Since tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d highlight some inexpensive ‘date’ ideas. Of course, these can be used at any time, not just V-Day.
What pops into most people’s minds is going out to eat. And why not? It makes you feel like you are dating again and not some old married couple eating tuna noodle casserole while your kids try and shout over each other. Not that this has ever happened to us of course. A good place to start for discounts and coupons is the Entertainment Book.
- The Entertainment Book is currently $15 at Walgreens and Blockbuster and probably lots of other places too. Sense to Save has written a blog post about how to get an Entertainment Book with a rebate, making it nearly free.
- Check out Restaurant.com. Here you can buy restaurant gift cards for about half of their value (it varies with each restaurant, and special offer). For example, you spend $25 and get a $50 gift card. Watch the restrictions closely though.
- Grab a copy of Grand Rapids Magazine. There is always a ‘buy one get one’ coupon for a local restaurant.
- Grand Rapids Tightwad did a post about a cheap date at Red Robin and even a movie afterwards. More movie deals are here.
- Between you and your spouse, you each have one birthday per year. You don’t have to admit which birthday it is to get the deals I mentioned in my post about restaurants with birthday meal deals.
- You could always ship the kids out, and make a meal at home. You can spend a lot at the grocery store and still come out less than you would for a restaurant meal.
- Have you been to the new GRAM? Me neither! We went to the old one with the Friday Night music thing but I think it has been spiffed up since then. Here is the website, click the date you are interested for the specifics. Admission is quite reasonable; and there is a gourmet buffet for $10 and cash bar.
- There are plenty of opportunities to see theater and live performances in Grand Rapids. In fact, one culture snob I met in the Detroit area saw a play here and was “shocked at how good it was”. I suppose he thought the actors would all be wearing overalls and have straw hats regardless of the role. Get your Entertainment Book back out, or look in your Culture Pass for coupons to the Civic, Actors Theatre, Wealthy Theatre, Jewish Theatre of Grand Rapids, Devos Performance Hall, and Circle Theatre. Also check Calvin, GRCC, and GVSU for live performances of all sorts.
- You could visit one of the breweries around town and taste a few local beers (or grab a growler – just remember someone has to drive). Some suggestions are Founders, Hideout Brewing, Schmohz Brewing, and Grand Rapids Brewing Company. Or, you could attend a wine tasting hosted by Art of the Table; more info is on the website.
- If coffee is more your style, there are lots of places to choose from that stay open past the normal daytime coffee shop hours. Try Beaners, Frenz, Urban Mill, The Bitter End, or 76 Coffeehouse.
- On the other end of the spectrum, you could go indoor rock climbing at Higher Ground. Think of it as a trust building exercise.
- You could skate at the Rosa Parks Circle rink.
- If you are too lazy and would like to watch other people skate (I fit snugly in this category) again with the Entertainment Book for a buy one get one ticket coupon and catch a Griffins Game. I also did a post about deals on tickets here.
Need some more? Last year on a blog called Shalee’s Diner there was a “50 Cheap Dates” post. I found some I haven’t already thought of that you might like:
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Go out for desert instead of dinner.
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Get restaurant gift cards for Christmas.
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Go to the batting cages.
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Have a progressive dinner or supper club with friends.
That ought to do it! Here are the dates; romance is up to you.
