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When we say the words “perfect date”, most of us think of  Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman – you know, the part where he pulls up outside her apartment in a limo with a rose clenched between his teeth and sweeps her off to a sunset filled with Gucci, Dior and other designer things. While we’d be lying if we said our dream dates didn’t involve some form of splashing out, glamour and an exotic location (on a beach in Hawaii, anyone?), we also know in reality that most of us who read nzgirl can’t exactly afford the kind of expensive dates we see in movies. The challenge? How to have a luxe date on a beer budget!  The $20 Romantic PicnicYou can’t have a nicer date for $10 each. The key to this are the small touches. Beg, borrow or steal a picnic basket complete with nice dishes, wine glasses, napkins and cutlery…and most importantly, a blanket to lay on the ground (a sleeping bag will do in a pinch). Get the nicest bottle of wine you can afford – supermarkets often do special deals, so a decent bottle of red or sav should only set you back about $8 and visit the bulk food bin to get some nibbles like popcorn, crackers, dried fruit, banana chips, lollies, etc.
Or get together the ingredients for an open sandwich – bread, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado and some ham or cold chicken and the scene is set for romance.  The Games NightGet your mind out of the gutter – we’re talking about actual board games here, like in Sex & The City when Mr Big and Carrie played dominos. Easy card games are always a good bet or failing that, Twister, Snakes & Ladders, Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly are old faithfuls that everyone will have encountered at some point. If one of you has a Playstation, X-Box or other gaming console (or can get your hands on one), you can play Sing Star or one of those cool boxing games on Nintendo Wii. Best of all, you won’t even have to leave the house or spend a cent!  The Spooky Ghost Stories NightRemember how much fun it was going to fourth form camp and scaring all your classmates with tales of horror from beyond the grave? This is a version of it, updated for two. Pitch a tent somewhere, if it’s winter, you can even set one up in your bedroom or living room (make sure you’re home alone first). Get ready a couple of torches and extra batteries and make sure the tent is as cosy as possible. Have a tidy stockpile of food and drink handy, and make sure you visit the loo before you start! Turn all the lights off, then by the glow of torchlight, take turns telling each other horror stories till one or both of you fall asleep. If you need help, the internet is a good place to start searching for some…so get googling!  The City DateBe a tourist in your own city – you know those information kiosks you see around the centre of every town, built for tourists? They’re also a good place to get your hot little hands on guides of things to do around the city – a lot of them for free. Arm yourself with a backpack, enough money to get yourselves around on public transport and buy a sammie, and off you go.
Make it a point to visit 1) a place you’ve never heard of, 2) a place of historical importance (could be a famous garage, the museum or a park), 3) the most ridiculous landmark in the city (eg if you’re in Ohakune, the carrot), 4) an old library, university or college, 5) a place of great natural beauty. Trust us, it’s fun – and you might both learn something!
Sarah Lane
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