Recession Dating 101: Cheap Date Ideas

April 27, 2009— -- You can't buy love, so goes the decades-old adage. While that may be true, money can make it a lot easier to impress a date.

If you're finding yourself strapped for cash during the recession, it doesn't mean you should put dating on hold, says DailyCandy.com's editor at large Dannielle Kyrillos.

"The recession is actually a great time for love to bloom, because people have to think more about creative ways to spend time together, rather than spending money together," Kyrillos told ABC News.

To highlight the virtues of cheap dating, DailyCandy.com came up with ideas for inexpensive dates that can still make an evening priceless.

1. Almost all wine shops hold free tastings -- usually late Saturday afternoons or early evenings -- to bring people from the neighborhood into the store. Why not take them up on it? You'll learn something new together, get a little tipsy and nibble cheese and crackers.

2. Bar sports: shoot pool, play darts, bowl, drink beer. Find a bar with games like Ping-Pong, pool, and Ms. Pac Man. If you go in the early evening or on a weekend afternoon, most places offer beer specials and have free peanuts or pretzels on the bar to snack on.

3. Scrabble cafe: Bringing games like Scrabble, Monopoly or cards to a cafe offers hours of endless and free entertainment. Most cafes and tearooms encourage people to camp out for a while if they have a few beverages. Plus, coffee and tea are much less expensive than alcoholic drinks.

4. Trivia night: Your favorite hipster hangout probably has one, and trivia night can be a stimulating and cheap way to spend an evening. You could even win money or prizes, making it more cost-effective. Or, if there's not a designated trivia night at a place near you, offer to start one and they may even let you drink for free for your trouble!