How to save cost on your first date

 by Ugodre Obi-Chukwu

My friend Ken was recently introduced to a beautiful lady whom he hoped to impress on their first date. He thought the best way to impress her was to take her to a fancy restaurant strategically located on a pent house with a fantastic view of the ocean.

His colleague, who had recommended the restaurant, said it was a nice romantic place. On getting the menu, Ken suddenly felt sick in his stomach, a discomfort that had more to do with the price list. He quickly told the waiter that all he wanted was a glass of water to the astonishment of the lady. He explained that he was on a medication that didn’t allow him to eat late at night.

Though unconvinced with his explanations, she went on to order her three course meal while he mentally did the calculation hoping that he had enough to pay.

Most people find themselves in such situations all in the bid to impress on their first date. But should spending so much money on a date determine how a guy impresses a lady? Aren’t there other ways of achieving that without spending so much? Take the case of Jite, who after several attempts finally got a nod for a date. Rather than take her to a fancy restaurant, he invited her over to his house for dinner. He says he wanted her to see a side of him she didn’t expect. He had his dining beautifully laid out with candlelight and romantic dinner sets with soft music from the background. With his apron on, he went into the kitchen and made her a beautiful meal served with a tasty bottle of wine. All of these, he says cost him less than N5,000.

He opines that by inviting her over and seeing him cook she felt a lot more relaxed and impressed. She in between talking looked through his pictures, books, games and array of CD collections, which endeared him more to him.

Chike, who isn’t so much of a good cook always had an eye for a good deal and so he snapped up an offer online for a dinner for two at a four star hotel of his choice in Lagos. The offer came with a 40 per cent discount for a buffet, which would usually cost about N5, 000 for the meal with the exception of drinks.

With the coupon secured weeks before, he took his long sought after date to a posh restaurant. To ensure he enjoyed every bit of it, he made sure they both skipped lunch. They had intimate discussion as he wooed her to try out several dishes and deserts. With a buffet, he ensured she had a variety of what to eat giving him room to display the right personal touch and make the right jokes that more than left a good impression on her.

Being impressive on a date has much to do with striking a good rapport and even less to do with how much money you spend. Rita, a customer service agent opines one of her best forms of dating was picnic at any secure open door spot in Lagos.

She and her partner enjoyed the unique blend of nature and romance and always looked forward to picnics at the beach or at any of the reserved parks in town. They cook their own food, buy their own drinks and even go with their own games. She recalls each time they make that trip, they get to resolve any emotional dispute that may be weighing down on their relationship. It’s an experience that money cannot buy she claims.

Sola, an undergraduate never has to worry much about going on an expensive date. With N3,000, he says he gets a unique opportunity to spend two hours with his date at a cinema or arcade in a relaxed, cheerful and entertaining environment.

It’s paying less for more since students get a generous discount at the cinemas. In a country with limited dating spots, the cinemas are a popular destination for students and lower middle class earners. Another dating tip is to find out what your lady really likes to see. A lady who loves to sing will surely adore a date at an open mic session or karaoke in one of the regular bars in Lagos. Most offer free sessions, leaving only food and drinks, for you to worry about.

At the end of his much anticipated date, Ken luckily escaped with the help of his ATM card as his bill was just about N2,000 more than the N10,000 cash he had with him. Unfortunately, he wasn’t at his best as the uncertainty of what he was to pay weighed down heavily on his mind and eventually on his ability to impress the lady. On an expensive date he ended up looking cheap.