Interesting article on the cost of a date in the US by state:
[yahoo.com]
I used to have new dates meet me at a Bar-B-Q place for lunch at Cave Run Lake near Morehead, KY, then afterward, hike the access trail and scale Lockegee Rock-an easy climb for a beginner.
Pretty cheap for a date.
That way, even if the guy was a dud dude, I still didn't miss my Saturday birding hike and got some delicious lunch, plus could see if the guy's profile bragging about his weekly hiking routine was accurate.
Hint: they were usually lying.