Going out can be expensive, especially for two. Let the Marionette help you find the perfect date on a budget with these suggestions:

Free Dates:

•  Make a bucket list of things you want to do together.
• Build a blanket fort and watch a movie on your laptop.
• Go people watching at a mall, park, or somewhere else. Make up stories for the people that you see.
• Have a game night (board or video) with just the two of you, or invite some friends over to play.
• Watch a marathon of a movie series you already own, or one that’s on TV. Planet of the Apes, anyone?
• Volunteer.
• Share your favorite music, movie or something else with each other.
• Drive to places you have memories and share them. It’s a good way to get to know each other and make memories of your own!
• Gather pictures and make a scrap book together
• Take a walk together.

$5 and under Dates:

• Go to a used book store or thrift store with $5 each and find the best gift for each other.
• Make ice cream sundaes.
• Buy some chocolate and marshmallows, make s’mores and tell scary stories in the dark.
• Share a $5 footlong at Subway. (Or you can each get your own if you have a BOGO coupon.)
• Make Tee Shirts – start with some blank white or collared tees, then get creative with sharpies and paint
• Paint-Gun Fights: Fill up a variety of dollar store squirt guns with all sorts of colors. If you’re planning this, grab two cheap white Ts and some shaped stickers. After the fight, you will have a cool, unique shirt to remember the adventure. (Fill up balloons with paint to use as grenades in your battle!)

$50 and under Dates:

• Pumpkin patch $12 http://www.redsiloproductions.com/maps.html
• Attend a local soccer game VIP Chairback $25 each http://www.energyfc.com/singlegametickets/
• Have a picnic. (The price would depend on what kind of food you want to bring and where you want to eat.)
• Cook together
• Go to a store. Each of you should find three items that describe your personality. Hide them somewhere else and re-meet. Share clues about the hiding spot, and then it’s go time. Basically, it’s a personality scavenger hunt.
• Friday Night Teen Skate $10 per skater including skate rental Artic Edge more information and times can be found http://arctic-edge.com/

No matter what you do, or how much money you spend, going out with the right person will make it a fantastic date!