How to Make Her Feel Special without Breaking the Bank

By Hillary Hyduke on July 4, 2012

My boyfriend, Nate, and I on a picnic at Mount Holyoke

 

 

I have heard a lot of complaints from guy friends of mine lately saying that taking a girl out right now, much less having a girlfriend, is out of the question due to financial reasons. They joke that there’s no such thing as a “cheap date” anymore and that that is unfortunately all they can afford. Then, they go on to explain that college prices are overwhelming, their jobs don’t pay well, and things that girlfriends require such as jewelry, vacations, fancy dinners out, concerts, plays, amusement or water parks, museums, even mini-golfing, are just too expensive.

To this I can’t help but laugh because, although some women are more demanding than others (in which case you may want to re-think going out with them in the first place), most are far more easy to please than men realize. Of course they enjoy all of those things, but what they really want to is to have fun and to feel special, and (hang on because this will shock you) neither of those things require a lot of cash!

Here are just a few “cheap date” ideas that will have any girl asking for more. Yes, some of these ideas may seem cheesy, but cheesy is often good when it comes to winning a girl’s heart. At least for me, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing as long as you’re having fun and doing it together.

I also included some thoughts on gifts that I think many men could benefit from. Again, you shouldn’t have to spend too much to get a perfect present. Read my tips to learn how to get “more bang for your buck”.

 

Date Idea #1:
Take her on a picnic at a local park, or even in your backyard. It may sound lame at first, but it’s a great way to get her relaxed, make conversation flow, and let her see that you are thoughtful as well as down to earth.
Pack some of her favorite foods, homemade or not (just definitely edible), bug repellant, possibly sunscreen, and a blanket (make sure the blanket is semi-thick so that you don’t end up with soggy behinds). If you have the cliché basket somewhere at home, great, put all of the supplies in there, but if not, even a bag or plastic container would work.  In the picture above, my boyfriend, Nate, and I used brown paper bags for our picnic.

Also, try to picnic on a nice day and if it’s hot, find a shady area to set up. You don’t want intense temperatures to mess with the heat you’ll already be generating! She will think you are the sweetest thing, and if you haven’t ever picnicked before, trust me, you’ll want to try it anyway.

 

Date Idea #2:
Plan a night in with board games, or even video games if she’s a gamer like me, but make sure to not push video games if she isn’t in to that. You don’t want her to think that she has to be “one of the guys” or interested in everything you are in order to have fun with you.

Everyone loves getting in touch with their inner child from time to time, so board games that you enjoyed when you were younger are a good bet.  However, there are grown-up games too, but some games just never get old. I suggest staying away from games that rely on pure luck, such as War or Candyland (which I doubt you would have chosen anyway), because they have a potential to grow boring. Scrabble is a personal favorite of mine because you can show off your smarts and challenge your opponent’s.

Friendly competition is always good in a relationship and pushes each of you to be your best.  Make sure, however, not to be a sore loser! If you are a known sore loser, have a little internal dialogue with yourself pre-game where you remind yourself of what it is you really want out of this time. If winning the game is more important to you than winning her heart, I’d probably go with another one of these date ideas because, I hate to break it to you, but poor sports are never attractive.

 

Date Idea #3:
Go for a walk! It may seem too simple, but a walk can provide a very intimate setting to get to know someone. Some athletic couples like to run together versus walk, but I would keep it at a light jog to still consider it a date. Walking together gives you a chance to talk, to take in your surroundings, and to enjoy each other’s company. You may get into a very in-depth conversation and end up feeling much closer than when you began your venture. Don’t be surprised if she wants to walk with you more often after the first time.

You can combine walks with other events and even bring your dog for some additional bonding. There are many different options when it comes to location for a walk. It doesn’t have to be “long walks on the beach” although those are never a bad idea. On a walk around a town or city you could grab a bite to eat, do some site-seeing, or window shop. You could also go for a walk at a park and make a pit-stop at the swings, which can be really fun, or walk on an actual walking path for a more scenic experience. If she is more of the outdoorsy type, you could also consider turning your walk into a hike. In most areas, there are nearby National Parks or State Parks that have great hiking trails.

 

Gift Tip #1:
You can always get her a gift that doesn’t cost more than $10-20, but requires just a bit of thought. Get her something that you know she needs, have heard her say she wants, or just go with something sweet. Some random ideas that seldom fail are flowers, a cute card (homemade for extra points), her favorite candy bars or snacks, a new movie you could watch together, a bottle of the lotion she wears every day, a photo of the two of you framed for her room, a small trinket that made you laugh and think of her, etc..

Gift Tip #2:
Gifts that have something to do with a time the two of you had together, or something else that you share, such as a love of a sport or an inside joke, go a long way.  You could burn her a CD of songs that remind you of her, or make her a scrapbook outlining all of your favorite memories together.  She will love that you put so much thought into it, and the thought is really what counts.

Gift Tip #3:
Another way to score major points is to go with the gift “for no reason at all” technique. She will love that you were thinking of her when it wasn’t expected and you will be sure to brighten her day.

Gift Tip #4:
NEVER give her a gift card. It can show laziness, which she will take as a sign that you don’t really care that much. I understand that it can seem overwhelming to think of a gift for a special girl, but simply go with your gut (and consider getting a gift receipt). If the gift is something you picked out specifically for her, typically, it will be far more important to her than what the gift actually is. The only time gift cards seem to be able to go over well is if you have plans to take her out to pick something out together. Even then, it can be a risky move, so I’d steer clear of the situation unless she is truly very picky, in which case, good luck.

 

I know that women  can seem so intimidating to men sometimes, but inside every woman, no matter how complicated, is a girl who longs to be loved, to be thought of, and to have a good time. The best way to win our hearts is to be yourself, be brave, and take a chance on things that you may have previously written off as lame or cheap. Show your special woman today that you care and just how truly special she is without breaking the bank.

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