Do you think that a cheap date makes you look cheap? Most of us don't associate cheap as being a good thing. But cheap dates are a great idea beyond saving you money. It takes talent to come up with a wonderful date that is low cost or free.

The challenge is to plan ahead for fun, interesting, cheap things to do. In order to have a cheap date, you will have to engage the person in a joint project and this is a sure fire way to build a friendship or to fall in love. The reason for that is, you are going to have to talk to each other.

Here are some cheap dates that won't make you look cheap:

Disposable cameras

It doesn't matter what you are doing, from running errands to going to the grocery store, take your date with you and take pictures of each other. When you get them developed, put them in a scrap book together. Use your creativity to come up with some captions, such as "Here is Mary smelling the roses at the store." "Here is Mary sneezing from the roses at the store."

Public Libraries

Libraries are not only great, free resources for learning, they make a great cheap date. Choose a subject before you get there, such as your favorite author. The trick to this date is that you cannot talk to each other. Shhhh. This is the library. You can write notes, and you can talk to the librarian seeking sources for your information, but you and your date cannot communicate verbally. When you have gathered your information, head to a coffee shop, share a Latte, and talk your heads off.

Go fishing

Fishing is a great date. Depending on your state, you may need a license. But borrow your equipment from a friend before you try this hobby to see if you truly enjoy it. Stop at a fish and tackle shop and ask them how to use it and where the best places are to fish. Fishing is a patient sport. It takes time and quiet and perseverance. These are all good qualities to have and you will get to see if your date has them.

Cheap dates don't make you cheap. They make you romantic, creative, imaginative, and the best date anyone ever had.

Tonja Weimer

Tonja Evetts Weimer is a Master Certified singles relationship and life coach, speaker, syndicated columnist and author.

Tonja is a full time professional coach with a practice in Greenville, SC. She helps individuals, especially singles, re-craft their lives and find happiness and success in their career and relationships. Some of Tonja's professional activities include:

==> Syndicated singles relationship columnist, writing SAVVY DATING, a weekly column read by over a million readers in many U.S newspapers. Tonja's column addresses relationship and life issues of interest to all adults, but particularly to the over 110 million singles in the U.S. Tonja has also had articles published in New Woman, Hope, and House Beautiful magazines, and has won 3 Matrix Awards for her writing.

==> Motivational speaker, Tonja has been a keynote presenter at national and international conferences over the last 30 years.

==> Author of materials for educators and parents (7 books, six music albums and 2 videos), which have won 22 awards.

Some Speaking and Media Highlights:

==> Keynote speaker for 2004 Women?s Issues Network Conference, Sumter, SC.

==> Keynote speaker for 2002 Parents as Teachers International Conference, St. Louis, MO.

==> Keynote speaker for 1999 International Conference for Children & Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder.

==> Keynote speaker for 1998 European Education Conference, in Mannheim, Germany.

==> Keynote speaker in 35 U.S. states at educational conferences.

==> Presenter at the International Special Olympics in Notre Dame, at the request of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

==> Created Space Songs for Children, at the request of NASA (album taken into space by astronauts three times.)

==> Appeared on CNN?s Showbiz Today and many other TV shows.

Educational and Professional Qualifications:

==> National Fellow (U.S. Dept. of Education.) M.A. in Human Development and Education, with an emphasis on creativity.

==> Master Certified Singles Relationship Coach, Relationship Coaching Institute.

==> Personal Life Coach, Graduate, Institute for Life Coach Training.

==> Member, International Coaching Federation