Recession Romance: Dating in a Sucky Economy

Two Movie Tickets: $24.

One Large Tub of Popcorn: $8.

Two Medium Sodas: $10.

A date night at the movie theater: Ridiculous!

Over $40 for a date at the movies? And I didn't even include Milk Duds at four bucks a pop! Traditional date night spending is becoming a bit much. Research has shown that an ounce of movie popcorn costs more than an ounce of filet mignon.

I'm assuming you don't want to cash your 401(k) to ask out the coworker you've been crushing on. I don't blame you. Dating can be hard enough without adding in finances. Fortunately, creating a memorable experience is much more importantly than the dollars spent. Do you want to be "that guy who took her out to perfectly fine pasta place" or the one who gets another date? You might have to put in a little more time to plan, but a creative date is worth it for your budding relationship and your wallet.

Get Smarter...Together

A night out at the symphony or theatre can set you back at least $100, but you can definitely enjoy a cultured night out in most cities for a fraction of the price.

Explore the Wonderful World of Wine Even if you already know the difference between pinot noir and pinot grigio, there's always something to learn at a wine tasting. Most tastings are less than $10 and give you an opportunity to learn together and interact. Plus, once you decide on a favorite, you'll know a great wine to buy for a future — and your date will be flattered that you remembered.

Book it to a Book Reading Who doesn't love to curl up with a good book? Major authors travel through book stores and read from their newest novels. Not only are a lot of these book reading entertaining, they are free. Want to really win them over? You can purchase the book for your date and get it signed by the author. A little memento from your date and still cheaper than a dinner.

Get in Touch with Your Artistic Side

On any given day, there are at least 50 art exhibits in most cities and many are free. Pick a medium (photography, watercolor, sculpture, etc) and choose three places to visit. Discuss your favorites over coffee afterward.

Treat the Winter Blahs

Since our calendars have told us that it is officially spring, we'll start to wonder if the grey skies will part, if the snow will melt, and if the warm weather will ever come. Fortunately, you don't need to hide under the covers until the temperature hits 70 degrees. Try these date ideas that let you bring the outside in.

Stargaze without Frostbite

Love looking at the stars but want to make sure that your date doesn't lose feeling in her toes? Check out the your local Planetarium. It is a fun and romantic way to look gaze at the stars no matter what the weather is like.

Put a Little "Spring" in Your Step

It's spring all year round at your local Botanic Gardens. No matter what time a year, you can pretend you're in Hawaii as you stroll through the tropical garden complete. It's like a mini vacation without the airfare.

Pack a Picnic

Who doesn't love a picnic? Spread a blanket on the floor and grab some wine, cheese, fruit and crackers. Your date will be impressed because it looks like you put a lot of time and effort into it when it actually only takes a few minutes at the store.

Bring Out Your Inner Child

Couples that play together, stay together. And this holds true when you're dating. Keeping the activities fun and light the first few dates is a great idea — and keeps you away from taboo topics. Any of these activities will have you laughing and creating moments to remember.

Games Galore

Who doesn't love a good game of Twister? Pull out a few of your favorite childhood games and go to town. There is a lot you can learn about someone while you play. Are they a sore loser? Do they play fair? These are all things you'll want to know before making a commitment. Hey, if you catch them cheating you can always tell them to "go fish."

Outdoor Adventures

We all know that hiking, canoeing or any other outdoor activities can be a fun date. But how about a little childhood twist? When was the last time you flew a kite? Built a sandcastle? Had water gun fight? A little childish, maybe. A lot of fun, definitely.

Hunt for Treasure

This is my favorite and for the true adventurers. It's a bit of work, but worth it in the end. Create a treasure hunt for your date full of puzzles to solve and clues to the next destination. It could be in a public building (such as the mall) or over an area (a fun, energetic part of town). You can even get other people involved and have a great time with it. The "treasure" can be a final destination where you have a huge ice cream sundae to share, a favorite bottle of wine or another fun activity. Either way, the real treasure will be the memories made from such a fun creative date.