Admittedly, Kelsey and I enjoy the finer side of Calgary’s dating scene.

We have been known to drop a pretty penny or two on some of the more elegant cuisine offerings in the city.

Even when we attempt to rein in the spending with a trip to a local movie theatre, the final bill still encroaches on $40.

On minimum wage, we don’t have nearly that amount. In fact, this past weekend our goal was to spend as little as possible while still enjoying ourselves.

That’s why we turned the decision over to our readers, asking you to vote on a place to eat, mode of transportation and activity.

When the votes were tallied, we were directed to drive over to IKEA and hit the $1 breakfast efore going for a walk at Prince’s Island Park (a picnic was also originally in the cards, but the soggy weather put a damper on those plans).

First the breakfast. For $1 it was damn good! Sure, the eggs were powdered, the bacon was tough, but how can you go wrong for a loonie?

Then it was off to the park with our dog Bogart. The rainy weather actually had some benefit as the park was completely empty. It was great to enjoy some alone time with Kelsey – a rarity in our everyday lives.

To plan your own cheap date, I would advise heading to calgary.ca and visitcalgary.com. Both sites have numerous activity ideas and many are offered at little to no cost.

Stay tuned to our Minimum Living blog this week as we make our second trip of the month to the grocery store and explore ways to decorate and furnish your house without spending a dollar.

If you have your own tips for decorating on a budget, leave them in the comments section below, email me at jeremy.nolais@metronews.ca or catch me on Twitter @Metro_Nolais.