"Buy one, get one free" deals make for a cheap date!
In general, grabbing a cup of joe is a relatively cheap date idea, except Starbucks every day can add up to a pretty penny. Peet's Coffee & Tea is offering a special of "buy one beverage, get one free" now through Martin Luther King's Day (only one week left until Monday, January 18th). Either print the coupon or simply show it on your mobile device at the cash register (click HERE). By the way, you can email this cheap date idea to yourself (and your friends, share the latte love!) by clicking on the white envelope icon next to the orange Share button at the end of this blog post.
Most coffee shops provide an atmosphere for a casual meet up anytime, especially for a day date (click HERE for more day date ideas). The Peet's on Manhattan Beach Boulevard is an easy 3 blocks from the beach. After coffee, check out the Roundhouse Aquarium at the Manhattan Beach Pier for FREE (see Cheap Date Idea #6). Or find other Peet locations near you online.
If by any chance there is a lull in your coffee conversation, challenge your date! Try to make art out of the foam of your latte or cappuccino (see the heart formation in the photo on right). This is your chance to be creative and romantic. Cheers!
UPDATE 01/13/10: Check out new Cheap Date Idea #76 for a FREE coffee at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL).
UPDATE 01/14/10: Couple your FREE coffee at Peet's with a FREE bagel from Noah's (click HERE for Facebook Fan coupon and use before it expires on Jan 18th). Thanks, @LABargainHunter! For 2-freebies-in-1, the best place to go is Manhattan Beach since both establishments are on the same block. Double yum!
Approximate cost of creative date idea = One FREE beverage + $4.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $8 Total.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @Frugalytics
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
72. FREE Bowling on Your Birthday & More
Bowling is a casual date idea for anytime, even on your birthday!
I just signed up for AMF eClub to get emails for a free bowling offer, a birthday bowling offer, and more! The online form is simple and quick: your email address, your name, birth date (no year required), zip code, and 2 side questions. My coupon arrived the next day, which is good for one free bowling game per person up to 10 friends with an expiration date of 30 days of issue. So I suggest to hold off on signing up until you need it, with at least one day in advance when you want to use it. This is a fantastic idea for a casual group date, maybe even a surprise birthday party for a loved one. Heck, if you two love bowling that much, sign up for the eClub in early February so that you can go bowling for free on Valentine's Day! Rental shoes are additional, so bring your own if you got it.
Based on your zip code, you can select one of the four nearest AMF bowling alleys. Close to Huntington Beach, the options are in Garden Grove, Anaheim, Cerritos, and Fullerton. As for Hermosa Beach, other locations include Torrance, Westchester, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. Bowling alleys are normally open daily, but check the website for the hours of location nearest you.
If you love bowling, check out $2 Bowling on Cheap Date Idea #70 in Irvine or Cheap Date Idea #61 in Anaheim, which also offers Sunday Brunch and Bowling for only $11 pp.
Approximate cost of creative date idea = FREE Games + Paid Shoe Rentals.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $60.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @OCDeals
I just signed up for AMF eClub to get emails for a free bowling offer, a birthday bowling offer, and more! The online form is simple and quick: your email address, your name, birth date (no year required), zip code, and 2 side questions. My coupon arrived the next day, which is good for one free bowling game per person up to 10 friends with an expiration date of 30 days of issue. So I suggest to hold off on signing up until you need it, with at least one day in advance when you want to use it. This is a fantastic idea for a casual group date, maybe even a surprise birthday party for a loved one. Heck, if you two love bowling that much, sign up for the eClub in early February so that you can go bowling for free on Valentine's Day! Rental shoes are additional, so bring your own if you got it.
Based on your zip code, you can select one of the four nearest AMF bowling alleys. Close to Huntington Beach, the options are in Garden Grove, Anaheim, Cerritos, and Fullerton. As for Hermosa Beach, other locations include Torrance, Westchester, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. Bowling alleys are normally open daily, but check the website for the hours of location nearest you.
If you love bowling, check out $2 Bowling on Cheap Date Idea #70 in Irvine or Cheap Date Idea #61 in Anaheim, which also offers Sunday Brunch and Bowling for only $11 pp.
Approximate cost of creative date idea = FREE Games + Paid Shoe Rentals.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $60.
Kiss & Tell Date Idea by @OCDeals
Saturday, January 9, 2010
71. Day Trip: San Diego Harbor Cruise
Taking a cruise is a classy day date idea anytime!
Get 1/2 off tickets for a cruise around San Diego Harbor in January and February through Goldstar.com:
a) 1-Hour Cruise for only $10 Admission plus $3.50 Service Fee (Regular Admission $20 pp), or
b) 2-Hour Cruise for 3 bucks more at $12.50 Admission + $4 Service Fee (Regularly $25 pp).
There are 13 cruise times from which to choose between the 1-Hour and 2-Hour Cruises, daily starting at 10 AM. I suggest reserving the last one of the day at 4:15 PM or 5:30 PM, just in time to enjoy the sunset, which is typically the first one to sell out.
Taking a cruise is a classy day date idea anytime, especially on Valentine's! Yes, this special deal is available every day, including Sunday, February 14th. I'm sure those tickets will sell out soon. If you want to splurge for your loved one, Hornblower Cruises is offering special brunch and dinner cruises that Sunday for $63-175 per person. Just some non-so-cheap romantic date ideas. More cheap date ideas to come, so stay tuned...
Parking is not too bad during weekdays and early on Sundays. Alcohol and snacks are available for sale on the boat, but you can bring your own snacks. Don't forget to bundle up, bring sunscreen and a camera. By the way, over 1,000 members have rated Hornblower Cruises at 3.3 out of 4 Stars.
Before the cruise, stop by La Jolla on the way for a hike through Torrey Pines State Beach and Park (more info at Cheap Date Idea #59). However, if you prefer to stay local in Orange County, check out Cheap Date Idea #66 in Dana Point. Whichever cruise you do, have fun!
Approximate cost of creative date idea = $13.50-16.50 Per Person.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $40-50 Total.
Get 1/2 off tickets for a cruise around San Diego Harbor in January and February through Goldstar.com:
a) 1-Hour Cruise for only $10 Admission plus $3.50 Service Fee (Regular Admission $20 pp), or
b) 2-Hour Cruise for 3 bucks more at $12.50 Admission + $4 Service Fee (Regularly $25 pp).
There are 13 cruise times from which to choose between the 1-Hour and 2-Hour Cruises, daily starting at 10 AM. I suggest reserving the last one of the day at 4:15 PM or 5:30 PM, just in time to enjoy the sunset, which is typically the first one to sell out.
Taking a cruise is a classy day date idea anytime, especially on Valentine's! Yes, this special deal is available every day, including Sunday, February 14th. I'm sure those tickets will sell out soon. If you want to splurge for your loved one, Hornblower Cruises is offering special brunch and dinner cruises that Sunday for $63-175 per person. Just some non-so-cheap romantic date ideas. More cheap date ideas to come, so stay tuned...
Parking is not too bad during weekdays and early on Sundays. Alcohol and snacks are available for sale on the boat, but you can bring your own snacks. Don't forget to bundle up, bring sunscreen and a camera. By the way, over 1,000 members have rated Hornblower Cruises at 3.3 out of 4 Stars.
Before the cruise, stop by La Jolla on the way for a hike through Torrey Pines State Beach and Park (more info at Cheap Date Idea #59). However, if you prefer to stay local in Orange County, check out Cheap Date Idea #66 in Dana Point. Whichever cruise you do, have fun!
Approximate cost of creative date idea = $13.50-16.50 Per Person.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = $40-50 Total.