I assume that some people, like myself, are almost constantly on a budget. If you are not a mogul of some sort, it is still possible to conduct a pleasant evening with somebody prettier than yourself.

Of course, there are the clichéd options like watching a movie at home or going to a park. However, movies are not good places to talk and parks are too hot. There are countless other ways to enjoy a day or evening with a man or woman for very cheap. Recently, I somehow found myself at a museum with a girl. Though it was not a date, I realized that it would make a good one. We actually went to two museums. The first one, an art exhibit, was practically empty. However, while inside the exhibit, I heard the definite sounds of two people having sex with each other. If I were on a date, it would have started feeling very uncomfortable right about then. When we went upstairs, there was a small television with two people having sex on it. There were mothers and children in the exhibit, and it was all very uncomfortable. As the mothers awkwardly left with their children, we stayed to look at the art pieces until we could not take it anymore.

Next, we went to the science museum. By pretending to be my mom and step-dad, we got in for free, though the IMAX still cost money. Though many of the exhibits in the museum haven’t changed since 1983, it was just barely fun enough to not cost any money. At the very least, it had air conditioning, which is probably why the homeless people were there. Looking around, almost everyone there was a couple. This did make me feel a bit inadequate.

In general, though, it is a good idea to spend at least some money on a date. Nothing good is free.

I am sure that there is advice floating around somewhere on how to properly conduct a date using as little money as possible.  Though I certainly am not an expert, I have been on enough dates with little to no money, and have carefully weighed the good outcomes with the bad.  Having never experienced anything close to a good outcome when dating on a budget, I will now propose my hypothesis:  Do not go out on a date if you have little to no money.

This may sound harsh, but it is no harsher than having reality kick in halfway into you and your date’s Extra Value Meal.  This is not a knock against McDonald’s.  McDonald’s is great food to eat while sitting in your car alone. However, if not in your car or not alone, please stay clear of McDonald’s wondrous assortment of treats.  Nothing hurts more than watching your date throw her McFlurry® onto the ground before stomping past the indoor playground and drink station before storming out the doo Dates are expensive.  Even when on a budget, you may not realize how much money you are spending.  If she lives more than five miles away, that’s at least a quarter gallon of gas.  Counting the round trip to her place, and the restaurant, that’s about $4 in gas.  If she lives further than five miles away, you should seriously reconsider all of the qualities of the person that you are about to shower in cash.  When she gets in the car, she will probably enjoy cold air conditioning as well as my employment of the brake and accelerator so as to not hit anything or anyone.  This all takes a toll on how much gas is consumed.

Of course, if you are dating on a budget, you may not have a car at all.  If you live in a suburban environment and do not have a car, this blog should not be your first deterrent to going out on a date.  Instead, you should have acquired years of public shame and misery before knowing for sure that you should not go out with anybody.  If you live in a sprawling suburban environment, and do not own a vehicle, you have two options.  The first option is to let her pick you up and drive you around.  This should not be an option to any person who thinks and feels. The second option is to not go out at all.  This option works much better when trying to not be humiliated.

Maybe you’ve held on to your job during this economic downturn, maybe you’ve had to dip into your 401k or maybe you’ve even had to move back in with your parents as you try to save money. It doesn’t matter how the recession has affected you, if you’re single and dating then you’re not going to stop going out no matter how hard your wallet’s been hit. Whether you’re dating for the fun of it or seriously looking for someone to share the rest of your life with, the type of dates you’re now going out on have to change because of the country’s financial mess.

In the long run, a 100hookup membership isn’t expensive and is worth keeping. Think about how many drinks you’d have to buy at a bar in one month for yourself, your friends who you dragged out with you and the girls you’re hitting on. 100hookup is definitely cheaper than all that fuss. Instead, save your money for an actual date with a great girl/guy you met on 100hookup.

Other tips:
-find less expensive but tasty hole-in-the-wall restaurants instead of the newest, trendiest, fanciest place
-split an appetizer and a dessert, it’s romantic
-women should offer to go dutch and be prepared to actually pay up although it’s nice for the man to say no
-plan a daytime date with a picnic on the beach or a hike in the mountains
-after a few dates out, offer to cook and stay in for the night

Since this recession doesn’t seem to be ending anytime in the near future we all need to make lifestyle changes. It’s not gonna be fun, but in the end you’ll feel rewarded. Not only will you have saved money, but you’ll have landed a significant other who appreciates your responsible ways. It’s a win-win.