|
Cheap Dates:
Entertainment on a Budget
by
Kimberly Danger
For parents on a budget, “couple
time” may be a thing of the past. These days, dinner and a movie can run as
much as $100. It’s no wonder that thrifty parents often eliminate going out as
a way of saving money. However, even frugal parents need time alone to nurture
their relationship. Here is how to have a great night without spending a bundle.
Care for the Kids
Sometimes the cost of a babysitter is
more than the date itself. A lot of couples are lucky enough to have Grandma
nearby to watch the kids… that’s great! If you don’t have family close by,
find another couple with kids the same age as your own children to swap
babysitting hours with. Not only will you be getting qualified caregivers, you
will be getting playmates for your children as well.
Dinner
My husband and I both like to eat.
Luckily, we also both like to cook. One of our favorite things to do is to pick
a new recipe to prepare together. Sometimes my husband is in charge of the main
course, and I prepare the side dishes. Cooking together serves two purposes --
the most obvious being to create a great meal, but it also allows us to spend
time doing something together. If eating out is more up your alley, order one
entree to share -- then splurge on a dessert. Also, check into which restaurants
in your area run Happy Hour specials. These specials may be ½ price appetizers,
free munchies, or drink discounts. Other resources:
-
http://www.restaurant.com
This site offers restaurant gift certificates at half their retail
price. The site lets you search for restaurants in your
area.
-
Buy an
Entertainment
Book. It costs approximately
$20 and it comes with at least 100 "Buy one entree, get one free"
coupons to both upscale and fast food restaurants in your area. It also
contains coupons for services such as dry cleaning, car washes, etc.
-
Read our
Article: Eating
Out: Money Saving Tips
advertisement
And a Movie…
If you’re planning on a first-run
movie, check to see if your local theater offers discounts for movies before
6:00 p.m. By going an hour or two earlier, you may be able to save up to 50%. If
there is a college campus nearby, check to see if they show movies. While they
probably won’t be first-run, they will most likely be deeply discounted. Of
course, renting is even cheaper than going to the theater. Skip the movie rental
stores. Instead, visit your local library. You can find just about any movie you
want to view if your library has an interlibrary loan service -- all it takes is
just a little advance planning. Our local library allows you to order
videocassettes and DVDs from other libraries in their library system. We can
even request them online -- no need to leave the house! My husband and I
also are
Netflix subscribers. We get unlimited DVD rentals each month
with no late fees.
Other
Ideas:
Visit a museum
Go to a high school or community play
Prepare a candlelight dinner
Go on a walk in the woods
Have a picnic complete with wine and
cheese
Fondue night
Play board games
Shoot a roll of film together
Stargazing
|
