Dating During a Recession by Bob Strauss
In this economic climate, everyone's looking for ways to cut costs - especially singles! Read on for dating tips when money's tight…
So here's the situation: Your health insurance, which cost $150 per month five years ago, has rocketed up to over $400 and counting. It set you back $1,000 per month to heat your house over the winter, and even if you rent, your electric bills are double what they were two or three years ago. And let's not even talk about the price of food, which has been creeping up in inverse proportion to the Dow Jones Industrial Index, or how much it hurts to fill up your car's gas tank every week.
Quick show of hands: Who's ready to go out on a nice, long, expensive date? Anyone? No? OK, then, here are some ideas for money-saving rendezvous that won't scream "broke!" to your dearest beloved.
Cook dinner together. This requires (a) a presentable apartment with a well-stocked kitchen and (b) enough trust on your date's part to tramp up to your sixth floor walk-up on the wrong part of town. Oh, yeah, and (c) the ability to cook, since you don't want the other person to be calling all the culinary shots. Even when you add (d) a romantic bottle of wine, you'll have saved money over your typical bistro.
Take a walk in the park. Just about every woman's online profile references "long, romantic walks in the park," so now's the time to call her bluff. Just be sure to schedule your stroll so it doesn't conclude too close to dinnertime in a part of town lined with fancy bars and restaurants. Business writer Sanford Kahn recommends "feeding the ducks," but this may be a problem if your park lacks aquatic wildlife. If necessary, feed the squirrels instead. A big bag of peanuts costs, well, peanuts…
Sample some ethnic cuisine. NBC Digital's Andrea Syrtash, host of the Internet show "On Dating," recommends Indian, Chinese or Thai restaurants: "Your date will be more exotic and the bill will usually be cheaper." If these choices are still too expensive, how about your local taco stand on a nice spring night?
Go on a bike ride. This one is tricky, because it requires you to own a bike - and owning a bike is tricky, because it requires you to own a helmet, kneepads, an annoying little "get out of my way!" bell, and all sorts of other doodads. However, if you already own a bike and all the accessories, and your date does too, a long bike ride won't cost you anything but calories. Now, if you like this idea but don't own a bike, spend a Saturday afternoon date renting a tandem bike - you know, the classic "bicycle built for two" - in the park. It's fun, outdoorsy and athletic … and less pricey than a fancy brunch spot.
Rent a movie. Great line from The Simpsons' hack actor Troy McClure: "I've been reading a lot of scripts lately. It's a lot cheaper than actually going to the movies!" If you can convince your date to get over that sixth-floor-walkup thing, renting a DVD (or better yet, tuning in something on basic cable) can be a great way to snuggle up and get to know each other. Just avoid anything involving Steven Seagal, giant insects, or ex-cast members of MAD TV.
Flash a coupon. Think about it: If a restaurant really wanted you to use that 25%-off coupon, would they demand that you show it to your waiter, in full view of your date, the instant you sit down? Still, coupons can be a good way to have your dating cake and eat it too, especially if you can wave them at the maitre d' when your gal pal isn't looking. (You can also be honest and suggest trying a particular restaurant because you happen to have the coupon. I don't recommend this, but some people insist it works.)
Just have coffee and dessert. "It's romantic to share your food, and women love to linger over chocolate while gazing into their lovers' eyes," says relationship coach Kathy Stafford. Of course, the tricky part about this is how one goes about scheduling a coffee-and-dessert date without actually having dinner. Since neither of you will want to clean the dishes after dating tip #1, above, this may be a good way to a) avoid your responsibilities and b) show that you still have some folding money.
Move in together. Since so many of the strategies here involve that sixth-floor-walkup thing, show off your financial-planning prowess by inviting your date to move in with you after you've known her all of two or three weeks. That way, you two can split the rent, which may even allow you to occasionally go to a concert or dine out at a fancy restaurant, the way some other couples do.
Skip the reception. If, by some miracle, tip #8 doesn't bring your relationship to a screeching halt, remember that big, lavish, 500-guest weddings only impress in-laws and wedding planners looking to trade up their SUVs. Eloping will save you $10,000, minimum - so, as newlyweds, you can finally indulge in all those fun dates you had to scrimp on when you were getting to know each other in the Recession of 2008.
Bob Strauss is a New York-based freelance writer and the author of Who Knew? Hundreds & Hundreds of Questions & Answers for Curious Minds.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlematch.aspx?cp-documentid=13426454>1=32023
So here's the situation: Your health insurance, which cost $150 per month five years ago, has rocketed up to over $400 and counting. It set you back $1,000 per month to heat your house over the winter, and even if you rent, your electric bills are double what they were two or three years ago. And let's not even talk about the price of food, which has been creeping up in inverse proportion to the Dow Jones Industrial Index, or how much it hurts to fill up your car's gas tank every week.
Quick show of hands: Who's ready to go out on a nice, long, expensive date? Anyone? No? OK, then, here are some ideas for money-saving rendezvous that won't scream "broke!" to your dearest beloved.
Cook dinner together. This requires (a) a presentable apartment with a well-stocked kitchen and (b) enough trust on your date's part to tramp up to your sixth floor walk-up on the wrong part of town. Oh, yeah, and (c) the ability to cook, since you don't want the other person to be calling all the culinary shots. Even when you add (d) a romantic bottle of wine, you'll have saved money over your typical bistro.
Take a walk in the park. Just about every woman's online profile references "long, romantic walks in the park," so now's the time to call her bluff. Just be sure to schedule your stroll so it doesn't conclude too close to dinnertime in a part of town lined with fancy bars and restaurants. Business writer Sanford Kahn recommends "feeding the ducks," but this may be a problem if your park lacks aquatic wildlife. If necessary, feed the squirrels instead. A big bag of peanuts costs, well, peanuts…
Sample some ethnic cuisine. NBC Digital's Andrea Syrtash, host of the Internet show "On Dating," recommends Indian, Chinese or Thai restaurants: "Your date will be more exotic and the bill will usually be cheaper." If these choices are still too expensive, how about your local taco stand on a nice spring night?
Go on a bike ride. This one is tricky, because it requires you to own a bike - and owning a bike is tricky, because it requires you to own a helmet, kneepads, an annoying little "get out of my way!" bell, and all sorts of other doodads. However, if you already own a bike and all the accessories, and your date does too, a long bike ride won't cost you anything but calories. Now, if you like this idea but don't own a bike, spend a Saturday afternoon date renting a tandem bike - you know, the classic "bicycle built for two" - in the park. It's fun, outdoorsy and athletic … and less pricey than a fancy brunch spot.
Rent a movie. Great line from The Simpsons' hack actor Troy McClure: "I've been reading a lot of scripts lately. It's a lot cheaper than actually going to the movies!" If you can convince your date to get over that sixth-floor-walkup thing, renting a DVD (or better yet, tuning in something on basic cable) can be a great way to snuggle up and get to know each other. Just avoid anything involving Steven Seagal, giant insects, or ex-cast members of MAD TV.
Flash a coupon. Think about it: If a restaurant really wanted you to use that 25%-off coupon, would they demand that you show it to your waiter, in full view of your date, the instant you sit down? Still, coupons can be a good way to have your dating cake and eat it too, especially if you can wave them at the maitre d' when your gal pal isn't looking. (You can also be honest and suggest trying a particular restaurant because you happen to have the coupon. I don't recommend this, but some people insist it works.)
Just have coffee and dessert. "It's romantic to share your food, and women love to linger over chocolate while gazing into their lovers' eyes," says relationship coach Kathy Stafford. Of course, the tricky part about this is how one goes about scheduling a coffee-and-dessert date without actually having dinner. Since neither of you will want to clean the dishes after dating tip #1, above, this may be a good way to a) avoid your responsibilities and b) show that you still have some folding money.
Move in together. Since so many of the strategies here involve that sixth-floor-walkup thing, show off your financial-planning prowess by inviting your date to move in with you after you've known her all of two or three weeks. That way, you two can split the rent, which may even allow you to occasionally go to a concert or dine out at a fancy restaurant, the way some other couples do.
Skip the reception. If, by some miracle, tip #8 doesn't bring your relationship to a screeching halt, remember that big, lavish, 500-guest weddings only impress in-laws and wedding planners looking to trade up their SUVs. Eloping will save you $10,000, minimum - so, as newlyweds, you can finally indulge in all those fun dates you had to scrimp on when you were getting to know each other in the Recession of 2008.
Bob Strauss is a New York-based freelance writer and the author of Who Knew? Hundreds & Hundreds of Questions & Answers for Curious Minds.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/relationships/articlematch.aspx?cp-documentid=13426454>1=32023