Let’s face it, we all make mistakes. It’s probably pretty fair to say that we don’t like to admit it either. However, an apology is not just an admission of a wrong doing, it’s an admission that we understand that we unintentionally caused an upset in our partner’s life. It’s about communicating that you’re not so caught up in yourself that you don’t realize the effect you have on your partner.

When the time comes for you to make an apology, use these simple principles to make your amends.

1. Make the apology about them, not you.
How often have you heard an apology start off with an excuse? When you are giving reasons for your behavior you’re not showing your partner that you care about their feelings. You’re actually communicating that you are worried about yours. Make sure your intent isn’t to get the focus off of you.

2. Listen to what your partner is upset about, and then acknowledge it.
It’s difficult to listen to negative things being said about ourselves. However, if we hope to bridge the gap, we need to listen in order to understand our partner’s point-of-view. Once you know what has caused the upset, be sure to acknowledge that you understand. For example, “I can see how being late made you feel like you’re not a priority to me. I’m sorry that it made you upset. I should have called to let you know what was going on.”

Readers say…
“We cuddle up and quietly discuss what we were fighting about, then we end up kissing and forgiving each other and we spend the rest of the day like normal.” -Steve

3. Make amends.
When you’ve hurt someone’s feelings it’s important to give a little something extra back. Imagine it’s like putting your apology into action. If you’ve caused an upset, make an effort to do something a little out of the ordinary to make up for it. Cook their favorite dinner, let them pick out what to watch on TV, or share some extra intimate time.

Readers say…
“I make up by not being so stubborn and apologizing for not compromising. Then we hug so tightly, you couldn’t even fit a piece of paper between us.” -Debbi

4. Handle the original problem.
If you find you are causing the same upsets with your partner it might be time for an internal look at why you are repeating actions that you know upsets them. Talk it over with your partner and try to come to some sort of compromise or solution to the situation.

Author

Jennifer Good (www.lovingyou.com)

You’ve been dating several weeks, and you have a feeling he might be the one. He calls when he says he’ll call. He shows up when he says he’ll show up. Your friends like him, and he’s nice to your cat. He’s doing everything right, and you’re pretty sure he’s everything you ever wanted in a man.

But you’re not sleeping well. Your hands shake when you pour a cup of coffee. You’re distracted at work. And people keep asking you, “How’s it going with the new romance? When’s the wedding?”

You’re freaking out.

What’s wrong with you?

Well, nothing, really. You’ve reached the point in a new relationship where everything seems to be going well, but part of you is terrified that suddenly it’ll end: He’ll stop calling. He’ll meet somebody else. You’ll discover his dresser drawers are crammed with women’s underwear.

And your fears are right and natural. Every time he does something right, you fall for him a little more. You’re scared because you’ve only just met him, you don’t really know him, and he holds your heart in his hands! Your mind races with questions: If he’s so great, why isn’t he married? Why didn’t his last relationship last? And so on.

You find yourself fighting the urge to call his parents and closest friends for character references.

Let’s face it. Falling in love is not for cowards. It takes strength, confidence, and poise. It becomes tempting to dissect every gesture, every snippet of dialogue with a well-meaning friend who is only too happy to advise you on your new relationship.

But don’t do it.

Think of your new relationship as a seed you’ve planted in the ground. The seed needs time to germinate and break through the soil, but every time you discuss your relationship with a third party, you dig it up. The relationship is no longer a potentially sacred thing between two people but the subject of speculation for many others. You’ve robbed it of its specialness and mystery.

Avoid the temptation to ask a friend, “What do you think he meant when he said…?” Ask him instead. If he does something that bothers you, tell him. Keep the relationship between you.

Adopt a “we’ll see what happens” attitude. It takes courage, definitely, but it’s worth it. Give your burgeoning relationship the sun and water it deserves. Only you can decide whether a man is right for you.

Please trust yourself to do that.

Author

Terry MacDonald is the happily married author of “How to Attract and Marry the Man of Your Dreams.” Sign up for free dating tips at http://www.marrysmart.com. Check out her blog at http://happygirlmusing.blogspot.com.

Internet dating is rapidly becoming the choice of many folks who are looking to meet someone special.  With literally hundreds of sites out there, how do you know which one is the best?  Well, glad you asked…John Waltzer has agreed to provide us some insight on which dating site is going to be the best of you.  Happy surfing! 

It is always wise to get to know which online adult dating sites are trustworthy and which one mislead you. Remember you are on an important mission to find some one who is going to change your life, hence be careful, and do your home work carefully.

The Internet is full of competition in the online dating marketplace, there is plenty of room for sites to mislead you, exploit you, and even put you into financial crisis.
How sites mislead:

Create fake profiles of adult personals and make you believe that some one incredible wants to know you thus luring you into subscribing to their site.

This is highly unethical practice but to out bid competition some adult friend finder sites will do anything.

Some dating sites will trade your personal data including your email with others. Some sites write in fine print that they can sell or distribute data to whomsoever they wish. This condition you may not read while signing and then you start getting lots spam, junk mail and even viruses turning your online experience into a disaster. Good site will only send you alerts when a member wishes to contact you.

There sex dating sites with explicit porn contents of-girls, women, adults-you may not wish to be a member. If you wish to look for sex dating or sites focused on alternate sex dating like a gay dating personals or a lesbian dating personals only than you should join them as member.

Some dating sites will extract maximum analytical information from you on one pretext or the other. This they do by pulling a fast one while you are uploading your details or photos or communication with matching profiles. Flashy pop-ups and banner ads are a major nuisance and why should you have to bear them when you are a paid member.

Do you wish to be a member of a paying site whose core focus is to be a search engine and a platform for others to use it as a market place? It should be a people search focused on online dating not a market place.

Rip off! Some sites require payment from respondents who though may be eager to reply to you but wouldn’t because this and even fear of credit card abuse. You waste time and money.

Over hyped data- don’t be impressed with companies when over hyped data is advertise regarding the success of their portal success of their online. This could be pure trash as it is difficult to keep tab on successful interactions between the members.

It may not be easily possible to be deleted from some sites, only to find that it’s nearly impossible? What’s worse is that they have your credit card number! Ouch!

Keep these factors in mind while going for Internet dating so that you have a wonderful experience on the Internet.

About The Author

John W Waltzer

By Linda Grosvenor

You spot his gorgeous form across the room and your eyes lock. He winks and you offer up a sexy smile that means–I’m available. He comes over and introduces himself, and after exchanging a little about yourselves too you discover–yikes! He’s younger than you are. You search your mind–what do they call women who date younger men? Cradle-robbers, among other things. But he’s so darn cute and the attraction is definitely there, right? That’s when it hits you, the stigma of dating a younger man has really all but disappeared. When first spotted out on the town with Ashton Kutcher who is notably younger, the fabulously older Demi Moore showed no remorse at all. She’s my hero. Women like Demi and Cameron Diaz are now making it fashionable to be found clutching the arm of a younger man, and thank God for them!

There used to be a time when society deemed it bad taste or taboo for women to bridge the age gap by dating a younger man, but May December romances are inevitably on the rise. Women have taken a no holds barred approach to dating and refuse to settle just for what they can get, they’re going after what they want–an ageless package of pure man. This proactive approach to dating of course means, hooking up regardless of age. Some believe that it’s the age gap itself that will hinder the relationship, but I tend to think that if the couple has enough in common and possesses more than just a “lust” for each other, any older woman, younger man relationship really can work and develop into something mutual and lasting.

In 2000, I met and dated a man nine years my junior. We had a lot in common, he was a good listener and we found each other irresistible from the start. I didn’t think friends would approve so I didn’t tell them, while he told everybody who would listen. Nevertheless, we’re now approaching our four year wedding anniversary. Yes, we got married and it’s lasting! Although I had heard the warning that to date a younger man was a no-no, I opted to follow my heart rather than popular dating guidelines. In my opinion he was a man looking for a beautiful, independent woman and I was looking for a handsome, ambitious kind of man. With compatibility being a common factor, I believe that we were blessed to find each other, and have been growing more and more in love ever since.

The pros of dating a younger man in their 20’s and 30’s is that they like to have fun, they’re in their prime and are open-minded when it comes to career, travel and other major life decisions. As we get older we tend to become more set in our ways and find change in any of these areas an excruciating occurrence. So, when you meet a younger man, loosen up and enjoy yourself. A date is just a date, not every man meets woman outing ends in holy matrimony, neither should we expect it to. My advice is, don’t make a bigger deal out of it than it is. A date is just that, a date. The cons of dating a younger man may include the fact that your tastes in music may clash, which doesn’t have to be a major catastrophe, depending on how attached you are to your CD collection. You prefer the oldies and he’s may have an incurable fetish for rock. I say experiment with each other. You both bring something new and refreshing to the table. Sample each other’s world. Exploration and experimentation after all, is what life is all about.

Linda Dominique Grosvenor is a budding screenwriter, poet and the author of the novel Like Boogie On Tuesday (BET/Sepia Books/$15.00 - 888-345-2665). She writes for various publications and welcomes visitors to her website at:

Listening is an integral part of the communication process but it is also the part that is overlooked most frequently. Many people spend a great deal of time polishing their speaking skills but put little or no effort into becoming a better listener. The art of listening really isn’t very difficult and you can improve your listening skills in just a few simple steps.

Perhaps the most important tip for being a better listener is to give the speaker your undivided attention. Be sure to concentrate on the speakers words and resist the temptations to tune out their message.

While speaking on the phone many people participate in other activities such as checking email, reading newspapers and other activities that distract from the conversation. Even in a face to face situation many listeners zone out by either thinking about their response to the speaker or daydreaming about something completely off topic.

By allowing yourself to be distracted, you are not listening as well as you could be.Even just a small amount of distraction could result in you missing a critical point of the speaker’s presentation. Focusing 100% on the speaker, however, will ensure that you are listening well and taking in all of the pertinent information.Part of being a good listener is making sure that everything you hear comes directly from the speaker and not from your interpretation of their words. This means that as the speaker is talking, listen to the words as they are being spoken instead of trying to guess the point that the speaker is trying to make. Many people are guilty of jumping to conclusions this way and this hurts their listening ability. People who do this often don’t hear the speaker’s message because it is blocked out by their own assumptions. Good listeners take in information as the words are spoken instead of thinking ahead and forming their own conclusions. Creating mental images of the speaker

’s words is another way to become a better listener. This visualization process allows you to really comprehend the words you are hearing. Visualization techniques can enhance the way that people process information. These mental images will help you to retain the information you have just heard and this enhanced comprehension makes you a better listener. Asking questions that relate to the speaker’s presentation can also help you to become a better listener. It’s important to ask questions without allowing the formulation of the questions to interfere with your listening. If you latch onto one of the speaker’s key points and spend the rest of the conversation thinking up a question you will miss a lot of information. However, if you ask your questions immediately when they arise, you can have them answered in the context of the presentation without having it affect your listening abilities. Asking questions is an important part of listening because it lets the speaker know that you are following what he is saying and that you are interested in learning more about the topic.Being mindful of your body language is another way to be a good listener. Be sure to not engage in body language that tells the speaker that you are not interested in their words. Crossing your arms, avoiding eye contact and wincing are all ways that you can send a message to a speaker that you are not listening carefully to them. These mannerisms can result in the conversation being cut short because the speaker does not feel you are interested in what they are saying.

Practicing your listening skills is another way to become a better listener. Make a conscientious effort to apply your listening skills each time you speak to someone or attend a presentation. You can practice your listening skills by remaining completely focused on the conversation or presentation, not trying to guess what the speaker is about to say, creating mental images of the spoken words and asking pertinent questions to affirm what you have just heard. Each time you have the opportunity to listen try to work on these elements.

While listening skills are not as widely practiced as speaking skills, they are just as important to a conversation. Being a good listener will not only ensure that you are receiving information but will affirm to the speaker that you care about the information being presented and that you understand their message.

What can be more romantic than sending a handwritten love letter to your loved one, full of romantic words and genuine feelings you have for him/her? Love letters are one of the best ways to show your special loved ones how you feel for them and how much you love them.

A heartfelt love letter also makes the perfect gift for Valentine’s Day, but you don’t have to just limit yourself to that specific day. Every day is a great opportunity to make your loved one happy by sharing your deepest feelings with him/her.

The great thing about love letters is that you don’t have to be a poet or a skilled “writer” to be able to write them. Everyone - and I really mean “everyone” - can do it.

Because they are just about putting your romantic feelings into words genuinely - even in very simple words. This openness is what makes love letters special.

To write a more romantic and heart warming letter, here are some questions that will give you good ideas to write about:

Idea #1:

What was the first time you felt you were in love with him/her? Did anything special happen that made you realize your love?

You can describe in clear details how it happened and how you felt and it will mean the world to your loved one. I promise.

Idea #2:

What is the #1 thing he/she has that makes you feel so much in love with him/her whenever you think about it? It could be about looks or about personality.

For example you may say “the way her face shines when she smiles”, or “the way his eyes always bring peace and love to me when I look into them.”

Idea #3:

What positive changes have you made since he/she has entered your life? What valuable lessons have you learned from him/her?

For example it could be that before you met him/her, you were pretty shy and didn’t fully believe in yourself and your unique abilities, but he/she helped you love yourself more and be proud of who you are.

When your loved one reads this, she will practically feel on clouds because he/she sees what a big difference he/she had made in your life.
Idea #4:

It’s also a good idea to include a heartfelt romantic love poem at the end or the beginning of your letter. Sometimes nothing can show how we feel better and deeper than a good poem.

Idea #5:

And as the last tip: Don’t forget to say “I Love You” at the end of your letter. This simple yet effective sentence will really seal the deal in your loved one’s mind.

Wish you a wonderful life full of love,

Ladan Lashkari

About the Author

Ladan Lashkari is giving away a FREE collection of beautiful romantic love poems that are perfect for including in your love letters. To grab your copy of these poems, drop by http://www.LovePoemsWorld.com while they are still available.

Personals ads and in particular Internet personals ads are becoming the wave of the future in dating. More and more people are meeting online and through personals ads and these services are becoming a booming business. Gone are the singles ads of yesterday with phrases such as SWF seeks SWM. Today’s personals ads are witty, informative and hopefully effective. If you want to keep up on the current dating scene, you will have to learn all about the world of personals ads. There are a few key points to placing a personals ad which include being honest, being witty and including action phrases that will attract attention to your ad and make it stand out from the rest.

One key phrase to incorporate into your next personals ad is, “long term relationship“. This phrase is perfect because it conveys a sense of commitment. This phrase lets people know that you are committed to finding an enduring relationship and that you are not just looking for a fling. Sure there may be those reading your ad that are turned off by this phrase but as long as you maintain your honesty you won

Don’t include phrases that don’t express what you really desire in a relationship.”No baggage” is another effective phrase to use in placing your next personals ad. This phrase lets readers know that you are completely free of attachments such as a spouse or children. Again, there may be those that are looking for a relationship with someone who already has children but the majority of people who use personals ads to meet people are looking for someone who is free of other commitments.

You can spice up your next personals ad with the phrase, “Active and adventurous“. This phrase is beneficial for a couple of reasons. Active has the connotation of someone who is in shape because the reader of the ad equates active with physically fit. The word adventurous leads the reader to believe that you are romantic and daring which can be very intriguing.

“Honest” is another word that should be included in all personals ads. It is very unlikely that there are people out there who are looking for dishonest partners so letting people know that you are honest is very beneficial. It’s important to not only incorporate the word honest into your ad but to also make sure that the rest of your ad is extremely honest so that the person responding to the ad doesn’t get a sense of a lack of honesty in your ad. Another action phrase to include in your next personals ad is, “Great personality“. These words let the reader know that meeting you will be well worthwhile because you have a truly magnificent personality. It is also a great phrase to use because it indicates that you understand the value of personality in a relationship.

“Enjoys travel,” is another action phrase to include in your next personals ad. Reading this phrase creates the image that the person placing the ad is well traveled and sophisticated and this is appealing to many. It also invokes a sense of adventure which many find appealing as well.Additionally if you are seeking responses to your ad from a certain demographic group you may want to incorporate a phrase that illustrates this. For example if you are looking to meet single women of Russian descent, you may include a phrase such as, “Seeks single, Russian women”. This may seem overly simplistic but because it is so clear, it will most likely produce the desired effect of receiving the majority of responses from single, Russian women. If you have a love of food and enjoy exploring new restaurants, you may want to include a phrase such as,

“Enjoys fine dining,” to let reader of your ad know that dining out is an activity you enjoy. This phrase can be advantageous for a couple of reasons. First, dining out is first date activity that many people enjoy so knowing that a dinner date is likely if they go out with you may result in a greater number of responses to your ad. Second, the use of the word fine in the description leads people to believe that you enjoy expensive restaurants and this can be very appealing to many readers of your ad.Those who enjoy physical activity and keeping in shape, may include a phrase such as, “Fit and active,” to convey this message. This phrase can effectively lead to you receiving responses from those who have a similar interest in fitness. While the term fit clearly means you are in good shape and may result in a large volume of responses from those interested in meeting someone in shape, the addition of the term active may greatly diminish the volume of responses and effectively weed out those that are not interested in an active lifestyle. An extremely effective action phrase that you can use in your next personals ad is,

“Ask me anything.” This simple phrase can lead to a multitude of responses to your ad. This simple phrase lets others know that you are honest, adventurous and open to sharing details about yourself.The personals ads may be a great place to meet a potential partner. An ad that is written honestly and incorporates a few eye catching action phrases is likely to attract a lot of attention and responses. Try to use phrases that are not only attention grabbing but also an accurate representation of your personality. Incorporating phrases just because you think they will elicit a large response can result in many responses from people who are not suitable companions.

Good Luck!

Ahhh romance…that elusive experience that comes and goes.

When we have it we think it will last forever, when we don’t we worry that it will never come again. It is an experience that so many crave yet have had so little of in their lives.

True romance feels good. It should not frighten you. If it does not feel good to you then you are confusing romance with all the bad things that happens in dysfunctional relationships.

Do you remember how good it feels when you begin falling in love with someone? The intensity of these good feelings come from our connection with our Source, from many spiritual beings, including our own Inner Being, radiating their enthusiasm and excitement that we have found our heart’s desire. This is why they are so powerful.

Good feelings always result from being in alignment with the whole of our being and what we have been asking for. If you already have romance in your life, whether it is a new relationship or one that you have had for a while, you are in a very good place. Your dominant vibration is one of great happiness, great joy and great passion.

That means you have an incredible connection with your source. You should understand that this is responsible for many of the other wonderful things that are falling into place in your life right now.

If you don’t have romance in your life, but you want it, then you are going to have to bring yourself to that place. You are going to have to romance yourself. You are going to have to treat yourself wonderfully and give yourself love and nurturing and caring and bring yourself into a place of great joy and passion for life.

Who wants to be around a sourpuss? No one. Who wants to be around someone with misery in their life? Very few people want that. If they do want that in their life, do you want them in yours?

So you have to take care of yourself. Look after yourself. Nurture and love yourself, take yourself out to dinner. Buy yourself wonderful things. Look in the mirror and flirt with yourself. Challenge the negative messages others have given you. Find things within you that contradict those negative messages. You need to feel loveable for someone to want to love you and for you to let it in.

If you are in a relationship now and it does not have the romance elements in it that you want or you want more from it, then you are the one who is going to have to create that. You are going to have to make yourself more available for that. You are going to have to treat yourself better so that you are in a better feeling place so that you are more attractive to your partner. And if this does not re-kindle the fire in the heart of your partner it will repel them and attract one that is better suited to who you are now.

Romance is about relationships and getting to know another person. It is about the discovery of your own beauty through the eyes of an attentive other.

Part of what makes it feel good, of what keeps you open to receiving, is your recognition of qualities that you appreciate in this other person. It is your focus on the beauty you find in them.

What makes Romance go bad? When does it stop feeling good and start feeling bad? When you discover and focus on things you do not like in this other person. These bad feelings are an indication that you are focused on something that you do not want. They are an indication that you are pinching off your connection with your life giving, energizing, All Knowing and All Seeing Source.

Does pinching off your Source sound like something you want to do? It is not because you or they have done something bad that you are cut off from your Source. It is your focus on what you do not want the cuts you off from your Source.

This article is not intended to address how to deal with the dramatically abusive things that happen in some relationships. If you need that kind of help then please seek appropriate counselling. The concepts addressed here will help, but you will also need help understanding how so many of the ideas that you hold about life keep you from the happiness you seek.

Most relationships suffer from a break down in focus way before any of the more serious problems occur. One event at a time each person notices something they don’t like in their partner. Then they focus on it and make it a little bigger.

When you worry about something your partner did or does, and you tell others about how annoying it is, you are focusing your attention on it and you are shifting your vibration so that it matches those same unwanted behaviours. You are actually turning yourself into a magnet for more such experiences.

Not only that but if you are telling others about it you are probably setting up resentments in them towards your partner. So now there are two people holding negative energy towards your partner. Your friend may even begin to distance themselves from you because of the negative energy they perceive that you are making them feel.

Can you see how this would affect you? Can you see how this is not romantic energy you will be feeling, or even open to feeling if you are holding such thoughts in your mind? Can you see how this would affect your partner?

We all respond to our feelings and the feelings we pick up from others much more than we consciously realize. These feelings push and pull us, most don’t know why they go where they do, but yet they do go. Your work is to become conscious of the energies at play in your life and romantic relationships give you plenty of chances to generate the widest variety of feelings.

Negativity that you feel towards your partner will be noticed. Most people are not aware enough to turn away from this negativity so you are likely to arouse similar negativities within them or push them away from you if they do not wish to engage in them.

If your partner did something you did not like, of course you will feel bad. But the solution, the answer to the desire that is born from that event, comes from focusing on what you do desire. You don’t do battle with the problem, you turn away from it and walk towards what you do want.

One day I was in my girlfriend’s kitchen preparing a meal (we’ll call her Shelia). I put a skillet on the burner and turned it onto high to preheat it.

Shelia came in and upon seeing the skillet being heated with nothing in it became angry. “You’re going to ruin my pans! Don’t do that!” she snapped as she turned the heat off. I was in a particularly clear space at that point in time and I decided to try turning her anger into love. I focused on many things about her that I loved and appreciated.

I focused on some of the nice vacations we had taken together and on the feelings of making love with her. I said nothing in my defense nor did anything else. Shelia said a few more derogatory words and then left the room. When the meal was ready I went to get her. She then blasted me with a few choice things from our past. Here is where so many relationships go wrong.

As you can see Sheila was still holding on to past issues. There is this accumulation process that most people do when something hurts them, they hang on to it and when other painful events occur at later times those old hurts also come to the foreground and receive focus.

Even though I know how destructive this can be, I still catch myself doing it. Sheila was focusing on what she did not want, not on what she did want. There was only one bad thing that happened yet she multiplied it into at least five other things.

Thus increasing the intensity of her bad experience. What affect would Sheila’s actions have had on you? I could feel it draw a very defensive and negative energy out of me. This is a great example of the creation process in action. I was determined to keep my good feeling state of mind. I reached for better feeling thoughts about Sheila. I realized that she was already annoyed at the kangaroos that were eating the new grass she had just planted. I knew of other things had gone bad for her that day too.

So I could understand how she got so angry when she discovered the empty skillet I was overheating. These thoughts gave me compassion for her. I also reminded myself that I am a good partner. I treat her well. I am only trying to make lunch for us both. I have done nothing wrong. All of these thoughts helped me to feel better about myself and remain centered.

Rather than defend myself I said to Sheila, “These things have no bearing on this incident. In fact we have already sorted them out. Please, let’s go and enjoy a nice meal together.” I continued to hold the thoughts of good times with Shelia. It was not even an hour later that the whole energy between us changed. We had a very nice and romantic connection for the rest of the day.

Things like this used to cause us many hours or even days of disconnection. I am certain that the shift I made in my energy made the difference in this case. So often people think that the romance in their life is due to the things they do. I know it is easy to believe this. However, if your actions are not in alignment with your thoughts and feelings then you are only wasting your energy and cutting yourself off from your Source.

There are many books that teach you how to re-kindle the love you once knew. They are full of great techniques and ideas. These are very helpful, but the actions you take must be inspired actions; inspired by the love and appreciation you have for your partner. So keep seeking out those things to admire and appreciate in your partner and in yourself.

About the Author

Michael Skowronski is a spiritually oriented Life Coach and Counsellor. He offers the free “Walk On Water” ezine and sells the “Facts of Life” ecourse from his http://gr8wisdom.com website. Michael also offers Teleclasses and an Apprenticeship Group. Please email comments or questions to mailt Michael@gr8Wisdom.com.

Impressing your date doesn’t have to diminish your wallet. With a little resourcefulness and imagination you can plan dates that are a lot of fun and also very inexpensive. Not only will you be saving a load of money but your date will be impressed with your creativity. Inexpensive date ideas can include coffee houses, outdoor activities, theater and the arts, cooking and other fun activities.

A trip to a coffee house is an excellent inexpensive date idea if you are dating on a budget. The price of a couple of cups of coffee and a dessert to share is next to nothing compared to dinner for two at an expensive restaurant.

You and your date could spend a few hours sipping coffee and enjoying your dessert while getting to know each other through casual conversation. A coffee house is a great place to bring a date because the atmosphere is very relaxed and you can sit and chat for hours without interruption.

Another date idea which is very inexpensive is to take a trip to a local park. On a nice day you and your date can spend the day walking, rollerblading, playing Frisbee or just people watching. Also, pack a picnic and set up a blanket and enjoy your lunch on the grass in the park. After lunch lay back and watch the clouds for awhile. You will be surprised how often the clouds change and take on new shapes. If the park has a lake, you may even be able to rent a canoe or paddle boat for a very small fee. Spending the day outdoors and engaging in relaxing and enjoyable activities is an excellent inexpensive date idea for those who are dating on a budget.

While the theater and the arts are generally thought of as being expensive activities you can even turn these activities into inexpensive date ideas if you are dating on a budget. Most cities have local theater companies that perform their own renditions of Broadway plays. For a fraction of what you would pay to see a play performed by a major production company, you can sit front and center in a small theater. Another inexpensive date idea is to visit your city’s local art museum. You can spend the day viewing the different pieces of artwork together and talking about what you like best about each piece. Even movie theaters can be great inexpensive date ideas. Second run movie theaters often show movies a little later then their release date but the ticket prices are usually very reasonable. These theaters often offer ticket prices that are even less than matinee prices. With a little creativity even the theater can be a great date idea for those on a budget.Cooking is another inexpensive date idea for those dating on a budget. You and your date could plan a romantic meal, shop for the necessary ingredients and spend the night cooking and eating the meal you create. This is an excellent date idea because it is a great way for you and your date to spend quality time together. If you take your time preparing the meal, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the company of your date. The two of you will also be working together as a team which fosters a bond between you. Taking a cooking class together can also be a great inexpensive date idea. Many colleges offer cooking classes that are very affordable. You and your date could sign up for an exotic cooking class together and look forward to learning enough to create some of your favorite dishes.