Dating outside of your wallet

By now most people should be painfully aware of the current economic climate in the world.  Stock markets are down, jobs are being cut and banks are closing.  Everyone is tightening their belts preparing to weather the financial storm. 

In these uncertain economic times, there are still single people out there looking for love.  One of the most common ways to get to know potential mates is by dating.  According to dictionary.com, dating is defined as, to go out socially on dates.  This is one of many definitions of the word dating but in a nutshell, it is when two people go out with each other and participate in various activities together.  As the seasons change and the weather gets cooler, some of the cool free date activities like going to the park or outdoor festivals, are no longer viable options.  This can be a dilemma as people’s budgets become tighter.  I have spoken with guys who expressed to me that they were not in a good place financially to take a woman out on a date.  I have also spoken to women who expressed their displeasure at how many guys they’ve met who focus on the financial aspects of dating.

It is true that dating can cost money.  However, there are lots of different ways to spend time with someone.  The main issue is that many guys don’t take the time to be creative.  With movie prices in Atlanta now at $7-$8 for a matinee, $10 for an evening movie, $4 or more for popcorn and $3 or more for a drink, a simple evening at the movies can cost around $17 per person.  Then if you add dinner to the equation, it can go up to $50 per person.  So I totally understand it when guys complain that dating is expensive.  However, I don’t understand why they feel the need to make dating all about money.  The main purpose of dating is to get to know the person.  You don’t have to spend your savings to get to know someone.  If you ever feel like you do, you may not be getting to know the right person.

Be creative!  Atlanta is a great city for dating.  There are lots of cool things to do here and lots of ways to do things while on a strict budget.  One great place to check is the Creative Loafing paper.  That’s a great place for cool, artsy events going on in the city at any given time.  “If you can’t spend your money, spend your mind!” says Tiffany Saxton, woman who dates.