I had just moved to the Bay Area for a new job (read: a new city to explore and meet the Bay Area’s finest), but I was working at the bottom of the totem pole at a non-profit in San Francisco (read: living the broke life).
Working an entry-level non-profit job in one of the most expensive cities in the US was already difficult to balance with rent, and when you’re trying to meet folks through conversations over $15 cocktails, things with your monthly finances could get a bit dicey.
So, what do you do? You want to meet people and have fun, but you don’t want to drop a fortune. And in my experience, if it’s the first date, you also don’t know how it’s going to go and you want an exit plan if things don’t click.
So low and behold, here are my tried and tested ideas for first dates that are economical that don’t involve getting your date to pick up the tab (although, hey, if that works for you, go for it).
Go on a walk
One of my favorite first-date activities is going on a walk. You get your daily steps in, you get to know your date, you get to admire your surroundings, and you’re sparing your wallet. What’s not to love?
If you’re lucky to live somewhere where you can go on walks — whether in the park or by a river — do it! And if hiking is possible (and it’s your cup of tea), that’s also fun (and free).
My favorite go-to date was to walk up to Coit Tower (that beautiful view!) or to stroll the area around the Ferry Building by the water after work. So, what’s your favorite walk?
Go be a tourist
I was new to the city, so it wasn’t hard for me to be a tourist. And for you, I’m sure there are still things in your city you haven’t done yet. You can always find free/cheap things to do in the city. So hop onto whatever website you need to and see what’s going on in the city that day or weekend. For SF, I used Funcheap, amongst other websites.
Go visit the library. Go to that free museum. Go visit that free pop-up concert in the park. Thrift shopping. Chess meetup. Open mic night. The possibilities are endless.
One date I enjoyed was a standup comedy night that happened in someone’s tiny apartment. We all crammed into the stuffy hallways, arching our necks to watch aspiring comedians perform sets of standup.
Volunteer
Who doesn’t like to give back? If you already volunteer, such as at a monthly soup kitchen, you can invite your date along with you. And if you don’t, there are always volunteer opportunities you can find, whether it’s picking up trash, raking leaves, or helping out at the pet shelter.
By volunteering together, you can get to see your (potential) partner in their element and see how they interact with not just yourself, but also with others around them. If giving back is something that matters to you, then this is a great way to test it out.
A tip for your exit strategy
On a slightly unrelated note, in my experience with first dates, I’d usually want to ensure I had an exit plan if things didn’t click or if I wasn’t feeling it. If you find yourself meeting up at a bar for drinks, here’s a tip: Get there early, order a drink, close the tab, and that way when you’ve finished with your drink (or the conversation), you can excuse yourself right away without having to awkwardly dance over the bill situation.
At the end of the day, do whatever you need to do to have fun with it! You’re going out, meeting new people, spending time and energy, so you might as well try and have fun! And there are plenty of ways to get creative and have fun without breaking your wallet.
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Previously Published on medium
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