Given the current state of the economy, people may not always have extra money to spend on dating. This in turn forces them to either stop dating altogether, or come up with creative dating ideas that do not cost a fortune. If the recession is taking a toll on your dating life, these recession dating tips may offer you some help.

Catch the Early Movie

If you and your date want to see a movie, you may want to consider attending one in the afternoon. Most movie theaters offer matinee prices until early evening, which are considerably lower than later shows’ prices. Early movies are also a great idea if dinner is going to be a part of your date. You and your date will be much less likely to purchase pricey popcorn and snacks at the theater if a delicious dinner is in the works.

Watch for Dining Promotions

Anyone who has eaten at a restaurant knows that dining out can be very expensive. Luckily, many popular casual dining chains offer promotions that make dining out much more affordable. Watch for promotions that offer two dinners for one low price, or a 3-course dinner for the price of one regular entrée. It is a good idea to check the websites of your favorite restaurants. You will not only find out about the latest promotions, but you may find coupons that will save you money as well. It can also save you money to dine out earlier in the day when lunch prices are still in effect. This is because lunch prices are normally lower than dinner prices.

Have a Picnic

Having a picnic is a great way to spend some alone time with your date and save money. By packing your own food and drinks, you will avoid paying high restaurant prices. Pick a place that both you and your date enjoy, then eat, drink, and chat the day away. If you and your date enjoy hiking, you may think about incorporating a picnic into your hike.

Attend a Semi-Pro Sporting Event

Professional sporting events can be extremely pricey to attend. If you and your date are sports fans, why not consider attending a semi-pro or even local sporting event?  Semi-pro and local sports can be just as exciting as pro sports, but they are typically very reasonable in cost. Many sporting events offer free admission once the game has begun, so that is something to check into as well.

Attend a Local Music Show

Music fans know that concerts at large venues have gotten ridiculously expensive. If you and your date enjoy the music scene, find out if there are any smaller shows taking place at local venues. Local bars and clubs often host bands and artists that are just starting out. This is turn makes their shows much more affordable.

Skip Dinner and Go for Dessert

For a fun, yummy, and cheap date, skip dinner altogether and get dessert. You will have the experience of dining out without the large bill. Eat dinner before you go on your date, then pick a place that serves tasty desserts. Perhaps you and your date could get some coffee with your dessert as well. Even so, your bill will be much more affordable than if you got a large meal.

Rent a Movie

For a fun night in, rent a movie that both you and your date would like to see or that you both enjoy. You will save a great deal of money by avoiding the movie theater. Pick up some microwave popcorn, candy, and beverages to make your night in complete.

Visit a Farmer’s Market and Make Dinner Together

If you and your date enjoy cooking, consider visiting a local farmer’s market. There you can purchase fresh, local ingredients that can be used to prepare a yummy dinner. Not only are farmer’s markets fun to visit, but their prices are usually very reasonable. After you and your date select fresh ingredients, go home and prepare dinner together.

Just because the recession has made money more of an issue for most people doesn’t mean you can’t have a fun date with someone. If you are looking for some recession dating tips, these ideas are definitely worth a try.

Guest post from Jaime Castle. Jamie writes about dating and dating websites for OnlineDating.org.

Tags: economy, finance, recession dating tips, recesssion, saving money

This entry was posted on Monday, December 5th, 2011 at 6:31 PM and is filed under Economy, Saving Money. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.