The teenage dating years have the potential to create some of the greatest memories of an adolescent’s life. However, a lot of teens seem to get caught up in one of two dating ruts. The first rut is thinking that you have to spend a lot of money to have a good time. This is not true, is not possible for many teenagers, and often creates a less relaxed setting for all parties involved.

Other teenagers fall into the second rut, which comes from a complete lack of creativity: the effortless dinner and a movie. In a world where individuality is such a big deal among teenagers, why would any teen want a normal, every-day date? Dinner and a movie can get really old after a while and besides, isn’t the purpose of dating to have fun or at least to get to know each other? Often having fun and getting to know someone is a lot easier when you are laughing, interacting, and relaxed.

Below are a few ideas for great teen dates that are low pressure, encourage interaction, and have the potential for a great time:

El Cheapo
Pick out clothes for each other from the local thrift store. Give your date a limited amount of money to spend on your outfit. Your selection could be based on a theme like “the 80’s,” “retro,” or “the rich and famous.” Take pictures wearing your costumes in a photo booth, with a Polaroid, or any kind of camera.Wear your new clothes out to dinner.
Use boxes from your garage or a dumpster. Take the boxes and design cars to “drive-through” a fast-food restaurant. You could also take your dinner and cars to the “drive-in” theater.

Wild West
Send out a “warrant” for your date’s arrest, listing the time and date they will be “arrested.” List yourself as the “sheriff.” You could also list reasons for your date’s arrest (they are too hot to handle, etc).
Before picking up your date, dress in western clothing, remembering to bring some for your date (you may want to include a fake gun). When your date opens the door, handcuff him/her to yourself and march them at “gunpoint” to the car. You could also blindfold your date.
For dinner, you may want to look for a restaurant that will fit your theme. For example, a jail-house transformed into a restaurant. You could also decorate part of your house to look like a jail. Eating sloppy Joe’s for dinner while handcuffed is not only challenging, but provides a lot of laughs! Eating blindfold is even better!
Afterwards, try bowling handcuffed. It’s not easy, but its fun!

Wet n’ Wild
If you are anywhere near a body of water, renting canoes can be a lot of fun. You may want to try racing against other couples, doing obstacle courses, or even synchronized boating. If you are the musical type, you could serenade you date with a guitar or just your voice.
Bring a picnic lunch and search together for a spot to eat. After lunch find some place to jump in and take a swim! Don’t forget the towels!

Service with a Smile
For the teen who is on a tight budget, volunteering at local homeless shelters, libraries, boys and girls club, nursing homes, the YMCA, handicap service providers, food banks, or a soup kitchen can be a lot of fun and very rewarding.

For example, at a nursing home, there are several services that you can provide and you don’t usually have to call ahead. Here are some things you could do:
-Sing old fashioned songs and/or play an instrument in one of the main rooms
-Bring crafts to make with the patients and use them for decorations in their rooms.
-If its fall, bring a pumpkin and carve it for (and with!) one of the residence.
-Often nurses need help when games are being played and also with combing patients
hair, doing make-up, painting nails, etc.
-Some residents just like having someone to talk to. Bring a list of questions to ask about their teenage years of see if they have photos they would like to tell you about.

If you go to a soup kitchen, it is important to make an appointment before hand. You will need to sign up for a time and must commit to bring a certain number of people. Usually, your group will be serving the food to those in need. Free dinner is usually provided after you are finished.

The following internet sites may help you find some opportunities to serve in your area:

www.goofyfootpress.com
www.bgca.org
www.nationalcasa.org/
www.literacyvolunteers.org
www.rollingreaders.org.
www.iyhf.org/.
www.goodwill.org
www.fourhcouncil.edu/
www.secondharvest.org
www.ymca.net
www.volunteermatch.org
http://helping.org
www.pointsoflight.org

World’s Funniest Home Video
In preparation for this date, be sure to have a video camera, several slips of paper with different things seen on TV, and a funny word or phrase. For example:
Commercial: “Hot Lips”
News: “TV Dinner”
Infomercial: “corpse”
NOVA: Great Stunts of our Time: “hammock”

You could also have a bag of random objects (a telephone, an apron, a plunger, lipstick, a flag, a wig, etc).
After closing their eyes, each couple draws a slip of paper from a hat and then takes an object from the bag. For the activity, they must create the type of TV. program listed on the paper, use the phrase or word in their program at least three times, and use the object in their program. Set a time limit for how long each program must be and let each couple prepare themselves.
Record and watch your home video with popcorn and drinks.

Who doesn’t dream of someday taking an expensive, fancy vacation? The problem is, money still doesn’t grow on trees and last time I checked, neither do luxury vacations. The great news is that it might be possible to take that dream vacation on your current budget, however tight it may be. Here are a few simple tips that will help in planning an affordable, once in-a-lifetime vacation.

Decide which aspects of your “luxury vacation” are the most important (and which things don’t really matter). For example, for you, the most important thing may be doing expensive activities like visiting theme parks, going on guided tours, skiing, or snowmobiling. To compensate for the big ticket events and activities, cut back on something you won’t mind doing without, like perhaps, fine dining or a five-star hotel.
Ask yourself if you are even going to be in your hotel during the day? If you’ll be lying on the beach, not your bed, then why pay for the nicest hotel? Or maybe luxury is of lesser importance when it comes to grub. Just by reducing your food budget by avoiding expensive restaurants can really save you a load of cash. Consider using that small fridge in the hotel (you’ve always wondered why they had it) by visiting the local…dare I say it…grocery store. If you must eat out, then look for less expensive dining options.

Where To Stay
When making reservations, check discount travel websites like Travelocity, Expedia, Hotwire, and Orbitz. You can sort hotel options by price listing, which is very helpful in comparing options. These websites also offer discount packages when you buy the flight and hotel from the same site.

If you want to really save money on lodging, note that luxury destinations often have locals who are willing to rent out their houses or condos for a much cheaper price. These will be away from other tourists, have a fabulous location, and you may even have access to a kitchen and more space. Also consider a mom and pop-type Bed n’ Breakfast hotel.

Travel
We’ve all heard of these discount websites, so use them!! Just as a helpful hint, if you buy discount airline tickets during high traffic seasons, you could get bumped to a less-than-desirable flight instead of the direct flight you originally purchased. In this case, the price wouldn’t change, but you may lose valuable vacation time! It may be worth the risk, or the hassle, but remember; even the discount prices are more expensive during peak tourist seasons. Instead, consider traveling during the “off” season.

Transportation
There are a few tricks to renting a car which may fall in your favor. For example, before renting, call your credit card’s customer service hotline (on the back of your card) and ask if the card’s features include car rental “loss and damage” coverage or other insurances. If so, then you may be able to waive the car rental’s insurance, saving around $10-15 dollars per day, which can definitely add up if you are staying several days or even weeks.

Some vacations may allow for an alternative mode of transportation. If you are planning a trip to Europe, Africa, Argentina, for example, try taking a train. In Europe, the “Eurail” offers 1st Class tickets for weekly use starting at around $33 a day. This may be cheaper than driving all over Europe in a rental car, paying for gas as you go.

Other Helps
If you are planning visits to theme parks or museums– check the particular website of the place you are going. They often offer great discounts, printable coupons, or package deals.

If a fancy cruise has always been one of your dreams, consider this: did you know that if you sign up for a cruise as early as possible, it is likely you are going to get bumped to upper class lodging? This is because most people taking a cruise want the cheaper packages, and the lower class rooms fill up quickly.

Who ever said that a great wedding had to be expensive?! It really bothers me how companies hype up wedding receptions to make the bride feel like her day will be a failure if she doesnt spend $20,000.00! So, I’ve decided to fight against this faulty way of thinking. Let me just highlight some articles from the Sunday paper’s “Bridal Guide 2007″ to just show you how crazy its gotten.

The article Get Your Groom On suggests buying the book “Well Groomed” by Peter Scott (for 16.95) to better assist the bride in including the groom in wedding planning decisions. Sorry, but you don’t need a book to know how to be considerate of your spouse. Besides, there are a ton of free web sites that can give you tips. Peter Scott recommends: “Whatever amount you’ve budgeted for the booze, add 20 percent. And then another 50 percent. Now youve got an accurage number.
Or what about the article “The Best Wedding Gift Ever” that lists recommended prices for wedding-goers. Co-worker/distant friend or relative: $25-$50. Close Relative or Friend: $50 to $100. Youre a member of the wedding party: $100 to $150. Unique gifts to dazzle the bride and groom include: buying the couple stocks and bonds, buying them backstage passes to their favorite band, a bunch of lottery tickets, paying off some bills, hiring a personal chef for a day, etc, etc, etc! Wow. Whatever you do, please, PLEASE, don’t follow that recommendation.

You know what? I would go on, but I don’t want to poison your mind further! Let’s just get to the good part. The how to save money part.

Here are some ideas to make your special day just as special…at a lower price.

First, decide what is important to you. Maybe you don’t care about the food, but you really want a nice dress. I suggest saving in one area so you can splurge on what matters most to you. I also suggest making a budget before you make any more financial decisions. Decide what you are willing (and able) to spend and go from there.

Buy flowers wholesale. Places like Costco can give you georgeous flowers for a great price. You could have a friend be in charge of this department to take the stress off you.

Rent your dress. You will save a lot of money and not feel guilty everytime you look at that big box at the top of your closet that you have not pulled out in 7 years. If you can’t find what you like as a rental, buy your dress and sell it online after the wedding. I know, some of you like to think that you would like to keep your dress for sentimental reasons, but thats what pictures are for!

Get volunteers to supply and pass out the refreshments. My friend did this. She asked all of her friends to bring a special dessert. Sounds tacky, but it turned out great! Instead of a table full of boring food, there were plates and plates of different options. The men went wild! And everyone was excited to be able to help her out! And the food was really good, too.

Have an original wedding luncheon or dinner. You could try pot luck, bbq, buffet style, etc. Remember uniqueness makes memories!

Have a small guest list. If you have your heart sent on a fancy wedding or reception, but don’t have the money, keep it small. The smaller your numbers, the lower your expenses on almost everything!

Have you or a friend do your make-up. I know, shocking isn’t it? But think about it, you know what you like better than anyone else does. I have had so many guys say they were shocked (in a bad way) when they saw their brides for the first time on the wedding day. They all said things like, “she was caked with makeup,” or “I didn’t recognize who I was marrying.”

Have a talented friend do your hair. Please notice the word talented. Only ask someone that can give you guarenteed results. I did this and I do not regret it. It was so much fun getting to sit with my friend before the wedding and just talk and laugh while she styled my hair. What I great memory.

Borrow wedding items from your friends. Know anyone that was recently married? Ask if you can borrow their tiara, veil, or shoes. My friend, Kelly, was delighted to let me borrow some of her things. It definately made the wedding more special for her and for me.

Have a friend or family member take pictures. If you have your heart set on pro. pictures, hire someone to take pictures of the actual wedding. Then, get friends to do the rest. You would be surprised how many people do photography as a hobby and would love to help you out. My sister-in-law took a lot of our pictures and they turned out beautiful! She knew our family better, anyway, and knew exactly what kind of pictures we would want!

Have the reception at a church. They are cheaper or even free! There are some beautiful churches out there and they are fun to decorate!

With decorations, LESS is MORE! Be creative! I recently went to a wedding where there were very few decorations, but the simplicity of the setting was beautiful! A vase on each table with a few flowers. It was really pretty. I also went to a wedding where there were pictures in frames on each table. There were also disposable cameras that the guests could use.

An outdoor wedding needs less decorations than an indoor wedding. You have nature doing most of the job for you.

Instead of hiring someone to decorate, rent items yourself and have friends and family assist you.

Make your own invitations. Think about it. No matter who makes them, you still have to address and stuff the envelopes. Go to a whole sale paper store, they usually have a lot of options for invitation paper. Also, buy your thank you notes at a wholesale provider. They are A LOT cheaper!

If you want to go really, really cheap, do e-vites for those friends that have e-mail.

For a wedding picture in the invitation, get it printed at Costco or Sam’s Club. You can save over a hundred dollars getting them printed at those places. If you are really, really, REALLY cheap, you might not send a picture with the inviation at all.

Don’t worry about wedding favors. I didn’t and my wedding was beautiful without them! I don’t think anyone even noticed.

Forget about buying your bridesmaid’s dresses. I told my bridesmaids (all 8 of them!) my colors and they put something together on their own. My bridesmaids all got together and bought matching outfits, but I have been to weddings where everyone wore something different that matched the colors. It is fun and unique to see what people will come up with!

Fake flowers are usually cheaper than real. I had my heart set on live flowers for my boquet. I decided that my boquet would be real and I made fake boquets for my bridesmaids and flower girls. Anyway, fake flowers last longer.

Forgo the gifts to the bridesmaids and best man. No one at my wedding noticed. I have been a bridesmaid many times and have only once recieved a gift. You know what? I did not even think about it until right now. I was just excited that I got to dress up and have fun.

Ask a friend to make your wedding video. It can be their wedding gift to you.

Don’t worry about the booze. Have fun without it! Blast up the music, dance, talk, etc. You don’t need beer to have a good time.

Attend a bridal fair. Crazy, huh? You are surprised a said that because bridal fairs usually cost money. However, you can get a lot of discounts and put your name in to drawings for free stuff. And usually, they give out  a lot of free stuff: paid honeymoons, free wedding videos, gift certificates, etc. I even won something when I attended!

Go to the library for inspiration. Do you know how many bridal magazines are at my local library? A LOT! Why pay money for a magazine, when you could have access to 300 for free?

Have a friend or family member be the DJ. Its a lot more fun to have a college buddy or even your own dad be in charge of the music. You’ll get a lot more laughs. Besides, friends and family are more likely to know your style.

Go to discount stores for guest books. Try Ross or stores that are similar.

This web site was created to help you be smart with your money! We at Wily Money are fighting against the common belief of “Keeping up with the Jones.’”  We challenge you to give us a try and see how much you save!