When all is said and done, some of your fondest romantic recollections will be of moments that were free. But let’s be honest, others will be of moments that cost you an absolute fortune. Nevertheless, for all but a privileged few, there are times when funds are extremely low and parsimony must strike. And so according to Loanable, what follows are the very best five activities for couples who cannot – or do not wish – to rub two pennies together. And with the holiday season almost upon us, special attention is paid to winter time pursuits
Walk around a Food Hall, Farmer’s Market or Christmas Market together
As well as being essentially cheerful, the-world-can’t-get at-you environments, they are also places that almost invariably give out free stuff, too. You could check out somewhere snazzy like Whole Foods Market and quite possibly luck out with chunks of artisanal cheese, charcuterie and little pieces of cake. And with the holiday season fast approaching, you could head to a local Festive Market and get buzzed of mini measures of mulled wine while sampling mince pies and stilton as the local choir provide the soundtrack. This, surely, must rank as the frugalist’s paradise!
Babysit Together (With the Caveat that you Choose the Child Carefully!)
You may even make money out of this – although beyond a certain age it may feel slightly strange to charge for your services (especially if you’re looking after your friend’s kid) But at the very least, babysitting should grant you a free run at the homeowner’s fridge contents and wine. Plus, you can settle in with a movie, make out, and route through someone else’s drawers which for some of us is always a joy. The key overall principle is to look after a kid who is beyond baby and toddler stage and so is (theoretically) settled in to a sleeping pattern. You should also do some homework if necessary to be sure the precious little angel you’re looking after doesn’t come with the rep. of a certified brat.
Test Drive Luxury Vehicles
You can be the most broke guy or girl in the world, but making the most out of this activity is all how you carry yourself. Approach your test drive with haughty swagger (even if you look like you’ve bee dragged through a hedge) and the salesperson will fling open the car key cabinet for you so you can impress your date by taking tight corners at high speeds in a Maserati. And this may very well have the libidinous effect you’re hoping for. A word of caution, though: a showroom will probably Google your name ahead of time, so it won’t hurt if you adopt an alias of someone supremely wealthy.
“Let’s Play Twister, Let’s Play Risk” – REM
Make sure you have the place to yourself, hit the liquor cabinet, play some tunes and play strip twister. (You decide the rules by which you lose your clothes – you’ll surely be able to come up with something) If you’re in the mood for something slightly more cerebral, then Risk is a good bet. And if you really want to up the ante, try out one of the founding fathers of board games: GO. Although you’ll need your A game to get a handle of that one.
Following in the steps of “Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind” and have winter, night time picnic.
In the film, Jim Carey and Kate Winslet had their picnic on a frozen lake. While it undoubtedly looked cool and romantic, it’s also very dangerous. So maybe have your picnic near a frozen lake. Just bring along whatever you have in the fridge, wrap up and take something warm to drink. Winter also happens to be a great time of the year for stargazing together, too. You might call us schmaltzy, but this is all pretty damn romantic in our book!