By Kirk Blad
kirk@newsroom.byu.edu
Ladies let me open the door for you on a little secret. Cheap dates do not necessarily make cheap experiences.
In fact, cheap daters have celestial potential.
Before all of your feathers are ruffled, let me explain. It takes a quality man to pull off a cheap date.
I think everybody needs to experience Broadway, but anyone can make that fun.
Cheap dates require realness, creativity, careful planning and personality - all of the qualities that perfect men are made of.
Far too often, we attempt to bedazzle each other with trips to the most expensive restaurants, when a quick stop at McDonald's would suffice.
To understand, take a look at their respective serving portions.
For most fine dining, $20 will get you a roll, a kiddy-sized salad, a teaspoon of vegetables and a measly piece of meat.
On the other hand, $20 at McDonald's will feed you, your date and the couple your doubling with. It could even provide leftovers for the next week.
Four for the price of one is what I call effective eating. Everybody goes home happy, not hungry.
Despite your disgust, you ladies play the same game. Remember the last time you went to your favorite store on clearance weekend. You came home happy as can be because you got what you wanted at a price you could handle. It's no different for us men and dating.
It's all about being thrifty and being smart - the things our mothers taught us.
In addition, as eagle scouts, we have had thriftiness beat into our heads.
A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, THRIFTY, brave, clean and reverent. Sound familiar?
Eagle scouts across the world have taken those words to heart. Do you really want us to deny our childhood?
Another reason why men are cheap is that more often than not we are spending money on someone else's wife.
I remember a date when I blew over $80 and after the first 15 minutes, I knew we had no future. I was stuck despite my realization, because I revealed our date plans at the beginning of the night and had to keep my word.
As men, we need to remove the wheat from the tares and cheap dates are the best way to do that.
Don't be so quick to 'diss' your frugal friend, because he maybe the man you've been looking for.
To be frank, how else do you expect us to save money for the diamond ring?
Rather than criticizing our tactics, roll with the punches. Next time you go out, consider it a 'choose your own adventure' date, because in reality you determine what happens.