Have you ever been on a first date so terrible the story goes viral on Twitter?
I’ve thankfully never experienced that level of crazy on a date, but I will share a few personal anecdotes, for good fun.
Disastrous First Date #1:
Over lunch, this guy I met online kept arguing that Machiavelli is a decent dude, and in the next breath, insisting that my top priority in life is to get married despite me repeatedly telling him otherwise. Instead of a goodbye hug, the date ended with a one-sided discussion of marriage readiness.
To this day, my #1 dating advice is: if your date is pro-Machiavelli, run!
Disastrous First Date #2:
This dude brought me to a casino, and proceeded to lose $400 in a span of 20 minutes on roulette, which wouldn’t have mattered one bit to me, except the $400 was all the money he had left.
Dating advice #2: make sure that you don’t end up somewhere that doesn’t allow you to fake a “family emergency” and exit swiftly.
To be fair, regardless of the outcome, most dates I went on checked all the boxes – fun, romantic, and at times, eye-opening.
But concocting a magical night of first-date perfection comes at a cost to both parties, literally.
- Dinner is about $20 to $30 a piece, at least.
- Movie: $10 per person.
- Popcorn to share: $10, give or take.
- Gas: $5, more during rush hours.
- Parking: $8 if you’re lucky.
When you add it all up, the traditional dinner and movie combo could easily set each of you back $50.
Assuming you go on a date every other week, that’s $1,300 per year.
Dating is tricky enough to navigate as it is. The last thing you want is for it to become a financial burden as well.
Thankfully, you don’t need a large dating budget to be a successful dater.
Sure, having more money gives you more options of things to do on a date. But plenty of people in all income brackets find love and build meaningful connections just fine.
Whether a first date is successful or not essentially boils down to 2 questions:
- Did you get to know each other better?
- Did you both have a good time?
Not:
- How much money did you spend on the date?
Here are 87 first-date ideas that don’t cost an arm and a leg, but are still fun, and leave plenty of room for good conversations and flirty moments that you will reminisce together later.
First Date Ideas for Everybody:
1. Brunch
There are no hard rules that say you must eat on a date, but sharing a meal does bring people closer together. If you plan to indulge in a little culinary excursion, brunch is a great option. It’s more casual and fun than dinner, and much cheaper.
2. Wine and cheese
Another good alternative to a full-blown dinner at a restaurant.
3. Apple picking
Or whatever is the fruit of the season.
4. Go to an animal shelter to take care of animals
Nothing is more attractive than compassion.
5. Go to a Starbucks and do Buzzfeed quizzes together
A cute way to learn about each other’s quirks and preferences while laughing hysterically together.
6. Watch a movie at a low-cost movie theatre
I know “low-cost movie theatre” sounds oxymoronic, but I can vouch for its existence. It’s where I watch all my movies. They don’t always have the latest releases, but given the $5 ticket price, I’d say it’s a fair trade-off.
7. Walk around IKEA together, and enjoy a meal at IKEA’s restaurant
Warning: do not attempt to build IKEA furniture together.
8. Offer to help out your date with a fun and easy task that you can do together
As long as you don’t become their go-to person for favors, it’s all good.
9. Window shopping
Looking doesn’t cost a dime.
10. Watch sports in a bar
Drinks are pricey but seeing as most people wouldn’t want to drink too much on a first date, I’ll file this one under “affordable.”
11. Volunteer
As meaningful and fulfilling as it gets for people with hearts of gold.
12. Cheap or free sporting events
Goes well with hot dogs!
13. Hang out at a cat café
14. Dive bars
Nothing wrong with bonding over a few rounds of darts.
15. Comedy club amateur night or an improv show
16. Cheer on an amateur sports team in a local stadium
17. Feed ducks in the park
18. Attend a show at a planetarium
19. Look up “[your city] free events” on Google for additional ideas
First Date Ideas for the Artistic
20. Free or discounted art exhibitions or galleries
Many museums offer discounted tickets during certain times, and occasionally host free public events.
21. Painting at a painting bar
You might get a discount if you book closer to the date of the event.
22. Explore a historical part of your city
23. Attend a community or college play
24. Visit a local library
Granted, you can’t carry extended conversations inside a library, but you can browse around for something to discuss afterward.
25. Visit a second-hand bookstore
26. Sign up for a trial class at a yoga studio
27. Go to a flea market to hunt for bargain arts and crafts supplies
28. Find an interesting local landmark to draw together
Don’t forget to praise their work.
29. Visit antique stores
30. Put on a mini-concert
If you’re musically talented, why not serenade your date with a romantic tune?
31. Attend a book or poetry reading
32. Attend a free library event
Sometimes libraries put on author meet and greets, book signings, classes, talks, and workshops.
33. Dress up to go to a renaissance fair or festival
Bonus points for maintaining a conversation in Old English.
34. Take fashion portraits of your date in a unique setting
They’d totally appreciate it if they have any sort of Instagram presence.
First Date Ideas for the Adventurous
35. Explore the downtown core and sample street foods
36. Happy hour karaoke
Practicing beforehand is totally par for the course.
37. Mini-golf
38. Try a newly opened specialty coffee shop
If coffee ain’t your cup of tea, a juice bar or dessert shop work just fine.
39. Fly a kite
40. Play frisbee on a college lawn
41. Walk around aimlessly and let serendipity surprise you
42. Visit a pop-up shop
43. Go on a brewery or winery tour
Free booze. Enough said.
44. Go to a carnival
45. Explore a chocolate factory
Yes, it’s a thing. If you’re lucky, you might score some free samples.
46. Collect uniquely-shaped rocks and seashells on the beach
Back when I was single, this was my dream date.
First Date Ideas for the Geeky
47. Have fun at a board game café
Just don’t let your competitiveness overpower the fun.
48. Go to a Meetup event together
49. Embrace your inner child at an arcade
All you need is some quarters!
50. Browse around in a comic book store
51. Find a mobile app game to play together
52. Play games that only require a pen or pencil
53. Live stream a game together on Twitch
Pretty sure this violates many cardinal rules about dating, but that’s how we roll.
54. Sign up for trivia night
If you’re a connoisseur of random facts, you could win a cash prize. Not only do you leave the date richer, you now have extra moolah for a follow-up date.
55. Take your date to your alma mater and show them around
56. Watch YouTube videos
Entertainment doesn’t get any cheaper than that.
First Date Ideas for the Active
57. Go roller-skating
65% chance of hand-holding.
58. Go ice skating
59. Go for a run
60. Hit golf balls at a driving range
Impress your date with your hand-eye coordination.
61. Flirty snowball fights
Just don’t aim for the face or below the belt!
62. Bowling
63. Play tennis in community tennis courts
Those endorphins will work in your favor.
64. Plant a tree together
65. Hiking somewhere with a view
66. Paddleboarding
67. Rent a kayak or canoe
68. Try out each other’s gym
Gyms sometimes let first-timers try out their facilities for cheap.
69. Rent a tandem bike to explore new neighborhoods
70. Rock climbing
First Date Ideas for the Hopeless Romantic
71. Drive up to the highest point in your city, spread out a blanket, and gaze up at the stars
Snacks are optional but highly recommended.
72. Pack a picnic to enjoy in a public park
73. Ask each other 36 questions to fall in love
74. Make a bonfire on the beach and roast marshmallows
You can’t artificially create a more romantic atmosphere than that.
75. Take a ferry ride
Test the waters on the waters.
76. Movie in a park
A giant screen + a blanket + a secret bottle of Merlot = perfect evening.
77. Live musical performances
Swaying goes well with spooning.
First Date Ideas for the Unconventional
78. Join a parade
79. Set a time limit during which both of you cannot say any words that contain the letter “e”
Recommended reading: Ernest Vincent Wright’s “Gadsby.”
80. See a psychic
81. Give each other fake palm readings
Here’s what you could say: “You will live a long, healthy, and prosperous life. And you will grow to like the person right in front of you.”
82. Find an abandoned “haunted” mansion to explore
83. Play bingo
84. Re-enactment of a historical event
85. Create a YouTube video together
How about “COUPLE ON FIRST DATE REACTS TO #MEGEXIT”?
86. Play truth or dare
87. Design your dream rollercoaster together
Forget the laws of physics. Your imagination is the limit.
Onward and Forward
Nailing the first date cheaply without being labeled “cheap” is more than an urban myth.
I would know. My most memorable first date took place in a whimsical coffee shop.
In between sips of Pu’er tea, my date shared fascinating stories from his teenage years (including an action-packed story involving a pack of huskies), talked extensively about his brothers, and expressed a desire to watch more Shakespearean plays.
I, on the other hand, rambled on and on about work.
(Yeah, I know what you’re thinking, and I agree.)
It didn’t make a lot of sense, but we clicked.
Fast forward 7 years, we’re now a happily frugal family of three.
When all is said and done, the “what,” “where,” and “how much” of the first date don’t matter nearly as much as the “who.”
When you’re with the right person, no matter where you are and what you do, you would feel like you’re cruising the Seine against a backdrop of fireworks, confetti, and rose petals.
And with that, I am proud to send you off on your dating journey.
Good luck!
2 comments
Wow this must have taken you such a long time! Thanks so much for sharing, I’m always on the look for new date ideas so I’ve bookmarked this page xo
Makeup Muddle
You’re most welcome! Happy dating!