The Sweet Life Files: The Art of the Cheap Date

Hello dearies! It’s Friday ( :) !) and this Sunday is the first day of summer. I hope you have some fun weekend plans…but just in case you don’t, I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s column to the art of the cheap date. The magic of the thrifty, spontaneous date goes far beyond saving a little cash – when approached with the right attitude, it gets to the heart of what the sweet life is all about: being open to new experiences, enjoying the company of people you love, and savoring the moment. And there is no better time than summer to start practicing the art of the cheap date, what with free open-air events happening almost every weekend all across the country!

First, let’s get a little inspiration from the cinema: In Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard decide to spend the whole day doing things they’ve never done before, which includes purchasing something from Tiffany…of course, since they only have ten dollars the only thing they can afford is to have a toy ring engraved. On paper, their day sounds utterly dull: they visit the library and a drug store – but they had a blast, because everything was new.

There is a scene in Reality Bites where Troy (Ethan Hawke) takes Lelaina (Winona Ryder) on a walking tour of all of the jobs he has been fired from. They’re just walking around, obviously having a grand time and Troy says, “See Lainy, this is all we need. A couple of smokes, a cup of coffee, and a little bit of conversation. You and me and five bucks.” All of these years after seeing that movie, those words have stuck with me: You and me and five bucks. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

“June” by Eve Simone

Why is it that as we get older, we become harder to entertain? Kids can entertain themselves for hours with a cardboard box, and make friends with random children they only met that day on the playground! In high school and college, it seems pretty common to have a great time basically doing nothing. So what makes adults so boring? Is it our expectations? When we are young we go out expecting to have an awesome time. We don’t compare it to another time in the past that was better, or worry about things that may go wrong; we just let it be what it is – and I think that’s a state of mind we can get back to if we try.

As soon as we have jobs that can support it, dating becomes an opportunity to try the hot restaurants, go on fancy-schmancy getaways, and rack up ridiculous bar tabs. I’m all for gorgeous meals and exciting travel – but not all the time. That would be exhausting, and I would be broke. And besides, some of my very best memories are of very cheap dates: a cup of coffee, a walk, hanging out in the backyard. So let’s look at some alternative options and then get out there and enjoy the weekend!

25 29 Cheap Dates:

1. Minor-league baseball game
2. Art & Wine Fair
3. Beach day
4. Picnic in the park
5. Stroll a new neighborhood
6. Find a cafe with free live music
7. Have an art/craft night
8. Open-air theater
9. Old-school drive-in movies
10. Gallery opening
11. Botanical gardens
12. Go to an art or natural history museum on free day
13. Take a nature walk
14. Antiques fair
15. Batting cages
16. Browse book stores
17. U-Pick fruit farm
18. Find the best ice cream cone in town
19. Take a random road trip – just get in the car & drive
20. Ride a ferry
21. Go camping
22. Check out a carnival or state fair
23. Bike ride on mellow country roads
24. Go to a fancy restaurant just for dessert
25. Backyard BBQ
26. Browse vintage records
27. People-watch in a sidewalk cafe
28. Play twister
29. Check out an indie craft show

But most of all, have a good time! Happy weekend friends, thank you so much for spending another week here with me; all of your comments and sweet messages really make my day. See you on Monday :)

{images: film stills, imdb; photo print, Eve Simone}