Why Guys Can't Plan Cheap Dates and How to Fix That

          Happy Valentines Day. If you're like me, last night, your wife or girlfriend asked you what the plans were for tomorrow. At this point, you either have no plans and she's disappointed, you have plans, but want them to be a surprise, so you play the fool, and she's disappointed, or you've planned something cliche, and she's disappointed. Guys, we're in trouble no matter how we slice it. Girls always wonder why guys are so bad at planning dates. This should answer the question, and hopefully take steps towards solving that.
          Guys hate planning. Every guy just inwardly agreed, and every woman just misunderstood me. What they heard was, planning is hard for guys. What I meant was: Guys HATE planning. It is the worst part of any date, by far, period. Women always wonder why there are so many dinner and a movie dates. That date requires zero planning. It always works, no matter the weather, no matter the time of night. There is always food, and there is always a movie playing. It's cliche because it's easy. Is it cheap? Heavens no, unless it's the dollar theater (I love that place). There are much cheaper, more creative, more romantic, more fun, all around better date options available, but all of those require planning.
          Where are these better date options? I can help a bit, but ladies, the easiest way to see a change from guys is to start asking guys on dates. Do something creative and cheap. If you do this the guy will a) want to match or beat what you have done b) give the guy more ideas c) show a guy you like him (guys like getting asked on dates too). All of this applies to married couples as well.
           Guys, this post isn't directed to women. It isn't me saying, "girls, we really suck at this game--you have to fix things." This is to help the fellas out, both on the creative side, and on saving money. I have spent years developing several lists. I have a list of dinner places, outdoor date ideas, and indoor date ideas. These lists are Utah based, but most ideas can be used anywhere. I'll include the lists below. Share them, copy and paste them, use them. Chicks dig this stuff, and some of it is completely free, and if not, most of it is cheaper than a movie. Remember, its harder to become a millionaire while you're paying alimony.

Dinner Places	Outdoor Date Ideas	Indoor Date Ideas
Café Rio	Feed ducks	Starwars Marathon
Malawi’s	Hike bridal veil falls	Laser tag
Pizzeria 720	Visit Temple Square	Mini golf
Dave and Cranky Chuckys	Pick all the marshmallows out of the lucky charms	Pop a whole roll of bubble wrap
Magelby's	Mini golf	bowling
Marley's	Hike a local waterfall (Stuart Falls)	Go get Ice cream
Smoking apple	Off Roading/Mudding	Make Ice cream Sundays
5 star bbq	Go for a drive	The dance club, Friday night, ball room, adult classes.
Chillies	Sky lift at Sundance	Indoor go cart
Applebees	Outdoor go cart, Larry H. Miller in Tooele	See a play
JDawgs	Drive in movie	Go to a shooting range
Mountain west	Out door play, Scera Shell	Go to an indoor archery range (Jake’s Archery)
712 pizzaria	Ice Blocking	Cooking Contest
Texas roadhouse	Thanksgiving Point Gardens	Make milkshakes or smoothies, add in something strange
Good wood	Watch a scary movie in the woods	Make Marshmallow blow guns
Happy sumo	Play Fugitive	Nerf War
3 course 3 places	Go Shooting	Indoor Trampoline place
Red Robbin	Play with Diet Coke and Mentos	Dinosaur Museum
5 guys	Rent a Tandem Bike	Picnic
Smoke house	Driving Range	Picture scavenger hunt at the mall
Wingers	Campfire/cook marshmallows	Make a parody music video
Macaroni Grill	Paint Balling/Airsofting	Play a really old video game
Serving Time, Prison cafe	Finger paint the sunset with your toes	Karaoke
Banana Leaf	Go star gazing	French fry taste testing: Which restaurant has the best in town?
Black Sheep cafe	Go to a service project together	Hot chocolate- Starbucks, Dave and cranky Chuck's, 711
Tommy's burgers	Go to a corn maze	Go to a rock climbing gym
Sonic	Go to a concert, many cities have free summertime concerts	Racquetball
Market Grill	Go Hiking	Ice Skating
The Trolley	Disk Golf	Carve Watermelons or other foods
Waffle Love	Go for a Bike Ride	Card games/board games
Papusas	Play Croquet	Aquarium
Thai	Tennis	Color me mine
Sushi Ya	Timp Cave	Thrift Store
Chillian restaurant	Longboarding	Springville Art Museum
	Flow rider	Arcade games/Nickel City
	Make Snowmen	Line Dancing
	Christmas lights drive	Get Henna Tattoos
	Make Snow Sculptures	Smell soaps and lotions at Bath and Bodyworks
	Go to a rodeo	Build a blanket fort
	Fishing	Go to a Volleyball game
	Go Camping	Make a video
	Float a river	Ikea
	Go Swimming	Scheel’s
	Zoo	Cabela’s
	Heber Creeper	Planetarium
	Take a walk	Basketball game
	Photo shoot	Poker tournament, bet with candy
	Chalk the sidewalk	Make a strange new recipe, maybe one you saw on Facebook
	Alpine Slide	People watching
		Coloring pictures
		Go play at the animal shelter
		Finger painting
		Wii Olympics
		Make bucket lists
		Marshmallow eating contest
		Visit a nursing home or rest home
		Play pool, foosball, or ping-pong
		Go to a library or bookstore