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First dates can get expensive fast. Dinner and movie? Factor in transportation and tip, and you'll quickly have spent a chunk of change. But exploring your love life doesn't have to be expensive, especially if you have a few romantic and thoughtful cheap first date ideas. Thrifty Redditors recently shared their favorite frugal first dates — some of which won't cost you a dime.
Stroll alongside colorful produce, have fun people watching, simply enjoy the hustle and bustle at a farmers market for a fun and affordable first date. Two Redditors shared that their first encounters at farmers markets led to serious, long-term relationships. "My husband and I met at a farmers market for our first date. We got to talk, interact with the environment, and I only bought a few tomatoes and some garlic," one Redditor wrote. "Now every year he puts a head of garlic in my Christmas stocking, and we often return to that same farmers market on our anniversary."
Whether you want to wax poetic about Van Gogh or debate the merits of Duchamp's urinal, art museums offer plenty of fodder for engrossing (and potentially divisive) conversations. "You will automatically have something to talk about, and you'll get to see how your date reacts to things they don't like, as well as to things they do like," a Redditor shares.
Like an art museum, a used bookstore is sure to spark lively conversation among the book worms. And if you don't find something that catches your eye, the date will have been free. "I had a date meet me at a used bookstore," one comment reads. "We had an amazing time talking about everything we had read and recommending books to one another."
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Since "everyone loves ice cream," as one Redditor points out, grabbing a cone makes for a fun, cheap, and tasty date for the warmer months. "You can tell a lot about a person by the way they eat an ice cream," they add.
Related: 50 Ice Cream Shops With Unique Treats Across the Country
Bookish and on a budget? Marvel at rare books, explore old card catalogues, and share your hottest literary takes with your date at the library (in a whisper). It's one of the few public indoor spaces that remains completely free.
While it's a bit overdone and generic, there's a reason why coffee shops are so popular for first dates. Grabbing coffee is cheaper and more casual than a candlelit dinner, and if you get bored, you can always take your java and go for a stroll.
Related: The Coolest Coffee Shops in America
Since the dark days of the pandemic, it seems like everyone has a newfound appreciation for a stroll through the park or along the beach. Taking your date somewhere scenic can also be a great conversation starter.
Like cafes, bars and pubs make great first date locales because they're affordable (stick with beer) and flexible. If the date goes well, stick around for a few more drinks or hop to another bar. By the same token, you can bail after one drink if your date is putting you to sleep.
