Buuuuut. And here’s the but. You’re almost totally broke.
Let’s say that weekend in Vegas with the boyos totally emptied your checking
account. Or alternately, those last few pizzas you ordered for the football
game were loaded with everything, costing 50 bucks each. What? You have a
savings account? Quit reading here cause you’re obviously one of those people
who thinks ahead and you’re probably too busy watching the stock ticker to
really put your mind into dating.

Ok, now that that guy’s gone we can talk.

About Cheap Dating

Cheap dating is a double-edged sword. On the one hand,
you can totally win her heart with your quirkiness and originality, but on the
other, she may just see you as a cheap-ass guy (and trust me, that’s not sexy
at all).
So let’s discuss the rules to cheap dating to keep you out of hot water.

Rule #1: Listen to the girl.

Yeah, I know. They talk a lot.

They do talk a lot, especially when they’re nervous. You will find yourself
drifting off, thinking about something else. Well, stop. Listen to her. If
she’s saying she likes photography and cinema, listen. Those are tips to help
you out. If she says she hates belching and football you may want to pay
attention and watch your bodily functions. Or else call it off now.

Rule #2: Listen to the girl.

Yeah, cause you didn’t read that last paragraph did you?
Well, go back.

#1 – The Fitness Date

If she says, “I love being active and fit,” you’re money.
Take her up to the mountains (depending on the time of year) and go for a hike.
Boulder County’s got some excellent trails that
you should explore whether or not you’re with someone special. Here’s a good link to
many of the trails around Boulder.
The most
you’ll have to pay for is gas, some water and snacks, but this guide can’t do
everything for you there champ. One concern with this date idea is her safety.
Be sure to choose a place that has lots of other people so she doesn’t feel
like you’re taking her up to the mountains to kill her (which is also not
sexy).

An alternate to this is to find out when there’s an open
Yoga class nearby. Corepower yoga
is a good bet – they’re pretty much everywhere in Denver
and Boulder. At
the very least you may see something like this (even though it’s aerobics):

#2 – The Artsy Date

This really isn’t as bad as it sounds. If she says she likes
art & museums, you probably won’t have much to do except take her to an art
show or museum and nod as if you know something about art. You probably won’t
even have to dress in a beret and turtleneck to impress her either.

Choice one for the artsy date is the Art Walk every
first Friday of the month on Santa Fe. It’s
completely free for you and your date to dress up, explore the galleries and
partake of some of the free fingerfood.

Choice two is the Art Museum in downtown Denver. It’s about $20 bucks a piece for you guys, but
you get access to one of the best art museums in the west.

The downside to this kind of date is keeping it upbeat and
interesting – be on your best funny behavior and alternate between bemused
interest at the nakedness of Renaissance art and muffled laughter at the modern
art. If things get too heavy or boring, move the date on to a coffee shop or
dinner, depending on what time you’re out.

#3 – The Coffee Shop Date

It’s a good idea to really keep this one simple. Use it for
the first or second date, not many more, otherwise you may seem like a caffeine
addict. Before you get there, brush up on your coffee drink types and meanings
– check out this
website and truly impress her. Also, learn different kinds of teas in case
she’s not into coffee. If she likes tea, share a traditional Argentinian Mate (Mah-tay) – and show off your knowledge of other cultures.

#4 - The Public Gardens

The Denver
Botanical Gardens are a great choice for a date. It’s only 13 bucks during
the summer and 12 during the winter. Of course, keep in mind the timing of your
date – doing a walk through the gardens during a blizzard isn’t that much fun.
If she’s really into gardening there are also a number of different events and exhibits
given at the gardens that will show her how interested you are in her nurturing
side.

#5 – The Rich Girl Date

Ok, let’s say worst scenario – she hints that she’s
interested in guys with money. I’m not going to tell you to lie, but I think
this date idea may help you out a bit in that department without saying that
your father just forgot to have the Aston Martin flown over here from your palace in
Aruba, and that’s why you drive a simple Toyota Corolla. Find out when an
affluent neighborhood is having an open house. Dress up all dapper and peruse
how the other half lives. I recommend Cherry Creek, but there are some great
websites like the Kentwood Property
listings where you can sort by price.