10 Foolish Cheap Dates
Fool for Love
February 11, 1998

1. Watch a meteor shower. How much more romantic can you get than watching shooting stars together? Bring a blanket, a bottle of wine and some chocolate chip cookies. If you don't know anything about astronomy, brush up on it a little before you go. Check out The Comet/Meteor Shower Site for everything you ever wanted to know about stuff hurling down at us from space. They also have cool information on when and where to see the best ones.

2. Go to a 99-cent movie. If you're like most people, you're both incredibly busy and have missed a couple of new movies that you wanted to see. Why spend seven or eight bucks a piece to see a first-run show when you can spend one measly dollar and see a movie that's been out about two months?

3. Make dinner at home. There are three distinct advantages to this ploy. One, it's cheap. Two, it makes you look domestic (if you're a Foolette) and multi-talented (if you're a Fool). Three, in case you really hit it off, that couch is just a few feet away.

4. Go on a picnic. Has some of the same advantages as the meteor shower and making dinner at home. It's cheap, you seem domestic even though you've only made sandwiches, and you'll always look back fondly at "that time we went on the picnic together."

5. Volunteer together. Who says you actually have to spend money? Why not do something good for someone else? Go on a walkathon, clean up a stream, or help with a party for homeless kids. Guaranteed you'll come out looking like a star if you do this.

6. Go ice skating. Depending on where you live, this will set you back about three bucks. It's fun, it's athletic, and (if you're good) you'll get a chance to show off. If you're not good, you could always practice beforehand. Also, if you're not good, you'll get to see how magnanimous your new love can be. Is she a jerk because you can't do something? Better to learn that now and dump her. If he's patient and kind and makes you laugh at yourself, it's a good sign that he's a keeper.

7. Take in a ball game. Not a $45-per-ticket ball game at the new MCI Arena where you'll see mediocre players who make gazillions of dollars. Go to a minor league or a college game. You'll spend about 5 bucks each and get to see future greats of the game with names like "MudCats" and "Rowdy Raccoons" emblazoned on their backs.

8. Be an early bird. You don't have to wait for the finals of a tennis tournament to see good matches. Go to the qualifying rounds and pay about $3 for a ticket to a professional tournament. Or go to the matinee show of the hot play in town. You'll be able to save about half on admission and you'll still have time for an early dinner.

9. Get competitive. Check out competitions in your area; many are free. Watch mutts be judged for the "Most Waggly Tail" in a fund raiser for the Humane Society. Meet budding artists at a local exhibit for young talent. See world-class athletes in the off season while they're playing summer league ball or doing "fun runs" for training.

10. Take a tour. Yeah, you could do the Grey Line thing for your city (around $10), but I had something a little more unusual in mind. Take a walking tour of your city's historic district. Many offer offbeat tours set around ghost stories or tales of murder and mayhem. Not only will you be entertained, but you'll learn more about your home town so that you can impress your next date in case this one doesn't work out.

-- Trudy Bowen (TMF Hoyden)