Customer Reviews

Cheap Dates: Fun, Creative, and Romantic Dates That Won't Break Your Budget

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book definitely has a lot of creative ideas for dates and also for impressing your significant other.

Many of the ideas are very good and useful. Also, it is more than just a simple list. Many of the dates and romantic ideas are described in detail. However, the author seems to let his imagination run a little too wild when describing how some of these dates should play out.

For example, the idea of a surprise picnic on the beach is a good idea (though this might not be cheap). Getting a friend to set-up and guard the picnic site as the author describes is not impossible. However, the author then describes how your friend "slips away unnoticed". Easy for him to say; harder to achieve. Then the author REALLY goes off the deep end by saying that the picnic should have everything but wine. Then, as Smith describes it, when your significant other asks about the wine (we are to assume he or she will), another friend of yours either paddles up in a kayak or surfaces in scuba gear with the wine. Putting aside the difficulties of finding a friend capable of kayaking in the open ocean or remaining hidden along the shore in scuba gear, the timing on this would have to be profound.

Another example is the "lollipop surprise" where, according to Smith, you pull out two lollipops from your pocket and your date is puzzled to find a coupon for another date wrapped around their lollipop. He neglects to explain how you might get the coupon on the lollipop and re-wrap it in a non-tacky fashion.

Furthermore:
- Many of the ideas are not really cheap - for example, a "Teddy Bear" date as he describes it would probably run you at least $40.
- Many are repetitive - he offers in the range of 10 variations of what is really just a picnic, 5 variations of the same "take photos together" idea, and at least 3 variations of the "scavenger hunt" idea; none of which are all that unique in their variation from each other.
- Some are very location specific - the walks on the beach he suggests require you to live near a beach; the idea of a group "parking lot dance" will likely get a police response in a large city.

Now that I've gotten the bad out of the way, here are some good points.

Smith does a very good job in categorizing dates into categories to fit various stages in the dating cycle: "just friends", "great first impression", "relationship building (moving from friends to more)", etc.

Some of the date ideas he gives are wonderful. One idea, for example, helps solve the "I don't know, what do you wanna do?" question. That idea... the "Luck of the Draw" date, where several ideas are put in a hat and whichever idea is drawn is what you do.

Another example is a romantic gesture he suggests to college students: fill their dorm room with red, heart-shaped balloons for Valentine's Day.

All-in-all, the ideas are probably impossible to pull off in the way the author describes, but many are possible in their basic sense, and it certainly helps get the dating creatvity flowing.

PS: This review is from a male

Wow! What a find! Being married for 10 years, my husband and I fell into a rut. If we went out at all, it was simply to dinner and maybe a movie (or video rental). I was yearning for something that would bring the fun back into our lives, but that wouldn't break our budget. The date ideas in this book are the answer I've been looking for. The author gives practical, fun, and cost-conscious suggestions for creative dates that can spark a new relationship or rekindle an existing one. My husband and I have been using one idea from this book per week, and we're having a blast! What a great way to feel like a young "twenty-something" in love again!

I have been waiting for a book like Cheap Dates. I have found myself coming back to this book again and again as a resource for creative ideas when I am stumped. Mr. Smith proves that you don't have to have a wallet full of money to show your date a great time. If you are looking for a way to get out of that movie and a bag of popcorn rut, this book is for you!

In this day and age dating can be more of a challenge than it may even be worth. Not to mention that coming up with a creative date can sometimes seem impossible. After all, when you meet someone you want to make an extra special impression on, you don't want to do the same old movie and a dinner date. Well, with this book those stressful days of dating are over!

When I first picked up this book, I didn't know what to expect. Sure, I've looked through other dating books, magazines with dating suggestions, and even websites that offer dating advice. However, none compare to this book, Cheap Dates: Fun, Creative, and Romantic Dates That Won't Break Your Budget by Steven C. Smith. This book contains a surplus of dating ideas from first dates to dates with your spouse. It is for young and old alike, and I found that none of the creative dates in this book were offensive. Plus, all of the dates in this book were affordable. With gas prices on the rise and electricity prices (if you live in California) this book enables you to have a fun, cheap date without the stress!

I don't want to spoil it by giving examples from the book, but everyone should make this smart purchase. For the price you can't lose! If you're thinking that because this book is inexpensive the date ideas must not be all that creative, you're wrong! What I like most about this book is that all of these dates seem to be a base line. You can take most any date in this book and expand on the idea and tailor it to your likes or that of your date. After reading this book, and actually trying out some of the dates myself, I found that I too have the ability to be creative. This book helped me tap into my own creativity.

Plus, the book also has a icon element to help you navigate through the book quickly and easily. Just in case your date is a last minute one! Not to mention that there are also some coupons inside to give your date.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is ready to get out of the dating rut, and wants to start having some fun!

This book has a lot of creative ideas! It was funny to us because we already do a lot of the things that the book suggest. The ideas in the book are really not that unique, but it gets your mind thinking on how to have a fun time with less money.

My wife and I have been married for a few years. It is not that we are not creative people, but we started to fall into that same old weekend routine, go to dinner at our favorite restaurant, then catch a movie or possibly rent a video.

One day my wife commented, "We should go on a date." A date; I asked? "Yeah, have some fun. Like when you first met me." Well the ball fell in my court, a fun date? What could we do for a date, and have fun?

I told a friend that I needed to figure out something fun to do for that weekend, did he have any ideas. He told me about Steven Smith's book.

Well it has been several months since I purchased the book. I have to say that my wife and I have enjoyed the books creative ideas, which has helped us to have some of our best dates. This book certainly has assisted us to have more fun, adventure and spontaneity in our weekends. I recommend it for singles and couples alike. Thanks Steven!

This author certainly knows how to have fun. His dates must really enjoy this thoughtfulness and antics. Most of the ideas are creative and certainly they are cheap in comparison to what most people spend on dating. I was only disappointed that there weren't more ideas in the book.

I did find a book called 300 Creative Dates at [...] that had a huge selection of creative and cheap dates. Definitely worth checking out.

There was a nice variety of dates in the books - many of them creative. Another good resource I have found is TheRomantic . com

I rated this book 5 stars BECAUSE I fell in love with this book since the first day I got it. This book has a variety of great date ideas that are practical and very affordable. This book has date ideas for all types of couples/dates such as first time dates, dates for married couples, anything goes dates,last minute dates and sizzle dates, etc.

What's cool about this book is that it contains an icon next to each date idea and in the beginning of the book there's a key that indicates what type of date it is. Like for example there's a clock next to every date idea that is made in a rush or "last minute dates."

My favorite kind of dates from this book are the "relationship building dates." I'll explain a few so you can see why I think these type of dates are ADORABLE!

A Few Relationship-Building Dates from the book:

1-Green Thumb Date: You can draw parallels between dating relationships and gardens: Both require patience and take time to grow. If left unattended, they will dry up and wither. Choose a plant, shrub, fruit or flower that is most symbolic of your relationship. Make a date to plant and cultivate it together; perhaps a happy grouping of sunflowers, a fast-growing ivy or a humorous chia pet. Whichever option you choose,, may you enjoy the wonder of seeing your plant life, as well as your dating life, grow abundantly.

2-Borrow-a-Kid Date: On your next date, invite your little brother or sister, a nephew or niece, or the next-door neighbor's kid to spend the day with the two of you. Whoever you two decide to "borrow," make that child the center of attention throughout your entire time together. Go to the carnival or county fair. Take the child on the kiddie rides, and be sure to visit the petting zoo. Perhaps an afternoon playing on the swings or on the merry go round. Pack the child your childhood favorite snacks. After a day of activities, come home and take a nap or watch an animated movie. Afterward play a few classic boardgames like Candyland or Chutes.

3-Modeling Date: Load your camera with a roll of film, head to the nearest park and alternate taking pictures of each other posing as models. Shoot in a wide variety of locations and poses. Take the film to a one-hour photo shop to be developed.During the hour wait, take some time to "develop" a few areas of your relationship as well. For every exposure on your roll of film, be it 12,24 or 36, try to learn an equal number of new things about each other: hobbies, interests, favorite foods, movies, pet peeves, etc. Once the pictures are ready, bring them home and make mini-photo albums to exchange as gifts.

HOPE THIS REVIEW AND PREVIEW OF THE BOOK HELPED! I love this book so much.

I absolutely love the creativity and the fun practical ideas of the author! I have had so much fun trying out these dates. I did the 'Lucky Day' date for my boyfriend. I thoroughly enjoyed planning it and my boyfriend said it was so cool that I thought to do something so special, different, and out of the ordinary for him. I think life is way too short and precious to continue date after date with the boring dinner and movie night. This book has definitely raised my standards of fun and memorable dating ideas...it's a definite winner!