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A recent article on W24 revealed that a night out for a couple can easily cost R800. And that’s the no-frills version, if you’re eating out and doing a movie.
If you go to a fancy restaurant, cocktails, wine and food could set you back a lot more. What is even more dangerous, is to go shopping together, even if you think you are just going to do window shopping, as you could leave the mall having spent a fortune.
You might be one of the lucky ones to be rolling in the cash, but to most young working people, R800 for a night out is a lot of money. That’s a new basic pair of running shoes, the month’s electricity account, a decent wedding present for a good friend.
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Do that sort of date every week, and you are looking at a major dent in your monthly budget, especially if you have to factor in babysitting and transport costs on top of everything else.
So what now? Do you have to stay in for the rest of your life, and do slippers, two-minute noodles and the TV every night to make ends meet?
You can still have fun, but you need to do a bit of homework, and well, just be a bit creative.
Here are some ideas:
Keep your eye open for events
Street fairs, carnivals, bazaars, street markets, antique fairs. These can provide lots of entertainment, reasonable food on the go, interesting things to look at, an outdoor shopping experience, a beer garden. OK, it’s not going to be a quiet or romantic expedition, but this could be fun.
If there is an entrance fee (to markets, for example, it’s usually fairly low, and seldom more than about R40). Providing you don’t buy much, this could cost you very little.
First Thursdays (in JHB and Cape Town)
On the first Thursday of every month, certain art galleries and exhibition spaces and cultural attractions stay open late – and often there is no entrance fee. There is a festive atmosphere, and sometimes restaurants have great specials to coincide with the event. Do your online research.
A day at the beach/a large dam/even a park
Not everyone lives in striking distance of the ocean. But if you do, a day at the beach (remember the sunblock!) could be fun, and if you pack your own drinks/lunch, it could also be very inexpensive. Swimming is free. Get some friends together, and you could play some beach games as well. Teach your partner to surf or to kite-surf, if you can. A day outdoors is a treat for someone who spends their days cooped up in a neon-lit office.
Join clubs and societies
Whether you are interested in architecture, hiking, wine tasting, books, music, birdwatching, interior decorating, dancing, vintage cars – whatever it is, find others who share your interests, and well, join the club. Societies often have interesting outings, and what’s even better, is they give discounts to members.
Who is going to say no to a date for a day-long wine tasting tour, or a star-gazing expedition? The good thing is that you usually know beforehand exactly what the outing will cost. No nasty surprises there.
Go for a hike
Unless you are in a national park, hiking trails (Not the ones that stretch over days) are often free. The internet is a wonderful source of info of walking and hiking trails (all difficulty levels) throughout South Africa, including smaller towns.
From a short stroll, to a day-long hike – the choice is yours. Pack something nice for lunch, and spend a day in the beauty of nature. This can be a lot more romantic than a crowded restaurant.
Watch out for specials
Restaurants often have specials on certain nights, or winter specials. Look out for these as they can really save you a lot of money, and you still get to eat out in nice places.
Concerts in the park
Sometimes these are free, and sometimes not. But it could be a lovely thing to do in summer. Pack some champagne and a few goodies to eat, and a blanket – what more could anyone ask for? It still won’t cost you R800.
Discounted movies
Some shopping cards, or lifestyle reward cards give you the opportunity to buy discounted movie tickets. Use them. For what you save on the ticket, you can buy something to drink and some popcorn.
Be a tourist in your own city
There are often packages of activities on offer (such as the hop-on-hop-off bus tours in JHB and Pretoria and Durban and Cape Town) where certain entrance fees might even be included. Buy online, skip the queues, and make use of everything that is on offer.
In Cape Town a night tour, a walking tour and a canal cruise are all included. Do the lot, all for one price, and, if you are happy eating fish and chips under a tree for lunch, the whole memorable day could cost you less than buying a few rounds of cocktails.
Wine tasting or craft beer tasting
Sometimes these events are coupled with food fairs, and sometimes not. They are often great value, as the people exhibiting/participating see this as a chance to showcase their products. Sometimes the price of an entrance ticket buys you the opportunity to taste lots of different things at reasonable prices.
