym. Many gyms offer a free day pass for you to "test" the facilities. Challenge each other with weight training, take a yoga or aerobics or spinning class together, and splash around in the pool.
 * 16) If there's a minor league sports team nearby, go to a game. Tickets to these events are often only a few dollars, and are a great way to spend the afternoon or evening.
 * 17) Check around your community for independently-owned or discount movie theatres. Tickets will cost less (often only two or three dollars), as will concessions.  In addition, these theatres will be less crowded, so you're less likely to get stuck behind someone tall or in front of someone loud. Alternatively, you can always borrow movies from your local library!
 * 18) Check out your local zoo or museum; usually these are inexpensive places to go on a date and explore a little. Occasionally, these places will also have free days. Some are free every day!

Sources and Citations

 * Marie Claire - Research source.

Source: http://www.wikihow.com/Date-On-a-Budget