Four Budget-Friendly Date Ideas

I've been neglecting my readers who don't have kids yet, don't plan to have kids or have pushed the last chick out of the nest. What you're telling me is that you need quality time with your honey but don't have the cash to make it happen. Here's my list of four budget-friendly date ideas to get the romance revving.

Ice Cream Social for Two: We (my hubby and I) discovered last night that buying three quarts of premium ice cream from our favorite ice cream retailer costs less than buying two double dip cones! Cappucino Chunk Chocolate in hand (along with two plastic spoons from the ice cream counter), we saw a like-minded couple in the parking lot eating their budget treat while sitting in the back of a pickup. Total cost for our sinfully rich date night? Three dollars and fifty seven cents!

Sleeping (or not) Under the Stars: Remembering how much fun our kids had sleeping in tents in our backyard inspires me to plan a campout with my honey. Since we already have camping equipment stored somewhere in the depths of the garage, it's a matter of digging things out and setting up the tent some Friday night. If you'd rather not have your neighbors listening in to late night giggling (honestly, there's just something about being in a tent...) load up the Jetta with a tent, sleeping bags and some simple no-cook grub and head for a local lake. No camping gear? I'm willing to bet a friend or relative has some stored somewhere. No fair buying anything! Improvise if you have to, but don't spend money on anything but gas.

Bookstore Concert Series: As we're wrestling our budget to the ground, my spouse and I are finding pleasure in the simplest things. For our wedding anniversary this month, we drove to a nearby coffeebar/bookstore ($2 or so in gas), bought one fancy coffee drink ($3.29) and got one free because our coffee punch card was full. A nice little serendipity occurred in the form of a free concert. For less than six dollars, we sat for an hour sipping our iced coffees and listening to great covers of Eric Clapton, John Prine and John Lennon songs. Check your local bookstores and coffee bars for free concerts and use those punchcards before they disappear!

Shall we dance? Here's one that's heavy on the romance but kind to the budget. Couples who love to dance often complain they only get to at weddings. Either spouse can surprise the other with romantic lighting and your favorite dance music. You should definitely dress for the occasion, even if it takes place in your living room. No shorts and t-shirts allowed! What could be more romantic than having your sweetie greet you at the door dressed to kill with a tango playing in the background? Sound a little silly for your taste? Think of it this way...would you rather dress up, go out and break the budget or spend the evening in your loved one's arms knowing your wallet will still respect you in the morning?

I know you're all much more creative than I am, so please add your ideas for low-financial-stress dates in the Comments section. Can't wait to see how you stir the romantic fires without burning down your budget!