Local Theatre

Almost every town, big or small, has a local theater production company. These are amateur actors and directors who are putting on plays simply for the love of it. As a result they may not be the most polished piece of theatre you’ve ever seen, but generally the ticket prices will be very reasonable. A lot of times these productions are held in community centers or, during the summer, outdoors. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours with your sweet-heart. Bring along some snacks and drinks.

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Open Mic Nights

There are a lot of coffee shops that host open mic nights. This is an event where local musicians take turns playing songs for the audience. A lot of the performers are just getting started at live music. Most open mic nights don’t charge any kind of a fee to get in, so this is a great way to see live music on a budget. As a bonus, occasionally you will catch a real talented up and comer who is just getting started and then you can say “I saw them back when they were playing open mic nights!”

Picnic in the Park

Packing a picnic is a great way to impress your potential significant other. Nothing says you care like a hand-packed meal. In addition to the food you’ll also want to make sure to bring dishes, silverware, napkins and a nice big blanket. You might also want to consider tucking a bouquet of flowers into your picnic basket!

A Local Baseball Game

A lot of towns have local baseball teams; teams that play at the semi-professional level. This might be a hard sell for those who aren’t into sports – but if you can convince your honey to go to a local ballgame with you, you will get to spend several hours of time together for a reasonable price. The thing to keep in mind is that you’re not really going to see the game, you’re going to spend time with your partner. On that note, don’t get too carried away with the ball-game – yelling and screaming or getting real drunk generally don’t make a good impression.

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Museums

Museums are a great, inexpensive way to spend some time with your sweetie. It doesn’t really matter what kind of museum, an art museum is just as good as a natural history museum in terms of generating conversation. Museums are generally air-conditioned, so this is a great way to spend a hot summer day. Plus you can really get to know someone from the conversations that may be generated over a painting or an exhibit.

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Miniature Golf

Putt-putt golf is another reasonably priced way to spend an afternoon or evening. For a few dollars you can spend a couple of hours navigating the twists and turns of the course. Helpful hint: You might want to let your partner win!

Keep in mind that the goal isn’t the activity itself – the goal is to spend as much quality time as possible with someone you care for. No matter what it is you are doing, if you are able to enjoy your partner’s company, then your date should be considered a success!

I’d love to see other ideas for economical dates posted after this article – so if you have any ideas, comment below!