So, here are the facts people: dating is expensive.
Even WITHOUT eating out this shit ain’t cheap.
And maybe it would be cheaper if I were eating out? (Not likely)
As I’ll probably let most of you know when I re-open my dating blog (should happen next week I should think), I’ve been going on quite a few dates. I have a new theory/philosophy about dating and am embracing it with arms wide open.
The only down side is that I’ve been on what seems like a million dates in 27 days (okay, really only 6 dates) – and I always insist on paying for at least my half (Not in a pushy way, just in a “this is our first date” kinda way). I have been bowling and to comedy clubs, to bars and to see bands and even on coffee dates. And man, I am definitely going to have to start budgeting for this if I want my money life and my social life to both work how I want them too!
Who knows though, maybe I’ll get lucky and find some really nice guy and we’ll date in comfortable frugality for the next few months to the rest of my life (don’t really want to put any hard time lines on this hypothetical man I haven’t met yet or have only gone on 1-2 dates with).
I’ll definitely have to start looking in to some free/cheap date options. Suggestions are, of course, always welcome! Especially winter suggestions, cause I don’t really want to be spending a “get to know you” date outside freezing my ass off. 😉
Small Steps for Big Change 
Yeah first dates tend to be expensive.. in fact the first three months of dating in general is expensive because there’s all this obligation to “do stuff.” Hopefully you’ll be able to marry these two things: social list and money (pun intended). 😉
brewery/winery. best date eva, free drinks (usually) and usually free tour….well at least the ones i’ve been too.
museums of course….
wine/cocktails at home!!! that’s my fav date. 🙂
and this is totally lame, but a lot of times Lloyd and I will act like we’re in college again and play drinking games or poker (with drinking) just for fun at home. It makes us feel young again and gets us a little tipsy. I think this would be fun for the early-daters!! 🙂
I don’t miss those days! It’s the beginning of a relationship that’s most expensive! Well, until you get to the engagement/wedding planning part. Being frugal extends to dating, it’s who you are, so a guy you’re dating will just have to deal with it, right? 😉
Oooh! Looking forward to hearing about your dating adventures.
so so so expensive! I’m looking forward to your other blog re-opening! It’ll be great to read about your adventures
I just wrote about how working is expensive. I guess it’s official, life is expensive!
i don’t think dates HAVE to be expensive. we’re just accustomed to doing the usual things… dinner, movies, etc. It can be something like taking a hike, a walk, skating, just a simple coffee. It just means more creativity.
I hear ya! But I don’t mind letting the guy pay haha! At least, I didn’t last night, but the date went really really well and we have scheduled a second for Saturday.
I went on one last summer and the guy wanted to pay, I let him but felt awkward about it because I wasn’t really that into him so I felt bad…but oh well. Chivalry is nice!
Can’t wait for the dating blog to be back up! Woo!
I think the best first date I ever went on was a walk down the main shopping streets in the city I lived in at the time. We went into all the stores and pulled out books and CDs and such that we liked or thought were funny or whatever. We learned a lot about each other and laughed a lot too. It started because he was looking for a CD for his sister and kind of went from there. Sadly the guy left to work on a cruise ship a few weeks later. I’ve got B now though, so I won’t complain!
Watching a hockey game at your house, having a bottle of wine and colouring (my favourite date), making something at home (on the cheap), going sledding, visit an animal shelter, going for a walk, hot chocolate date, skating at the local arena or on the water, go to a winter carnival. Wow I sound pretty Canadian.
Love the brewery idea as well. I went to Steamwhistle in Toronto and they gave us each two free drink tickets and offered free tours.
Hahahaha yes, you sound exceptionally Canadian right now!
Yep, dating is expensive. It’s even worse when you’re the guy and there’s a decent chance you’ll end up paying more than half.
Winter dating is more expensive than summer dating, because it rules out outdoor recreation dates. It’s a shame, because hiking/biking is a great way to get to know someone on the cheap, and even if it doesn’t go all that well at least you got a workout!
It can be monotonous, but the best way to have a lot of first dates cheap is the coffee shop date. Get a regular coffee or tea. Most places you can even tip and come in at $3. You can nurse one drink for an hour or two.
It really depends what you want to get out of it though. Dating can be a fun excuse to try new things, although again, trying new things isn’t always cheap. 2-3 dates a month can probably be covered by your entertainment budget, but more than that and you may need to make a separate category.
I’d let your dates pay. You won’t be young, attractive, and single forever; you might as well enjoy the perks while you can.
Can I just say, I’m so glad you are opening the other blog back up? I thought you locked me out or something…was it something I said? LOL. They are expensive, so you should consider staying in. Making dinner for two, massages, movies! Keep the expensive to maybe once a month or once every two months.
You have to earn your right of passage I suppose. You’ll get there. It’s just a matter of finding the right person who has the same conscious mind that you do. Bringing it up and talking about anything to do with money is an iffy topic until someone cracks which can take from weeks to months to years.
I hear ya though, I totally do (Eating Out is the biggest money hole that I contribute to right now each month), and I don’t expect it to get any better anytime soon.
Come visit my blog at http://moneyhoneysf.blogspot.com/
I’m trying to cut my eating out expenses too. DH and I eat out everyday for lunch since we’re too lazy to bring any leftover from dinner. But my goal this year is to try and eat out less or if I do eat out, instead of eating $10 lunch, maybe cut that in 1/2 to $5.