EliteSingles may be the premier dating site for professional, well-educated, and successful singles, but that doesn’t mean that dating should be a high-budget event. In fact, many of our members say they are more impressed by creativity, thought, and effort than the ability to make pick up the phone and make reservations at a Michelin restaurant — not that there’s ever anything wrong with a posh dinner out every once in a while.
Why Unique, Affordable Dating Ideas Are Important
Think of the early dating stages as an audition. You are showing your potential partner what you’re all about and how you’re different from their exes, as well as other people who may currently be trying to take them out.
Changing Things Up
During your first couple of dates, you might take them to a good restaurant or a craft cocktail speakeasy, but how do you change it up after the first few outings? Exploring affordable but special dating options can present a nice contrast to fancier evenings out.
Establishing Financial Boundaries
This can be really important when one of the partners in a dating relationship has a significantly higher income or more substantial means than the other. For example, you might not mind picking up the tab all of the time, but your partner may not feel comfortable with it. By deliberately choosing cheaper dates sometimes it helps them feel better about the balance. This can even work on a single date. If they’re arguing with you over the dinner check, suggest going to another place for ice cream and let them pay.
Building Memories
Relationships are built on memories. Like quilt work, your memories should be colorful and varied. If you’ve given them a vast array of experiences, you’ll be off to a great start to what can be a long and fruitful relationship.
EliteSingles Affordable Date Ideas
These are some of the top ideas to come from us from our dating experts and members who have found love on EliteSingles. Do you have your own unique, affordable date ideas? Send them to us!
A Picnic Under the Stars
This is a simple but thoughtful way to set yourself apart from other suitors. Packing a picnic and driving or walking to a special spot will show your partner a few things. First of all, you can put some time and energy into the plan. Secondly, you’re not dependent on your credit card to have a good time. Lastly, you get romance. Here’s how to make this work:
- Food – Make sure whatever you bring is portable and that you have the plates and utensils to eat it with. For ease, bring some cheese, crackers, fruit, etc. You can eat this food with your hands (bring sanitizer), and the cleanup is easy. Cloth napkins are a nice addition.
- Libations – A bottle of wine is a nice touch, but make sure you bring cups or disposable wine glasses. If your date likes beer, pack some nice craft brews. If it’s a cold night, you may want to ditch the alcohol and bring a dessert and a thermos of hot coffee or tea.
- Music – If you have a portable speaker, bring it along. Pick a dinner music playlist or something mellow, like Spanish guitar.
- Blankets – You’ll want something to sit on, but if it’s cold out, pack an extra for your date.
- Packing – You don’t need a special picnic basket, but your presentation is important. Make sure that you secure all of your items in a way that the journey won’t ruin the look of the food.
Movie Marathon at Home
Is your date a cinephile? Even if they’re not, who doesn’t love a good movie marathon? You can pick a theme or just ask your date to name a few movies that they’ve always wanted to see but haven’t. Here are a few tips for pulling this unique date off:
- Invite them to wear pajamas or comfy clothes. (Not if it’s a first date).
- Provide theater snacks like popcorn, nachos, or the kinds of candy they sell in theaters. For affordability, source your candy from anywhere other than a movie theater.
- Give them veto power over any movie they don’t want to see.
- It’s a marathon, so make sure neither of you has to be up early.
Cooking Together
If you’re looking for a way to bond with a partner, find a recipe that is challenging but within your abilities, buy the ingredients, and invite them over for a meal that you’re going to make together. You can always give your guests a bit of a break by doing the food prep in advance, or you can just take the plunge together. Put on some good music and share a glass of wine while you’re both toiling away.
- Best Case Scenario – You share an amazing meal you prepared together.
- Worst Case Scenario – You prepare something inedible and order tacos through a delivery service.
Board Games or Puzzles
Game nights with four to six people are all the rage, but it’s also a great idea for couples. Whether you choose a classic game like Scrabble or Connect Four or you go in for one of the hundreds of new games that are trying to become the new Cards Against Humanity, you’re bound to have a good time as long as you can keep your competitive nature under control.
Here’s one plan for making the perfect game night:
- Ask your partner what kinds of games they like.
- Go to literally any department store and pick up a game. Target and Walmart also sell food and drinks.
- Set up a place to play.
It’s a pretty easy date. You can even put a show on the television for background noise.
Art Night
Most people never get to explore their creative side while at work or in their daily lives. And even if they do, they don’t really have a way to display their handiwork. Having an art night demonstrates the fact that you want to get to know your partner at a deeper level. Here are some mediums that lend themselves to a good art night date:
- Paint – A timeless classic. It can be a little messy, but it’s very rewarding.
- Clay – You can sit across the table from each other, just forming objects. Don’t like what you’ve made? Start over.
- Legos – You’d be surprised at what you can build with random Lego parts.
- Colored pencils and paper – It’s neat, and you don’t really have to learn how to use a pencil.
- Polaroids – If you have one, get some film and use it. Think of all of the fun memories you can make. Send your partner home with a stack of pictures.
DIY Tastings
You can do a wine tasting, but this could end up being a little less affordable than some of our other options. Wine can go bad after it’s open, so you may be wasting the better part of four or five bottles. However, if you consider yourself a connoisseur of a particular spirit, you can host a decent tasting without the waste. For example, a lot of people are into Bourbon these days. Here’s how you set up a tasting:
- Get a jigger and a few shot glasses. You can pick up four generic shot glasses pretty cheaply, so buy two sets.
- Set the pours at half an ounce. You can drink more after the tasting.
- Remember to put out two glasses of water to cleanse your pallet.
- Present the bottles along with each glass so you can keep track of what you’re pouring.
After the tasting, you’ll have a nice bourbon collection — or tequila, scotch, vodka, etc.
Nature Walks
If you have good weather, a nature walk is a fantastic way to spend time with someone special. Not only do you get a little exercise (sweating together is bonding), but you can enjoy nature in a way that most of us don’t get to experience very often. If you don’t live near a good nature trail, it may be worth a drive. Remember to pack water and snacks. Nature trails don’t usually have a place to reprovision along the way.
Check Out a Museum or Art Exhibit
On EliteSingles, we’ve noticed an increased occurrence of the words “sapiophile” and “sapiosexual” showing up on member profiles. Intelligence is attractive, and there are few places where you can appreciate knowledge, culture, and art together more than museums. Many art exhibits are free and offer drinks (sometimes for a suggested donation price).
If you’re a well-educated single person who is seeking a relationship on a deeper level, try EliteSingles today. You can download the app on Google Play or the App Store.
