10 Cheap Dates in Central New York:
One of the Healthy Marriage Demonstration
Grant* television spots states, “Just because you are married doesn’t mean you
have to give up dating. Date each other.”
For many couples whether married, engaged or in
a committed relationship the desire to date is not at issue. However, the cost
involved in going out on a date s.tops some couples from dating Don’t let money
prevent you from asking your loved one out for a date! Below is a list of
suggestions for “10 Cheap Dates in Central New York.” Please remember that a low
or no-cost date created out of love may be as romantic, thoughtful and
meaningful as any expensive night out on the town. So here are a few suggestions
for…..
1. Take a trip. Dream of taking your
spouse or partner on a trip to some exotic country but you don’t have the money?
Talk as a couple about where in the world you would travel if money was not an
issue. Then, visit your local public library with your partner. Ask the
librarian to guide you to the travel section. Select a book on the country you
chose. Find a comfortable place to sit together. Travel to your country via the
photographs in the book. Ask each other what part of the country s/he would want
to see the most and why. Listen to each other’s interests and try to share in
your partner’s enthusiasm about certain aspects of the country even if they are
different from your own. Are there animals, birds, flowers, waterfalls, or land
formations which you would want to see before you left the country? Which ones?
Try to find photographs of them. Pretend you are there walking the beaches
together, skiing the slopes, swimming in the blue waters, eating the foods of
the country. Remember, this is a trip through a travel book - so time and money
are not issues.
2. Dinner for two. A dinner for two at a
restaurant may not be in your budget. However, you may be able to create the
same meal at home for much less money. Choose a day of the week when you will
make your special dinner. If both of you enjoy cooking, go shopping together to
buy the ingredients for the meal and cook the meal as a couple. If you are in a
daring mood the two of you might want to choose a recipe you have never tried
before. If the recipe turns out to be really good, great! - enjoy the meal and
each other’s company. If the new recipe results in a meal you would never eat
again - focus on the good time you had being together, not on the less than
desirable food.
During this dinner date turn off the
television, take only emergency telephone calls, and give your spouse/partner
your undivided attention. If you desire, add a few special touches to the table
such as a table cloth; single flower or a heart placemat (easily created from a
piece of red construction paper). Communicate with each other! Go down memory
lane and try to recall the first meal you ever ate together. Where did this meal
take place? Was it part of your first date? What did you eat? Were other people
with you? (note: If your first meal together was not a happy experience or you
just can’t remember your first meal as a couple, simply choose a different
topic. This date should be about happy times together not an occasion to bring
up unhappy memories).
3. Enjoy outdoor sports? Central New
York has “four-seasons” weather so there are always outdoor activities which may
be enjoyed. Local parks offer a variety of outdoor activities from nature walks,
biking, swimming, rollerblading in the summer to snow-shoeing and sleigh rides
in the winter. Can’t get to a park? Make use of your own backyard. Play a game
of Frisbee in the summer or build a snow sculpture together in the winter. Take
a walk with your spouse/partner in a warm, gentle spring rain. Do you and your
partner enjoy ice skating? Check out local skating rinks and make a date to go
ice skating. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate afterwards.
4. Community events. Central New York
has many free community events which would make great dates. Check out the local
newspapers for listings of free festivals, concerts, parades, and other
community events open to the public. Ask your spouse or partner on a date to
attend one of these community events with you.
5. Art, photography, music and
more....Interested in the arts but cannot afford museum or concert admission
tickets for two? Take your loved one on a date to a local public library and
listen to (free) musical presentations by local artists or enjoy an art or
photography exhibit on display. Many libraries have monthly calendars which list
upcoming events. If you don’t have access to one of these event calendars
telephone the public library near you and ask what events will be held there
over the next few weeks. Check local newspapers for listings of other free
exhibits and concerts happening around your neighborhood.
6. Point of Compass Ride. This is one of
the author’s favorite cheap dates. It is simple and takes no planning other than
having access to a car and a gallon or two of gas. This date may easily be
adapted to using the local public transportation system if you don’t have access
to a car or if you do not have a driver’s license.
One way to do a Point of Compass Ride date is
for one spouse/partner to choose a compass direction - north, south, east or
west. The other partner then drives in the direction chosen. No particular
destination is necessarily in mind other than traveling the “point of the
compass.” It is fun to discover a new place which the two of you may have never
seen before or rediscovering an area you haven’t explored in a long time. You
may find yourselves in a suburb you have never visited, or in the beautiful
countryside, or re-discovering all which the city has to offer. Points of
Compass Rides have a natural way of generating conversation. Enjoy discussing
the sights, sounds, scenery of new found areas. Just remember to chart your
route in your mind or on a map/paper so you can find your way back home!
7. Movie Night. Many grocery stores, as
well as, video stores rent movies cheaper than the cost of two tickets to the
movie theater. Rent a movie which you both will enjoy, pop some popcorn and have
a home movie date. Often the key to a successful date at home is eliminating
distractions. Be respectful of the fact this is a date. Accept only emergency
telephone calls, leave housework, car repairs to another time – not during the
movie.
8. Fall foliage viewing. Central New
York’s autumn season is beautiful with the varied colors of the changing leaves.
Go on a date by car or by local public transportation to enjoy the beauty of the
foliage. Let the changing of the leaves be the spring board for a conversation
between the two of you. Try to think of one positive change you will make as a
couple to enhance the health of your marriage/relationship. It might be
something such as commitment to dating each other at least once a month. Engaged
or thinking about marriage? You might make the decision as a couple to enroll in
the healthy relationship classes offered at P.E.A.C.E., Inc. (please see “class
information” and “class schedule” for further information on these classes and
eligibility requirements).
9. Creative Date. Are you creative?
Share your creative side with your spouse/partner on a “creative date.” Do you
have artistic talent? Draw a picture especially for your loved one. Good with
words? Write a song or poem for your partner/spouse. Excellent cook? Cook a
special dinner. Musical talent? Play or sing a song for your partner. Know the
constellations in the sky? Ask your spouse/partner on a evening date and point
out the constellations to them. Use your creativity as a starting point for
sharing with your date.
10. Trip Down Memory Lane. Remembering
good times in the past can be a reminder to spouses/partners of why they decided
to become a couple. Build a date around sharing old photographs of happy times
the two of you have shared; dig out the old cd’s and play the music which was
popular when you first started dating; recall a happy memory of a special time
you shared with your partner in the past and share the memory with him/her.
Remember the special feeling you had at the time, the laughter, and joy.
These are just a few ideas of low-cost dates in
the Central New York area. Other suggestions which have been brought to the
author’s attention include: going on a picnic; window shopping; and a date
playing board games together. Whether it is a date idea suggested here or one
you have thought of on your own, why not ask your spouse or partner out on a
date. Have fun!
* The Healthy Marriage Demonstration Grant is a
program of P.E.A.C.E., Inc. For further information about this program please
visit the P.E.A.C.E., Inc. website at www.peace-caa.org or call (315) 470-3300.
