How to prepare for a Romantic Date on a Budget

Dating has become a problem when almost a majority cannot even afford the usual dinner in a nice restaurant. While it may not always be possible to fit an expensive date into your budget, you can always put the romance into a more budget-friendly date. You are not being a cheapskate; people are now more aware of the importance of frugality, and by showing how well you spend your money, you are showing your resourcefulness and reliability. First, let us break down three essential things to put to mind before you plan a romantic date on a budget.

1. The Element of Surprise : The beauty of a surprise is that it involves a lot of excitement regardless of the budget that you have for a date. As long as there is an element of surprise, you will be able to put a smile on a face and make your date feel special. 
2. Inspire Communication : Real communication is the real romance. An expensive date will not take the place of one that is filled with talks about dreams and goals, of love and friendship, of things that bring you happiness and things that you’re grateful for. Romantic communication does not only involve spoken words, but also with your eyes and body language, your choices and your actions, your heart and your soul. 
3. Aim to Build Friendship: As long as a relationship is built on friendship, it will not matter whether you plan a cheap or expensive date. A real romantic date allows you to get to know the real person. Aiming to build friendship with your date will let you have a great time regardless of the kind of date you have because you have a good understanding of each other. Since there are no inhibitions and no pretenses, expectations from each other are real ,and the relationship usually stands the test of time.

Now that you have these three important elements to consider, it should encourage you and make you realize that money isn’t really essential for having a good time on a date. But whatever funds you can spare can help you out. So, try to make some small lifestyle changes so that you can save a little extra cash to play with on your romantic date. However little you are able to set aside, you can still plan a budget-friendly date that is both memorable and romantic. Here are some ideas on how to go about it:

• Create a Dating Budget : A budget, on many aspects, are very important because it keeps you focused on what you want without losing sight of what you can actually afford. Having a date budget forces you to organize your activities and make smart choices. The less budget you have for a date, the more it inspires our creativity and sometimes bring up talent and skills you never knew you had.
• Know your common interest : You should at least have an idea on what your date is interested in, and find a way to fuse it together with your own interest. You see, people have a natural tendency to bond closer with those that they connect with in many different levels. By knowing what your common interests are, you will be able to plan the activities of your date that you will both enjoy.
• Choose the Activity : Create a list of what you both enjoy doing and include some other things that excite you too. Browse the Internet for a lot of inspiring ideas, and you could probably use them to come up with good ideas yourself. The ideas do not have to be original, but it must be enjoyable for both of you. Sometimes with all the pressure to impress a date, we just need a little reminder that the most beautiful memories are the ones that touched our feelings.
• Look for Discounts : When you have planned out your activities, it is easier to look for discounts. You can again check the Internet for any special deals on the activities on your list. You can also check advertisements and sale circulars for coupons or restaurant deals that can lessen your expenses.
• Consider low-budget Alternatives : There are always cheaper alternatives! You just have to adjust your attitude to how you perceive a romantic date. A home-cooked meal with a personally-styled setting is just as romantic as a going to a fancy restaurant. Instead of hanging at a coffee shop and buying over-priced designer coffee, make a lovely home-brewed mug and have a cozy conversation over a few board games. Start learning how to do things so that you can add more alternatives to how you go about your date activities.Make good use out of the numerous online video tutorials and community forums.
• Take advantage of local attractions and the great Outdoors : Sometimes the best places to go are just around the corner. And most local attractions, parks and beaches, are free. It doesn’t matter whether it’s take a walk together, going on a picnic, riding bike trails, or even building a snowman in your own backyard; it’s all about taking advantage of all your resources or what is available.
• Be creative : Even the most expensive dates can lose its magic. By being creative every time, you’ll be able to spark and rekindle passion, and save money at the same time. Plan unique outings that are far from the typical dinner and a movie. When it comes to gifts, it does not have to cost you an arm and leg. The best gifts are the ones that have sentimental value. It is true that it is the thought that counts; putting effort into the gift is even better.

Lastly, remember that a date should be special and romantic but, most of all, carefree and fun. The budget is only small matter to consider in preparing a romantic date, because the goal really, is to create happy memories.

About the Author:  This is a Guest Post from Krisca C. Te who is part of the team that maintains Australian Credit Cards, a complimentary credit card comparison service and a personal finance blog based in Sydney, Australia. Before she joined ACC, she was an Associate in Deutsche Bank Group under Market and Instruments Control Services

Becoming A Better First Date

Image by flickr user kevindooley

In this age of sexual freedom it is not all that uncommon for the first date to lead to sex. That puts added pressure on you and your date. Both men and women, understandably, can have anxiety due to worries about how they perform or how their bodies look “all natural”. There seems to be one thing neither party ever considers when on a first date and that is leaving sex out of the first date equation. Even if by some chance that idea does cross your or their mind, acting upon it or even bringing it up would not only be presumptuous but awkward no matter how subtle one tries to be. I believe many people, men and women alike, would probably appreciate one night out with someone they could be romantically interested in without having all the extra baggage.

Becoming a good first date means learning to read the subtle clues that are being sent your way. The problem with this is many times men either misread or completely fail to see the clues being sent. Often flirtation is taken to mean that the woman is really trying to go there. And on the other hand, culture has taken a turn and no longer encourages women to use the art of how to be coquettish without seeming promiscuous. How many times have you had a night with a total dud but still somehow ended up in bed and woke up wondering why?

One thing that can seriously make you a hit on a first date is to go somewhere apart from your both of your normal haunts. This is to avoid running into anyone from either of your regular social groups. There is enough pressure placed on a date for either party to try and impress. Meeting friends could lead to some very uncomfortable feelings and inevitably your friends will make the entire night a joke. Not to mention you probably want to avoid the embarrassing stories that will ensue; when with friends you no longer have control of how your story is told.

Don’t make a big thing of it but decide early on how things will be paid for. Traditionally the man has always picked up the tab but in today’s society it is perfectly acceptable to split the bill, especially on firsties. Of course fellas, in many cases the best way to make the greatest first impression is to try and pick up the whole tab; the chivalry will be remembered.

Even if your first impression of your date isn’t so hot, avoid talking down to them or coming across the least bit deriding. Give them a chance because you never know and doing so will certainly make sure there is not a second date. One other thing to consider is that you probably travel in similar circles and you never know who they may share their experience with. This may seem obvious but making lascivious comments about the opposite sex or those around you will also make a bad impression on any date, first or otherwise. At the other end of the spectrum, if you are head over heels don’t let it show. For some this might be an “easier said than done” situation but remember being needy and controlling is a red flag on a first date.

Finally, being a good listener and conversationalist is very important. What’s that saying… practice makes prefect or something…all kidding aside, you can prepare for the date by rehearsing a few non-invasive open ended questions. Open ended questions are great because they, by design, get the other person to not only open up but to also feel special and at ease. Make the first date one of fun and levity. Going on a date that involves the two of you in action like mini-golfing or bowling is a good way to begin. It gives you ways to interact and fill silent moments but still allows for those “getting to know you” conversations.

Anout the Author: Rick Valence has a vast array of writing interests that include fiction, non-fiction and how-to guides. Rick works Monday through Friday as a digital camera repair specialist at C.R.I.S. Camera Services in Chandler, Arizona. He is also the webmaster of his company's camera repair blog.

Dating like a Celebrity

Wouldn’t you love to live the life of Leonardo DiCaprio or Cameron Diaz? Imagine being a celebrity and being worshipped and adored by millions of singles around the world! Well, you don’t have fame or that much money, so count out “millions.” However, there’s no reason why you can’t start dating like a movie star and get at least hundreds of people interested in you, locally and online. We call this our “dating like a celebrity” guide. Here are a few tips to get you started.

Looks Mean Something, If Not Everything

When you put yourself on the market, it’s time to pretty yourself up. Girls, doll yourselves up in makeup and a ravishing dress. Coordinate your colors so that your best features stand out. What are you best features? If you’re not sure, ask your friends, families, friendly exes and whoever else is up for a survey. Once you know your greatest assets flaunt and accentuate them in public. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should wear something skimpy; you can accentuate your best physical assets without giving it away for free, by wearing fashionable clothing.

Men should also take pride in their appearance never going anywhere without putting on a decent suit or some slacks with a quality dress shirt. Shower, comb your hair, shave and make sure your colors match. Be careful about wearing anything too “retro”, because you don’t want to earn a reputation as the town nerd. If you’re self conscious about your body then wear clothing designed to hide the imperfections.

When you walk in public, pretend as if a camera is on you. Walk powerfully and in an upright posture, wearing a movie star gaze. If no one seems to be talking to you then start making casual conversation with strangers. You don’t have to hit on everybody that moves, but if you see a particularly breathtaking stranger, stop to say hello. Look around the room and make eye contact with the people you like.

Go to local events and always have something to do on the weekend. The more you socialize the more people will remember you. If you’re not good at starting conversation, then memorize certain topics that you can bring up. If it helps relax you, travel with groups of friends to well occupied bars, restaurants and clubs.

Enhancing Your Image Online

Take the same approach to beauty as you build an online presence. You could create a dating profile or you could even start your own webpage. Take some high quality portrait shots of yourself and upload them to the main page of your profile. Fill in the profile information. Instead of merely giving your “stats” try telling a story, or conveying a new thought. Be unpredictable and tell whoever is reading your profile that you are unique in a crowd of bores and wannabes. Make plenty of friends and get involved in major social networking sites, in addition to your regular dating sites. If you make a name for yourself locally by your online actions, then you could become a bit of a small town celebrity, especially if you do business with various local clients.

Blog on a regular basis so that people will start to follow your daily goings-on. Did you have a great first date? Blog about it. Was the last person you met a disaster? Blog about it…but maybe avoid naming names, unless you want to start a bout of web drama. Build anticipation for your appearances by announcing that you will be attending local events. Throw your own parties occasionally and invite some of your new local friends.

When you do find someone datable, remember that this is just the first of many celebrity dates you will enjoy. If you really want to blow your date’s mind, go to a few of your regular spots (make small talk with people who recognize you) and then go out and do something exciting instead of a boring dinner date. Think roller coasters, theme parks, poetry nights, live concerts, games, seasonal “costume” attractions, or if you (and your date) are very adventurous, hiking or jet-skiing.

Just put on the celebrity mind set that says “I’m a big kid at heart and I want to have some fun tonight!” and you can’t go wrong. And if you’re really full of yourself, then give your date a “Best Supporting Actress” statuette. Just smile when you do it, so she’ll know you’re joking.

About the Author: This is a Guest Post by Lior who works for Top10bestdatingsites, a dating reviews website with a unique in-house developed technology.