2.07.2011

Ask Elle--The Love Week Edition: Cheap Dates


Welcome to LOVE WEEK on Elle Sees. Everything this week will be love-related and there should be a lil something for everyone. I hope you enjoy it. Love, Elle

I love to give advice and decided to start a monthly ASK ELLE column a few months ago. This month's ASK ELLE is from Ashley who asks, "How can I have a cheap yet romantic Valentine's Day night?" Well, Ashley, I actually did a post on this last year. See below for my Date Night on the Cheap!


Home Alone
  • Dine al fresco (or picnic inside)! Two of my good friends actually picnicked on a median (!) in the middle of a non-busy street. People honked and waved as they did so. Unusual, right?
  • Camp outside! Put up the tent outside and make the s'mores.Or even camp indoors!
  • Cook dinner together. Feed each other some of it. 
  • Dress up, cook dinner, and have "restaurant night" at home (or take out!). 
  • Read poetry to each other over a delicious dessert. Pablo Neruda is my fave for this.
  • Have a party for 2 at home--you decide the theme!
  • Shut off all electric devices (including lights). Candles only. Have fun.
  • Make it a music night & an instant dance party! Include some slow songs.
  • Slumber party...party of 2 that is! Rent movies (preferably a scary movie with the lights off!) & pop the popcorn. Or rent a movie you've never seen or heard of.
  • Boardgames & card games & video games--include cheap prizes
  • Show a movie outside under the stars (rent a projector & put up a sheet as your screen.)
  • Rediscover your hometown. Be a tourist! Do all of the touristy things you never thought you'd do. There are some hidden gems in even the smallest of towns!
  • Go to different spots in your city and have strangers take your picture. Make a photo album or scrapbook of the day.
  • Make breakfast together.
  • Go to the closest big city and do the touristy things there. Take silly pics while you're at it!
  • If the weather's nice, get a cheap wading pool, fashion a chaise out of pallets, and mix a drink for instant oasis.
  • Set up a little spa area--complete with a DIY pedi! Light the candles and relax. Give each other massages.
  • Or create your own beach retreat!
  • Star gaze.
Get Out
  • Relive your first date (or recreate as closely as possible).
  • Mystery date! One person plans everything. Be sure to switch off next time.
  • Do a restaurant crawl. Have a drink at one restaurant, appetizers at another, main course somewhere else, and finish with dessert at the last place. Or do it in reverse!
  • Go to a dive bar and play darts or pool.
  • Grab brunch. No talk of kids, work, or problems.
  • Listen to a poetry reading or improv comedy.
  • Meet at a bar independently & flirt like you've never met.
  • Go to a free outdoor concert (or any concert).
  • Karaoke...if you dare!
  • Visit the zoo, fair, carnival, or aquarium.
  • Go to a flea market, garage sale, or antique shopping.
  • Get a hotel for the night in your town! Can't afford that? Do a house-swap with friends for a night! Or stay in your guest room in your own house!
  • Roadtrip! Even if it's a ride to nowhere in particular.
  • Most museums are cheap or free once a month. Dress up & go visit!
  • Do a cocktails & canvas (or any type of class) together. Many are super cheap!
  • Volunteer together.
  • Take dance lessons--youtube, restaurants, clubs, or dance studios.
  • Universities always have student art shows. Go visit and maybe you might find something awesome--for cheap!
  • Listen to the orchestra (local or university) or watch a play.
  • Test drive a car.
  • Grab a sweet dessert to share or a coffee.
  • Go to a store and challenge each other to find a really sweet/creative/romantic gift for $10 or $20.
Childhood Games
  • Play a boardgame, card game, video game.
  • Fly a kite.
  • Blow bubbles.
  • Go bowling.
  • Pick local produce (fruits or veggies) together. (Did y'all ever do that as a school field trip?)
  • Go hiking.
  • Fingerpaint!
  • Put together a puzzle.
  • Draw with chalk.
  • Go rollerskating/blading either outside or at the local skating rink.
  • Visit an arcade and challenge each other.
  • Have a watergun fight.
  • Play on the playground--have a picnic there, swing on the swings or chase each other around.
  • Play a sport together or take a lesson on it.
  • Into sports? Watch the kids play locally. Or support a local sports team--no matter how bad they are.
Do you have any cheap date ideas NOT listed above? Please share in the comments!
Do you have a question you want answered? Ask me in the comments, ask me via Twitter or send me an email!

15 comments:

  1. these are good ideas! i did the museum one a couple weeks ago it was fun.

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  2. Always looking for more date ideas :)

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  3. Going to the museum is a great tip. Often the exhibits are so well done and there's something for everyone

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  4. What a brilliant list! I really love your ideas:) Wish you a sunny MOnday, darling
    Kisses

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  5. So many ideas! ...and they're all such great ones! I love the idea of camping outside (or inside)!!!

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  6. Genius idea for a post! Loving the ideas too. XX

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  7. Loving all your ideas! We'll probably end up dining in that night. A homecooked romantic meal will do us both some good :)

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  8. these are great ideas! im tempted to bookmark this post so i can go back and check it when i run out of ideas! happy monday lady! xoxo jcd

    ps i love taking trip to parks and go swinging...

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  9. I'm bookmarking this link- I LOVE all your great ideas. Gabe and I always cook dinner at home together on Valentine's day because restaurants are so crowded and so much more expensive that day! Thanks for all the tips!

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  10. This is so smart...I love it!

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  11. My husband have a regular V-day in tradition: fondue pajama party. Somehow we have grown to love it.

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  12. Oh my goodness Elle what a great list! We always do little dine in dates, or cheesy picnics on our floor in front of fireplace. LOVEd this list:-)

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  13. Nice ideas. We've done some of them, but most of them not in a while. This year we're going to do a surprise day (random day when the other will expect it least) and make that our special day. I'm still collecting ideas so I appreciate this list!

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