The Great 'Cheap Date' Hunt

[MSE Martin]

Spring may be long passed, but single men and women of all ages are still on the look out for romance (ok, ok not always romance, but my grandma may be reading). !

Unfortunately impressing a prospective isn't always easy if you're budgetting, so I thought it time to tap the collective knowledge and creativity of MoneySavers to see what we could come up with - to help all those looking for love (see grandma comment above).

Stories of successful past cheap dates most welcome too

[trafalgar]

SG has got this one ........half a lager and a packet of crisps ;D
Cheap,maybe not successful

[Mrs Thrift]

You can't beat a good ole' fashioned pic-nic!

Even if it's only a bag of 5 for £1 jam doughnuts in the city park! That was one of my favourites, especially as it was for no particular reason and Mr Nearly Thrift made me close my eyes as he drove me there so it was a surprise.

That's got to be a favourite summer date.

And in the autumn I love feeding the ducks in the park with leftover bread (love the trees in the park as they're turning.)

Visiting botanical gardens is perfect in the spring when the sun's shining but it's not that warm outside yet.

Walking is good at any time of year, but in the winter you can't beat walking in the sharp cold, especially if it's frosty or snowing - in the park, round the streets, in the countryside, anywhere - all wrapped up warm and holding hands, followed by a nice hot chocolate. Mmmm.... ;D ;D ;D

Ms Thrift
(Secretary of the Midlands Branch of Romantics Anonymous)

[deronda]

A nice walk along a beach (if you have one nearby) does not matter if it is cold - you can keep each other warm. Followed by a nice hot cup of tea. Not heart stopping stuff but really nice.

[Darryl]

Are you trying to tell us something Martin... ;-)

Darryl.

[Sarahsaver]

Cheap? Free! For women anyway...
The man should pay for everything on the first date
And every subsequent date until you are married
Otherwise it isnt the date thats cheap, its the relationship.
Women - we need moneysaving men but not skinflints.
controversial and old fashioned maybe but ive had my fingers burnt (and pockets emptied) by a couple of men who wouldnt have bothered if I didnt then have gone halves or paid for everything.
Come on I can hear it now, someone gearing up to have a go at me... ;D


IMPORTANT NOTE INSERTED BY MARTIN
The above question is an interesting and important one - however to keep this discussion on track on "cheap dates", i've started a separate discussion on 'who should pay" - to go there instead please click here

[rach]

i once went on a first date where the guy suggested (when we were already out) eating at Burger King, and when i declined we ended up settling on pizza hut....and he then insisted on checking out whether he could get 10% off woth his (mature) student card before we went in (it was only the £6 buffet at the end of the day!). i'm all up for moneysaving but i think thats taking it a bit far... needless to say we never progressed to a second date.

i think that the picnic idea is a nice one, and i'd be up for a bike ride or similar on a date (as long as they weren't loads fitter than me!!)

[Mrs Thrift]

Oh Rach, I'm not surprised there was no second date! Burger King is definitely NOT the way to impress a lady!

OTOH, when Mr NT and I were really struggling in our first flat on about tuppence ha'penny a week (or thereabouts) we would make a big deal out of saving up our pennies to go to a cafe for lunch, or to the cinema on cheap night, or out for a drink during happy hour, and always had a fantastic time.

Depends on the way you deal with the cheapness, I suppose, and wether only one of you or both are cheap......

[MSE Martin]

I was wondering why my Kentucky with a voucher technique was failing

[Fran]

It's not the voucher that's the problem as some people have less money than others and some save their money, but it could be that KFC isn't appealling, especially on a first date, though it could give you something to talk about for a long time afterwards. But if you want a date I would avoid the topic of KFC altogether.

For true romance, it wouldn't matter how much anything cost, but I would expect interest to be shown in some way. Something as simple as good old flowers or something that makes the other person think you have thought about them. (Though check out whether the person likes flowers, someone I know can't stand them and she would be better wooed with a present of weedkiller!)

[Edinburghlass]

Martin, you are with Orange.......text 241 with the word film and next Wednesday you can take a "friend" to the cinema for free

[rach]

I was wondering why my Kentucky with a voucher technique was failing

is that the one from the back of a car park ticket...

to be honest its not the money thats the issue, more the lack of thought / imagination ... i can report that i've been on much better dates since!!

yes fran - flowers would always be a winner though a bit ott on a first date perhaps!!

[Fran]

Perhaps as a moneysaver it should be a plant not a flower so it has longer use. If it doesn't work out the plant could be dug up furiously and left on a park bench for another person to find next to a book being given away!

[Sarahsaver]

Do i take it that having instigated this thread Martin is looking for 'love'?

Cheap dates are ok once the relationship is established, how about a picnic in the park, getting some childhood favourites like snaps and midget gems, topped off by a bottle of panda pops. It worked for me, once LOL ;D

[filigree]

I've got a great book called "London for Free" which lists all kind of free places for a day or evening out. You could always look in the free Metro paper, or use the library's copy of Time Out!

Art galleries and museums are often free. They make a good date because you can impress your new squeeze by being all cultured

Another suggestion is to get free tickets to be in the audience of a radio or TV show. Unfortunately it might be a bit hard to co-ordinate the show with the timing of the date. It would make a good chat up line though, the good old cliche "I've got a spare ticket for X, want to come?".

Of course you could always just invite them round for dinner and *koff* a nightcap

[Pal]

Or forget dinner and just invite then round for a nightcap. The success rate is fairly low for first dates but, but for subsequent dates it can often be very cheap.

Alternatively, try having a child. Then you can forget going out entirely.

Nightcaps tend to go out the window as well.

[emmajames]

If you're into sport, suggest training together which, depending on your chosen sport, could be economic, especially with water to rehydrate and the added bonus of being able to assess your date's level of stamina

What about some proper tips.Has anyone tried the dating websites.Can we do a survey on what works and what is commercial crap?

[dark_star]

Ok here are some of the usual ingredients...and all free:

Dinner

Movie

and last but not least..

Condom

:

I liked this page although i do actully need a date first!! Martin are you free

mandi x