I am a firm believer that what counts in dating is the total investment from each party that’s expressed in time, attention, intention, gestures, kindness, affection, etc. Nice restaurants and events can be a lot of fun, but we don’t always have to break the bank to have an amazing time with our dates.
Often, what is more important than the total investment of money is the thought and the intention behind the date. One time, I had a killer second date on the beach. My date and I just sat on a towel and talked for more than 3 hours. Then we walked around and talked some more. I have a great memory of it, and we spent zero dollars. I liked that he didn’t feel the need to impress me or “wine and dine” me, but he spent half of the day getting to know me and enjoying my company. I believe that most people value connection over fancy experiences, and I trust that the list below can offer a good springboard for creating that connection.
I’ve listed some of my favorite ideas for dates that make me feel more connected to my date than a nice dinner and drinks (that tends to be getting a bad reputation as it could get costly).
Also, planning something that is outside of the ordinary shows a level of intention. It feels flattering to know that our date spent some time thinking and planning something to surprise us, show us a good time, or even impress us.
A simple meal in nature: It may sound cheesy at first, but I’ve seen some absolutely lovely setups:
-A blanket, beverages in pretty cups, and snacks on the grass in the park. It happens so rarely these days that your date would be absolutely delighted if you surprise them with such attention to detail as a comfy blanket, fancy reusable cups, creative snacks, and pretty napkins. A 5-minute Google Images search would give you some creative ideas.
-Ocean, river, or lake views. One time I saw a couple posted up on Sunset Cliffs in San Diego with 2 lounge chairs, fishing poles, a cooler full of adult beverages, tacos, and … drumroll … the SUNSET! Everyone nearby was jealous for not thinking of this as well!
-Setting up your spread in your backyard adds that extra touch without having to go anywhere else. This way you can get fancy and add some candles and flowers.
-Dinner around a safe firepit would be the ultimate romantic get-together. You have so many options here — roasting marshmallows, sipping on drinks, snuggling in front of the fire, etc.
A drive out to a nearby town that has a unique coffee shop, petting zoo, thrift store, gift shop, park, viewpoint, or something of interest. I think that the idea of driving away, even if it’s 20 miles, adds a significant level of excitement. Removing yourselves from your usual environment could be extremely fun and romantic. Just asking your date to be ready for a half-day adventure would create so much excitement.
Pool/resort pass. Most resorts or hotels sell a day pass for people who aren’t guests at the hotel but would like to use the other amenities. ResortPass.com is a popular website with participating resort listings for different cities.
Rooftops: You can choose a rooftop bar or restaurant, or just a rooftop of a building that has free access, and then bring your own bottle of champagne. You can get pretty creative here with your setup or just keep it simple.
Groupon services or experiences: shows, rides, amusement parks, cooking classes, dance classes, sound healing classes, massages, sports … you name it. You can get discounted services or experiences to enjoy with your date. I love paint night classes, but there are so many offerings to pick from. You can keep the fun and romance going on a budget.
Be a tourist in your own city: Often, we overlook some of the sightseeing spots of our own cities. Sometimes I pick up a free brochure with all the tourist attractions and choose something I haven’t visited yet. You can pick between nature, historic sights, museums, or anything that’s unique to your town.
The movies at your house. Rent a DVD from a Redbox nearby, use big popcorn buckets to make a statement, have special soda cups, and maybe even some candy. Set up big pillows, comfy seating, and blankets, and try to re-create those fancy theaters with the reclining seats at home. The idea is to make it a theme night, so do your best to re-create the feel of a movie theater. You may even offer more choices of snacks and beverages that you usually have around the house to provide the sense of picking from a menu.
There you have it! These 7 easy ideas for romantic and creative dates on a budget are sure to impress. Remember to have fun with it and enjoy the experience, from planning to execution! What are some of your favorite date ideas on a budget?
If you are anything like me and you are someone who identifies as spiritual and also single, you may have found yourself confused by what the best way is to approach being single and attracting a partner.
Law of attraction experts suggest that you should visualize what you want, release any negative emotions from not having it yet, and then allow it to flow your way. In other words, keep what you want in your thoughts. Keep stating what it is that you desire.
You may have read or heard advice from these experts that goes something like this:
Open your heart and your home and make emotional and physical space for your partner.
Also, don’t forget to be strong and independent on your own and not need a partner. Have a full life on your own and therefore be an attractive partner.
Oh, and act as if they are already here. That really helps on an energetic level. Be grateful as if you already have what you want. In other words, vibrate on the frequency of your desire.
But also, make sure you are not seeking anything. You don’t want to be walking around in life looking as if you were “looking.”
And don’t overbook yourself; remember that you need “space” in your life for that person.
Expect miracles!
But, don’t have expectations!
Tell the universe exactly what you want and trust that it’s already there.
But be open-minded for what may arrive as it may look different than what you imagined.
Don’t be attached to the outcome! Enjoy the journey!
Be content with the idea that you may never meet the “ONE ,” and only then will he or she be able to come your way.
Believe without any doubt that what you want will be yours…
The list and the mixed messages go on and on. And as they do, often does each dating experience that you encounter.
How do we make sense of it all? With all this advice floating into our lives in the way of Instagram posts, books, blogs, and dating gurus, are we all supposed to be ready for miracles and expect the best, or pretend that we low-key don’t care? Do we fill our schedules with friends and hobbies or do we leave space for the ONE? Are we going out there in the world trying new things, hoping that person would be doing the same, or should we not seek anything because we are acknowledging it’s not there yet and therefore not allowing it to come our way?
As I ask myself all these questions on my own single journey, I start to wonder, what’s the truth, really? I don’t want to be jaded, cynical, and resigned, as those are terrible places to be for multiple reasons — but I also want to be free. I don’t want to judge myself for not mastering the attraction thing fast enough.
As awakened and conscious beings, we have responsibility for and ownership of where our lives are currently and the results that have come from our choices, but when do we draw the line between having faith in destiny and the possible randomness of life?
What if there isn’t a ONE waiting in your vortex for you to allow into your reality? What if it turns out to be a numbers game and you must kiss a hundred frogs first? What if the truth is somewhere in the middle?
I’ve been dancing with both: believing that whatever is supposed to happen in my life will arrive on time, and also believing that I have power and ownership. Then, keeping my faith , I take consistent actions toward my goals (aka kissing a new frog every few weeks).
In dating in particular, I try to put myself out there by means of occasional online dating and pre-matched speed dating events, and mostly, doing the things that I love: going to the gym, grabbing a great cup of coffee after the gym, meeting with friends outside of the comfort of my home for coffee, walks, swimming, hikes, going to the beach, or grabbing dinner and drinks. In general, I have been carrying on with my life, making sure I enjoy every minute. I have stopped solving my life equation with the constant of having a partner one day. (A math reference, ’cause why not?) I figure, if a person comes into my life, we’ll make things work at that time. Until then, imma live ma life…
As spiritual teachings are very helpful in finding peace and purpose, we also have to be careful not to use all kinds of New Age advice to find meaning for EVERYTHING. Yes, most of the time, each life experience comes with lessons, but I find it stressful to always be looking for clues and signs for me to decode.
While wrestling with all these notions of dating and singlehood, I am choosing to release all expectations from myself and judgment that I may be “blocking” my partner from coming to me by fear, resistance, or whatever, and instead carry on with one single mantra:
“What’s meant for me will never miss me.”
Now, I can’t guarantee that this is 100% true, however, I am choosing to hold that one as a nonnegotiable for myself.
The reason I feel that this particular mantra is the best to hold as my only one is that it allows me to just be. It frees me of any ideas that I may be doing things wrong, because whatever is mine wouldn’t pass me even if I am fu$king up.
Also, it frees me from overthinking. I never ponder on “What would have happened if I… (fill in the blank)?” Instead, I move on with my life with the calm sense of knowing that whatever is mine will never go past me.
With that being sad, I still try my best in any given situation. I just never go back thinking what I could have done differently.
Another benefit is that I never wonder if someone “got away.” I just know that what’s mine will always be mine. And even if someone choosing to stop seeing me is really painful, I don’t have to try to make anything out of the events. Whether they come back or I find something better, I worry not, because…what is mine will never go past me. They must not have been mine. Very possibly, I was wrong thinking that they were. Life is so much easier if we allow ourselves to be wrong sometimes. In fact, we should always be looking for places we could possibly be wrong. (I learned this idea from The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life, by Mark Manson.)
What I love about this mantra is that I could see evidence of things being mine or not in all areas. I feel that all jobs that I was supposed to have, I’ve had. I feel at peace about my past going the way that it was supposed to go. So, I am applying the same mentality to dating.
At the end of the day, whether it’s all happening for the better…or it’s just happening…it is happening.
We can meet it with resistance or with the faith that…whatever is ours will be ours at the end.
I find the latter easier.