A friend of mine recently started dating several different women. Most every weekend he had a date lined up, but realized it was cutting into his wallet severely. When dating, it’s common to impress with nice dinners, concerts or other activities that can get expensive. Is this really necessary? In my opinion, it’s important to give a good impression when dating, but a good impression doesn’t have to include money. To me a good impression is about hygiene, personality, manners, respect and character. Why not be yourself and impress with what really counts? Instead of spending money you don’t really have on dates, why not show your dates the real you, your real lifestyle? Take them to a park for a picnic. Enjoy a day at the park on the scenic hiking trails. If you’ve been dating a while, you could invite them to your home for a good movie and popcorn. These activities are fun. They allow you to get to know each other and are low-budget. Why try to impress someone with money you can’t really afford to spend? Impress in a way that expresses the real you! This prevents disappointment later on from both sides.

For couples who have been dating a while and enjoy spending time outdoors, summer is the perfect time to do something different. Maybe your usual date is going to dinner and the movies. Nothing wrong with that, but there's so much more to do in the summer months. Summer date ideas: Go trail riding on a horse - check your local area for trail riding accommodations. Most offer lessons if you aren't skilled with riding a horse. The trails are normally quite scenic and can offer a romantic atmosphere. Go hiking - hiking through parks, hiking trails or anywhere that is scenic can be great fun and an added perk is the exercise you get. Take along a picnic and stop to enjoy some good conversation. BBQ - sometimes the most fun is right in your own back yard. Have a BBQ for two or invite some friends over. You can play horseshoes, croquet, badminton or any outdoor game you can think of. Fishing - might not be the common date idea, but it can be very relaxing and it offers quiet time to talk and just be together. Boating - if you don't have a boat, find a lake that has boat rentals. Take along ...