1. Movie/Gamer Night
Blockbuster can suck it.
The library can actually be a great resource for free entertainment. Borrow a selection of DVDs and make it a Movie Night! And as I have recently discovered, some libraries stock video games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii. You can also try Gamer Night. Rock Band is one of those games that will go for hours.
I warn you that this is a you-can’t-plan-ahead type date. You might have to order the items online through the library catalogue and then wait to have them sent to your nearest library branch. You might also look like a real cheapskate and have to make up for it with booze.
If you live in a nice part of the United States, you might live close to a Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s is a moderately-priced gourmet food store that sells wine for $1.99 - $3.49 per bottle, depending on the region.
2. Go for a REALLY long walk.
Walk around the downtown core for an afternoon. In Toronto, you can hit Harbourfront, circle around to Chinatown, then UofT before calling it a day. Carry bottled beverages for the two of you, then buy your hot dog for $2.50 each.
If you’re close to one, long walks on the beach are romantic. They’re also free, will help tone butt muscles when walking in the sand, and set the mood for great conversation. When the silences are awkward, just stare at the water longingly, and say things like:
“Wow, it’s so blue …”
“Look at those surfers …”
“Is that a shark?”
If you’re really desperate for topics, it can be fun to play the “What Would You Rather Do?” game. I like to start off with the question: “Would you rather be sunburnt on your ass or the soles of your feet?” If you have the actual game, some of the cards might be fun to take along, rather than making them up yourself.
3. Homecooked brunch at home.
Advocates for cheap dating will highly recommend the homecooked meal to show off your culinary skills. I’m a big proponent of the brunch date. And here’s how to do it for under $5.
Bacon: $1.50 per package
Eggs: $2/dozen
Bread: $2/bag, even less.
Milk: $4/2 L
You’d really only use half the ingredients if it’s for the two of you, so I stand by my headline that you’d spend less than $5. If you don’t have the cooking skills, IKEA still has that $1 breakfast deal.
4. Game Show Night – a twist on the old “play a board game” suggestion
Different from Gamer Night, which requires a console, spend an evening with an online gaming site. My personal favourite is www.Shockwave.com where you can sign up for a free 10-day trial. Dive into two-player games like Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Battleship, Jeopardy ... the list goes on.
If you have the right cable, you can even hook up your computer to your TV screen and play with a huge monitor.
5. Make a sexy dessert
Chocolate-covered strawberries and bananas are surprisingly inexpensive to make.
If you get it at the right place and time, a decent number of strawberries can go on sale for $2.50/carton, about the size of a small brick. Bananas are only $0.67-$0.76/pound, and if you time it right, a pineapple can cost just $1-2.
Try a bulk food store for chocolate wafers or chips which can melt down fairly easily, otherwise, a package of chocolate chips can go on sale for as little as $2. The package is about the size of an external hard drive.
Here are some easy instructions:
a) Line a large plate or cookie sheet with either wax paper or foil
b) Prepare the fruit of choice (wash, hull, slice, etc.)
c) Melt down the chocolate (use a low setting in the microwave with short increments or a heat-safe container over another container of boiling water) (email me for more details or Google “how to melt chocolate”)
d) Cover fruit with chocolate.
e) Place chocolate-covered fruit on plate/cookie sheet with ample room in between.
f) Freeze.
Clean up at a leisurely pace to give the chocolate enough time to harden. Make small talk, pour some glasses of water, take a short walk (also free), then return to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Perhaps next up: Cheap Date Ideas That Won’t Actually Last More Than a Half Hour (so will end up costing you more than $5 when you choose to do something better.)
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