Relationships and dating are hard enough without any added stress, but in difficult economic times, it's hard to avoid the added pressure of wooing your partner on a minimal budget. New couples are the hardest hit, as it may seem too soon to forego a night out on the town in favor of dinner and a movie at home (well, at least not every night). Even couples who have relationships that are well established feel the crunch of limited spending abilities. But reduced budgets don't have to put a damper on the romance of a relationship, new or long-standing. There are plenty of inexpensive dating options that retain all the romance and quality time of a pricey dinner on the town, but won't cramp your financial style (or send you spiraling into debt).

A date night does not necessarily have to include a restaurant. In fact, you can stretch your dating dollar much further if you skip restaurants all together. One of the reasons eating out gets so expensive is the service factor not only are you paying for your food, you're paying for the atmosphere of the place you're eating it and the salary of the person serving it to you (not to mention the salaries of the people behind the scenes who you'll never even see). The other big cost associated with eating out is alcohol. If you and your date are drinkers, this is going to be a logical part of the evening, but the often unreasonable mark-ups restaurants and bars impose can drain your wallet before you even get to the main course.

Instead of dropping all your hard earned money on a manufactured experience at a romantic restaurant, make your own special experience. Hit the local grocer's prepared foods section (or even prepare the food yourself!), pick up a much more reasonably priced bottle of wine, and take your date out for an evening walk and a sunset picnic. Don't forget to bring a blanket to sit on, and even a couple of tea light candles for instant ambiance. Instant romance!

If you're dead set on taking your date to a restaurant, get courageous and creative, and try something new. Do a little research (online or among friends first-hand recommendations tend to be the most reliable) and find a unique little place off the beaten path. A tiny mom-and-pop Italian restaurant, or a hole-in-the-wall exotic food spot. These kinds of places tend to be much more budget-friendly than bigger, more popular restaurants, and they have infinitely more character. Plus, given the high level of competition in the food industry, these places have to be pretty good in order to survive, so the food is usually top-notch.

Of course, you can always just stay home. This option doesn't have to be boring far from it! Instead of splurging at a restaurant, put extra effort into preparing a special dinner yourself. For even more romance, do it together. Cooking is a great bonding experience, and the preparation itself can be one of the best parts of the date. Set the table as if it were a restaurant, and light some candles to create a romantic atmosphere. Remember, the point of a date is to spend time with someone special something you can do anywhere, anytime, and on any budget.

Ki lives in Austin Texas and works as a realtor. He works with clients looking for Austin real estate. His website has a graphical search for Austin Homes and information on current mortgage interest rates.