'That' First Romantic Date

1Being a Pleasure to Be Around

Use that first meal, walk, shared film or beer to help the other person relax. First dates are notoriously tense, so you will mark yourself out as something else if you can show yourself to be a person that people feel relaxed with. A very easy and potentially inexpensive dating option is to take your date to a place that lets them escape the annoyances generated by day to day life. You could for instance take advantage of botanical gardens at your local university during Spring or Summer, a well kept park or even a little known rose garden.

2Engaging Your Audience

Coming up with romantic yet cheap date ideas will involve you getting creative. Think about what your prospective date is interested in and why they are drawn to it. It will surprise and engage them without the assistance of large quantities of alcohol, all the while making you appear empathetic and perceptive, two undeniable 'sexy' qualities. You should also consider what aspects of yourself will fit in with the desired person and give them something personal to recall after the date.

3Doing Your Homework and 'Keeping it Real'

If film or theater is their thing, investigate what's going on in your local area. Smaller and 'alternative' venues can often be very charming, cheap and make you look as though you are in the know. Look out for dance theater and mixed media productions as they often leave you feeling as though you have been party to something exceptional. Another option is to see what big shows or movies are playing in your area, and purchase some matinee tickets at just a fraction of the regular price. In the audience may be the director or school groups, so be ready for all possible outcomes. Unfortunately, matinees have the down side of taking place during working hours so they are only an option to those who are free during the day and students generally.

4Using Art to Inspire

Art galleries not only offer us the possibility of wondering around in a peaceful and potentially intimate environment, they also provide us with free dating opportunities. Large city dwellers can count themselves lucky to have an often large and varied number of free exhibitions taking place at any one time. Select those that are original, interesting or impressive, because creating a sense of exclusivity or inspiration is conducive to openness and 'free thinking'. Some sculpture can be just the thing, Rodin's ' The Kiss' did the job for me for me recently at a free, local art gallery. You could even try to find a couple of invitations to an evening art gallery private view, they will usually offer free drinks and snacks, as well as creating a sense of inclusion and well-living.
Use this excellent Art Gallery Guide to find an art gallery in your area.

Second and Third Dates

5The Homely Romantic Date Approach

You may at this point consider an evening option, possibly a meal at home or an night out at a reasonable price. The advantage with home cooked meals and night-ins, is that they offer all the home comforts and advantages at shop price rates. They also open up your home and give you a chance to become a part of other peoples lives. At this point, originality is also a big point scorer and must be considered highly advantageous.

Home cooked meals give you the chance to prove your practical, domestic skills and focus as an 'added bonus'. The involvement it suggests will mark you out as a particular companion, further justifying your 'special status'. Try to get hold of high quality, up-and-coming wines and pre-dinner cocktail drinks. These save money in the long run, as they cost far less than their bar counterparts. Make the best of what you have at your disposal, so make an effort when choosing music. Take notice of your guest's tastes but incorporate your thoughts on the matter, it is good to show your ability to express an opinion, particularly one in tune with your appreciated visitor.

6Choosing a Menu

If you feel brave you can be inventive, they are two attractive and successful qualities. Make sure that you don't overreach yourself, but don't be afraid of showing originality as your confidence will reflect well on you. You can also choose to use a tried-and-tested mainstay dish; solid but well chosen and cooked food is always highly valued.

Desserts give you the opportunity to show your versatility and ability to understand how to combine sensory stimuli with appealing results. Whatever you do, don't relinquish the chance to express yourself and make your tastes count as something positive. Do what your are most confident and comfortable with; you will project a sense of security, reliability and interest.

7A Team Effort

Allow your partner to contribute something to the meal, a surprise being often risky anyway. Everybody likes to be part of something that they consider successful, so if your food is good they will be happy to have taken an active part in it. Also, people are generally positive about meals they helped towards, making their active involvement positive for the meal's strategy and appraisal.

Multiple and Successive Get-Togethers

8Using the Community and Other Surroundings

Take advantage of those totally free but greatly appreciated activities, like window shopping with a view to the future and other forms of forward planning. Considering the future and taking advantage of a chance to think about possibilities and options can be very gratifying. You will also find that there are exciting 'big' options that can be done on a tiny budget, from distant holiday places to local trips.

You can explore and camp in national parks without spending much, find cheap flights to other U.S. states and possibly even Mexico or Canada, or simply stay at home and discover your local area for very little or no money. Over time, saving on other activities will permit you to 'splash out' on the odd, deserved luxury. Remember that you are there to enjoy yourself and behave accordingly, choosing those options that you know by experience to be well received by both you and your date.

9Don't Forget the Basics

Bear in mind that as far as romantic dates and cheap rendezvous go, early approaches never really lose their attraction, particularly when they have not been used in a while. Even as you learn the other person's usual likes and dislikes, always choose to use the power of surprise now and then.

10A Team Effort

The rose gardens, good meals and refreshing outdoor experiences never cease to inspire in some way. We are all the same and understand the underlying realities, yet that won't stop people from enjoying what they do have at their reach. As long as your personality and interest in the other person comes through, you will continue to bring excitement and stimulation to their life, so don't cease to attend those street festivals and cultural events. Music, for instance, will be an important part of the puzzle. You should also take advantage of the relatively low cost characteristics of the local beer festivals, jazz festivals and other local festivals or carnivals. Free cinema tickets are never a bad thing either, and there are often possibilities of getting free entrance into gigs and concerts. Read "How to Get Free Event Tickets" for more info.
A couple of good resources for finding local festivals and events are: Eventful and FreeAttractions.

-...And to Conclude

Be it through cultural events, of which there will be many, or using your personal entertaining skills, there are plenty of romantic, fun and cheap things to do on a date; but always remember to cater for your own interest as well as theirs. If you have fun with them, it will make things very easy for both parties. Get out there and remember what life is about.