Put a romantic dinner at home on the date menu
The mention of "dating" and "saving money" in the same breath doesn't necessarily equate, and, in general, leads us to think that the person paying is cheap - presuming then that the date will have the same ambience.
Contrary to our widely held, and much programmed notions, a date doesn't have to be expensive to be fun, memorable and entertaining.
Dating on a budget doesn't take superpowers - although it might take a smidgen of creativity and imagination. Just take a look at any of your regular dating activities and throw in a little spin.
We all know what activity is at the top of the dating food chain (pun intended) - that's right - dinner. While a night out at the local pizza joint is a charming change a pace, it's one that we adults prefer as a "special occasion" thing. So what to do when you can't nourish the both of you at a decent restaurant without eating up half your paycheck?
Use your kitchen! Your appliances are washable. Really.
If you're an accomplished home chef with a signature dish, that's great - and a little monotonous. Shake things up and explore some new recipes. If you know what your significant other likes, get to work. If not, then ask; you'll learn something about your partner, rack up points for being considerate and avoid feeding the wrong thing to someone who's allergic.
Once armed with food knowledge, plug it into one of the millions of recipe sites available on the Internet. By hitting the Web instead of cookbooks you can control the level of cooking difficulty required to complete the task.
Let's face it; we aren't all Martha Stewart or Wolfgang Puck. If turning on the oven to cook a frozen pizza makes you break into a sweat, you should probably stick to a dish that requires minimal ingredients.
(Reminder: You're cooking for two people; cut the recipe in half and save a little extra cash.)
Take advantage of the summer season and extend your date by hitting local farmers markets. What can be more romantic than picking out tomatoes together?
Consider doing a vegetarian main dish with pasta or rice. Check to see what's in season and you can easily walk out of the market with enough farm-fresh veggies to make an entree for as little as $7. Collect some fresh bread and delectable cheese for an appetizer (about $8, cheese dependent) and you're almost there!
The Wilmette French Market has a stall occupied by the Fraternite Sisters of Notre Dame and their mouthwatering desserts. At just $3.50, their lemon curd, chocolate, apple or apricot tartlets will make the perfect finish to any meal.
Now that you've collected the solids with your mate, it's time to address the beverage situation.
I recently had a lovely glass of cabernet at an Italian bistro - for $11. Later in the week, I found a bottle of the exact wine at a local shop for $24.95. The markup on wine can be outrageous. Between your local wine shop and liquor outlet, you'll definitely be able to find something within your budget that's worthy.
If you can't find the bottle you're looking for, inquire at your local eatery. You'll be amazed how many restaurants have distributor licenses and, when they don't have to charge a corkage fee, that bottle can be up to $30 cheaper than when you drank it at dinner.
Once you and your partner have finished the hunting and gathering portion of the mission, bring it home and cook it up!
Break in those kitchen appliances, electrics or that plain old pasta strainer Mom gave you when you moved out 10 years ago. Divvy up the kitchen duties and have fun! Just remember to add an extra dash of flirt to your recipe. A mini food fight or a smear of something on the nose is always welcomed - especially if you want to take the time to lick it off.
Set an aesthetically pleasing table - that means no paper or plastic ware. And the scented candles from the drugstore work if you're lacking candle sticks, because in the end, it's the thought that counts.
Cooking for your date
Recipe site: cookinglight.com/cooking/
Farmer markets: illinoisfarmdirect.org/market_search.html and dailyherald.com/story/?id=195589
What's in season: agr.state.il.us./markets/WhatsInSeason.pdf
Local vino shops
Wilmette: thebottleshop.net
Arlington Heights: gcwines.net/index.php
Palatine: thewinecellaronline.com/index.htm
Everywhere: binnys.com/index.cfm