This post comes courtesy of peoplejam.com:

An inexpensive date is not necessarily a “cheap” date. In fact, a wisely planned date will show your mate that you’ve put a lot of thought into the time that you will share together. And that’s the point of the date in the first place: to spend time together.

Your time is the most valuable investment in your mate that you can make! If spent wisely, the return on investment will be astronomical!

Therefore, if the girl/guy you’re taking out will only feel loved if you drop a wad of cash on your date, he/she is not living in today’s reality. (And more than likely not worth your time or money!)

Whether you’re meeting for the first time, or desperately seeking to enjoy some romantic alone time, not all wisely planned dates have to involve a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and Dancing With the Stars. Check out these 5 fun dates for under $5 and begin investing in your happiness right now!

Date #1: Karaoke Bar.

Voice of an angel or not, karaoke can be seriously entertaining””and cheap, if you don’t need several drinks to unwind enough to get up and rock out. Most karaoke bars don’t charge cover, and the music doesn’t start until way after dinner. Eat at home, meet up, and party.

Price: $5 for a beer in the city. Or, if you choose the diet Coke route, you’ll even have some money left over to tip the DJ. Good karma, good fun, and no taxi ride home required!

Date #2: Sledding

Many Americans have snow during the winter. If you don’t, never fear! A grassy hill and a piece of cardboard can be just as fun! Don’t have a sled? Grab a tray from the cafeteria at work (you’ll give it back!), or grease up the bottom of a cookie sheet.

Race each other to the top of the hill and down. Try to fit the two of you on a saucer. Once you’ve had your fill of the snow, retire to a local coffee shop or to your house for some hot cocoa.

Price: $5 for two hot cocoa’s, if it’s expensive!

Date #3: Go for a Walk””With a Purpose

Walking with a purpose is the perfect excuse for lots of face time with your date. If you’re in it for life, take a walk around your neighborhood to see how many open houses you can attend. Or take a walk to determine how many “bank owned” homes are within a 1-mile radius of where you live. (Who knows, maybe there’s a good deal to be had, for the financially responsible couple!) If you don’t already live with your date, there’s a walk for you, too! Try a local hike that ends with a great view. Invite your date to go on a long walk with you and your dog. (Dog= excuse for walk.) Walk along the beach looking for shells that would make great jewelry. Walk around a neighborhood advertised for its festive display of holiday lights. The reasons to walk never end””just get out there, and see what conversations follow.

Price: $0. Not a penny! (In fact, you might find a penny on your walk.)

Date #4: Bake a Cake.

Or cookies. Or bread, brownies, fudge, whatever! See what you can make from the ingredients already in your home. You’ll probably find you have just what you need for some scrumptious chocolate chip cookies. Bust out that reindeer apron your mom gave you for Christmas last year, and you’ll never want for a conversation starter!

Not only will you wind up with some tasty treats (you can give them to your date, or your coworkers if you don’t want them sitting at home, tempting you), but you’ll also learn about your date. Does he follow directions, or make it up as he goes? Is she a neat freak, cleaning up after every granule of sugar, or will she instigate a flour fight? Does he try to alter the recipe to make it healthier? You two will have to work it out together. Baking is truly a secret compatibility test!

Price: $0. (Or a few bucks for missing ingredients.)

Date #5: A Pint of Ben & Jerry’s and Dancing with the Stars

So maybe it’s not such a bad idea, after all! While this date might not allow time for long conversations, maybe all you want is time to hold each other.

And as simple as this date seems, it still provides some compatibility indicators. You have to agree on what to watch (Dancing With the Stars reruns optional), and what type of ice cream to buy. You’ll also see how good at sharing with each other you are, and how cuddly you can get with one another.

Price: $4

Whether you spend your time talking or touching, these five dates give you and your partner the chance to get to know one another better. They show you care enough to share your heart, mind, and time””compatibility indicators far more reliable and revealing than the amount of cash your date will drop on you. (And in today’s credit jungle, who knows if he really could afford that 5-star restaurant, anyway!)

Do you have any ideas for other cheap dates?