Pondering the poll

The question: A gentleman pays for the date...


The results:

• 4 voted most certainly with a snooty French aire
• 3 said at least on the first date
• 1 was flexible
• and no radicals insisting they pay their own way

Traditional values and chivalry are strong among my readers. . . anonymous carried the sentiment of my commenteers with "It depends who asks who on the date. If it's the guy's idea he better own it."

Now I have always been willing to step up to my chivalrous duties, however my philosophy has been to never spend money on another man's wife. In other words, no expensive dates with the girl unless you plan on marrying her. What is more, I have found there is an inverse relationship between the amount of money spent on a date and the amount of fun on a date. The more I spent the less fun it tended to be, the less I spent the more fun I had. I have been on lots of dates, both before and after marriage. . .twice. Here are some of the economical dates I would recommend for the young suitor and broke as well as the old married and broke.

1. Cosco Dog and Drink - $1.50 - This is a great date! Two people fed in one of America's greatest capitalist institutions (ambiance) with an all American meal (fine food) at an all American price (affordable). Plus their is a rare opportunity not found in most conventional dates. . .an opportunity to talk.


2. Down Town - Free - Any free museums, historic sites, shopping malls, or cool spots to view your town or city. Have you visited your state capitol? County Seat? City Hall? Any and every town or city has history, go find out what it is. This is great idea in any season... winter - you have the holiday lights, autumn - you have the turning leaves, and spring - the new growth.


3. Out of Town - Free to $12 - There are so many cool places to hike or go camping. I have camped all over the U.S. You can always find a National or State Park or Forest. There is nothing like getting to know someone. . .naturally.


4. Spaghetti Bash - $3 - This is really fun with a group date! You have all the guys bring a package of pasta (any kind) and all the girls bring a small jar of store bought spaghetti sauce. All the pasta goes in one giant pot and all the sauce in another giant pot. This gets cool if one Joe brought lasagna noodles, another macaroni, and the third angel hair. And who knows what the sauce will end up tasting like. If it is payday that week you can also have every one bring a favorite frozen juice for $2 (it has to be 100% fruit juice, no cocktails) and mix it together. As crazy as this sounds it always works out tasting good. Make sure have some games close by and you are set with food and fun.


5. Summer Pool Movie - Free - If you just have to do a movie. . .do it with a splash. Set up the TV by the pool and grab your floaty pool loungers. To add more fun pick a random black and white movie from the library that no one has seen before. Guys pick a noun, verb, or adjective you predict will be used a lot during the movie, gals do the same. When the gal's word comes up in the movie, the guys have to flip themselves and vise versa.

I have given you some of my favorites, what are some great cheap dates you have been on? Leave me your list in the comments!