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A fun night out does not necessarily have to cost a person their weeks paycheck. Although, at times, it may seem that fun is money, and that eating out is a waste, as opposed to earing in. But, sometimes, it just takes smart choices for entertainment and dining.
An “inexpensive” night out also does not have to be a “cheap” one. But, it can be a low cost one and a fun one if the right choices are made at the right time and with some amount of flexibility. As for flexibility, one cannot be apprehensive or feel ashamed about the use of coupons, rebates, or other deals of the like.
Some good places to find deals on entertainment (movies, dining, action parks) is on the internet. The internet is loaded with coupon and rebate sites where a patron may choose different categories for saving. Entertainment is almost always on the list. As an example, there might be a “buy one and get one dinner entree at half price” deal or get movie tickets for half the price of standard prices. Everyone is familiar with services such as Priceline, ValuPage, and e-coupons.
As we all know, going to the movies these days is a big investment. Why not take advantage of some of those thick coupon books that are sold for about $20-$25 dollars at McDonalds or the local library or town hall. In them, one can find coupons for almost any activity or dining situtation. There are even coupons for airline tickets for those frequent flyers.
But, back to the inexpensive night out with a partner or friend. Here are a few scenarios that are sure to save a pocketbook: A night out to the bookstore is an option for one two. Many local bookstores have live entertainment (bands, folk music, stand up entertainers) every now and again. Also, food is usually available such as coffee, desserts, and other confections; sometimes even croissants and small sandwiches are available at the expresso bar. Sometimes, a patron can get refills on the coffee upon asking. Just a night out for coffee, some music, and some good reading material or even a lecture is not a bad thing.
If it’s a really good dinner that one is after, the best type of place to go is somewhere where a diner can get more on their plate than they bargained for. Steer clear of the elusive restaurants in the neighborhood that are “brand new” and popular for aesthetic reasons. Some good choices for restaurants that give value and quality are: The Olive Garden, most chinese restaurants (not take out), some upscale diners or take-out at an Italian Pizzeria (a real Italian Pizzeria). Most times, these places will make food such as lasagna, ravioli, and linguini to take out, which is not expensive or low quality. The pizzeria should be run by authentic Italians and Italian chefs/cooks to ensure good quality. So, in this case, a meal can be taken out and brought home as a romantic dinner. Of course, a person may add to the meal to make it special--a toss garden salad, an inexpensive wine and a couple of candles.
Sometimes even a walk in a beautful setting may be enough to enjoy the night and surroundings. Look into some local parks, arboretums, or historic sites in the area. Usually, they are free or very reasonably priced to simply walk around and enjoy. The beach is another option in this case, which always makes for an enjoyable and even romantic evening (long walks, relaxing, frisbee, etc.) and it doesn’t cost a dime in the nighttime.
The expense of movies can be skirted around a little if one is creative enough. This includes going at the right times, finding theatres that offer movies at half the price (often less current movies). For the student, college I.D.s typically offer at least a 10% discount on movies. As for college, alumni of a college may look into campus events and activities which are often reduced by 25%. Ask to be put on the mailing lists for these events. It beats going into the city, which can be extremely expensive and time consuming.
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