Versacehottie Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Mini golf or bowling are great but agreed they are not as cheap as fast food. If you do decide to do either of these things, I think it's smart to clarify that it's for fun/novelty--that is UNLESS you are a serious bowler. You don't want whatever activity you choose to do be deemed as part of your personality and make-up if it isn't. Like if you choose bowling, it's because it's fun and active or in LA there are hipster-y ones with bars. I think it's obvious to some people but always best to slip it into the pre-date convo if the person doesn't yet know you well enough. I guess that all truly applies to the fast food thing too. If a guy took me there because we were joking about dairy queen ice cream in a prior conversation or because I told him how much I liked it, I would find it to be the sweetest thing but if I get the feeling that this is what he feels is his style of acceptable dating, I wouldn't be that impressed. It's not about the money per se, it's about the level of effort. An ice cream at one of those places says that you are light-hearted and fun or same with a meal there after drinking or just a desire to eat bad food or satisfy a craving you guys have joked about. The purpose is really not to get a meal into her stomach, you know? It's to have a fun time together. That's why I always think it's funny when some guys think girls would use them for a free meal. The majority would not. If you have only $20 or $30 for a date, I would try to find a cool burger place (lots of those cropping up now) or cool mexican place or just take for a drink if you are old enough for that. Seriously, you can't go wrong with ice cream. Or it's not maybe as exciting but it could be with the right person, but a movie could be around $30 for two OR if someone asked to go during the day that would be cheaper and I would think that's fine. Or do something active and free (ish). 1
Gary S Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Um, a fast food resturant? Maybe if you are a teenager. But if you are over 21, you want to take somewhere a little classier than that. 1
fitnessfan365 Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Dammit Phoe! I don't like that at all! You need to get those guys to up their game! I love spoiling a woman I'm getting serious about with great dates. Like my last GF loved murder mysteries. So on the day where I asked her to be my GF, I shelled out over $200 for a murder mystery themed dinner attraction where they interact with the audience, and you try to solve the murder. It was a blast and she loved it. But one thing I hate is when someone has a "entitled" attitude in the very beginning. If a woman's intentions are good, and she's in good company, she'll enjoy herself no matter what she's doing. Granted, I'd never take a woman to a fast food restaurant. However, the only thing a woman deserves in the very beginning is good company and a chance to prove herself. So women that think they deserve a wine and dine on the first date are too high maintenance.
Phoe Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Dammit Phoe! I don't like that at all! You need to get those guys to up their game! Haha, if I'm honest, there's nothing I could've done! Taco Bell for the first date made Panda Express for the second date seem like quite the upgrade. We did go Dutch however, so all in all we both saved money there. My most recent ex took me to Applebee's once though and I thought that was quite nice! Even though some might only consider it barely a step up from fast food, I liked it and I'd like to go back sometime
katiegrl Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Lol...this thread reminds of a movie classic "The Graduate" with a very young Dustin Hoffman.. He first took his date to a strip club, she ran out, he ran after her, they made up and then they went to a drive-through hamburger joint and ate in his Fiat!! They were totally clicking and having a blast while chowing down on greasy burgers and fries! Just goes to show ya_ when you're with the right person whom you're totally into....it doesn't matter where the hell you go!! Oh and BTW it was a first date! 1
fitnessfan365 Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Lol...this thread reminds of a movie classic "The Graduate" with a very young Dustin Hoffman.. He first took his date to a strip club, she ran out, he ran after her, they made up and then they went to a drive-through hamburger joint and ate in his Fiat!! They were totally clicking and having a blast while chowing down on greasy burgers and fries! Just goes to show ya_ when you're with the right person whom you're totally into....it doesn't matter where the hell you go!! Oh and BTW it was a first date! You should check out the movie "My Best Friend's Girl" Dane Cook plays a guy who other guys pay to ask out their exes and be a douche so the ex boyfriends will look good by comparison. Jason Biggs (his best friend and cousin) is trying to win over Kate Hudson's character. So Dane Cook takes her to a strip club. Really funny and underrated movie. BTW - It sounds like you may be talking from experience there..
todreaminblue Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 what about yum cha...they arent that expensive for the little dishes that come around and you pick and choose......some of them can be talking points....and most of them are actually good for you.....if you stick to steamed.....theres that air of excitement too as they bring around the trolley its contagious.....deb 1
BlackOpsZombieGirl Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 BOZG, I would send you a PM, but don't have access to that feature since I'm not premium.. Noticed on your profile that you like to make horror movie trailers. I actually did some professional video editing and still love it as a hobby. So I'm curious what you edit with. I use Final Cut Pro primarily now. BTW - Laughed out loud at the mention of Popeye's. Haha I love movie editing and it's one of many "hobbies" that I have. When you find out what I edit my horror movie trailers with, you'll either laugh or you'll be like, "bummer" lol....I edit with WMM.... it's all I have right now. But, it has served me well and I've had thousands of hits on some of my trailers and even over a mill hits on one of my most pop trailers - so um, I'm not complaining. When I can afford the best of the BEST movie editing software, then I'll definitely get it! You liked the Popeyes plug, eh? Oddly enough, I like their chicken strips! And their fish too! I'm an easy to please kinda girl .
MissBee Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 Nan. Even for a first meeting I'd suggest going to a cozy coffee place instead. It's not like fast food places are the only cheap places to hang out nowadays... I think that's also part of the point for me, it would show a complete lack of creativity and worldliness for me personally if when a man thinks inexpensive his first thought is fast food. There are so many other options and things to do and for you to come up with nothing better than "Let's go to McDonalds" I mean that's simply not my speed. Like I said, it depends on the woman. Even for fast food, where I live has lots of local burger places, pizza places and other casual dining restaurants that are not chains and are not expensive but are way more interesting and nicer than the run of the mill dollar menu spot. I've never met a guy for coffee as a date personally, I've always just gone straight to an actual dinner date or one of my more unusual but fun first dates was the ballet, but if I were going to do something more casual they have lots of local coffee shops near me, local tea restaurants, desserteries, cafes and so on that are nice that you can go to or your usual Starbucks (the one closest to me is super cozy and nice) and it won't break the bank. Something my ex did that I thought was smart was that he had a list in his phone of all potential date places he could take a date: different movie theaters (some w/ interesting concepts and not just the run of the mill ones), restaurants, different activity places, different parks etc. He basically tried to get a feel for me and what I liked based on our conversations, he even asked what was the best date I've had, the worst etc and from that he got a sense of what I liked and didn't and chose from his list where to go for our date...he won so many points, obviously became my boyfriend after, as the date was greaaaaat and it showed a level of creativity, interest, adventure and paying attention which made him stand out head and shoulders above any guy who was indecisive or thought we should go to McDonalds. 2
Phoe Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 I think that's also part of the point for me, it would show a complete lack of creativity and worldliness for me personally if when a man thinks inexpensive his first thought is fast food. There are so many other options and things to do and for you to come up with nothing better than "Let's go to McDonalds" I mean that's simply not my speed. Like I said, it depends on the woman. Even for fast food, where I live has lots of local burger places, pizza places and other casual dining restaurants that are not chains and are not expensive but are way more interesting and nicer than the run of the mill dollar menu spot. I've never met a guy for coffee as a date personally, I've always just gone straight to an actual dinner date or one of my more unusual but fun first dates was the ballet, but if I were going to do something more casual they have lots of local coffee shops near me, local tea restaurants, desserteries, cafes and so on that are nice that you can go to or your usual Starbucks (the one closest to me is super cozy and nice) and it won't break the bank. Something my ex did that I thought was smart was that he had a list in his phone of all potential date places he could take a date: different movie theaters (some w/ interesting concepts and not just the run of the mill ones), restaurants, different activity places, different parks etc. He basically tried to get a feel for me and what I liked based on our conversations, he even asked what was the best date I've had, the worst etc and from that he got a sense of what I liked and didn't and chose from his list where to go for our date...he won so many points, obviously became my boyfriend after, as the date was greaaaaat and it showed a level of creativity, interest, adventure and paying attention which made him stand out head and shoulders above any guy who was indecisive or thought we should go to McDonalds. A key factor in all that is that you have many choices available where you live. Where I live, for example, there are maybe 5 fast food restaurants, a dennys and an applebees, I can think of 3 non chain restaurants, a starbucks, another cafe, and 2 bars. There's an Olive Garden 20 miles away. There's a good Japanese place 20 miles down too that I go to with my dad a few times a year. Otherwise, that's it for choices. There's a standard movie theater. No museums or galleries. The park is just an acre of spotty grass and a jungle gym. And fwiw, half those restaurants did not exist when I was in high school. It's definitely improved in the past 10 years.
soithascometothis Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 What about something more creative that can actually be accomplished in your small town? Plan a movie date, make some awesome sandwiches, get there early and eat them before the place fills up. The fact that you're "breaking the rules" is a bonding thing also. Or if you are a horrible cook, then maybe try to sneak some take out in. I did that once with a girl, we snuck some chinese food into a movie theatre and had an awesome time.
MissBee Posted March 5, 2015 Posted March 5, 2015 A key factor in all that is that you have many choices available where you live. Where I live, for example, there are maybe 5 fast food restaurants, a dennys and an applebees, I can think of 3 non chain restaurants, a starbucks, another cafe, and 2 bars. There's an Olive Garden 20 miles away. There's a good Japanese place 20 miles down too that I go to with my dad a few times a year. Otherwise, that's it for choices. There's a standard movie theater. No museums or galleries. The park is just an acre of spotty grass and a jungle gym. And fwiw, half those restaurants did not exist when I was in high school. It's definitely improved in the past 10 years. Yes, where you live does also dictate where you can go and what you come to see as the norm. If you live in a place that doesn't have much of anything, well you have an excuse and have to work with what is there. But if you live in a more populated place with options, then the fast food route will seem very unimaginative.
Omei Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 Don't get lost in successful dates in movies guys they're movies for a reason. 1
Els Posted March 6, 2015 Posted March 6, 2015 (edited) So what are good date ideas for adult women if you're on a budget? Does bowling or miniature golf seem ok or does that also seem a bit too teenagerish? You're around 25 or so, if I recall correctly? I'll give you my perspective as someone a few years older than you: - Mini golf and bowling is fine, assuming she enjoys those activities - A good budget first date idea IMO for a mid-20s girl is a nice dessert parlour, if you have any around your place. A place that serves little cakes and tea, or gourmet gelato, or such. They cost less than $10 per person and you can sit around and talk - I like todreaminblue's idea of yumcha too (but that REALLY depends on where you live, it's a very specialized thing) and MissBee's idea of a local pizza place, preferably somewhere that has their own woodfired oven and tablecloths - I really don't consider fast food to be a 'date', it's usually somewhere we go to to save time or on the way to something else, or really late at night for a snack if everywhere else is closed Edited March 6, 2015 by Elswyth 1
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