Our Dollarbee's Love Story: Our Applebee's Era (Hello, Dollar Long Islands!)
Alright, let's spill the tea on some real-life romance. The kind that doesn't break the bank in your early 20s and builds something pretty special. Flashback to 2018. I just moved into Chris’s place in Marinette, and we were in a new era of slight chaos and that "just starting life together" chapter of living. Money? Well, let's just say every dollar had a designated job, and most of them were assigned to "paying all of the bills." Our kitchen was basically a restaurant for all the meals we both knew how to make and had never eaten together. But even as the most dedicated homebodies, we wanted a change of scenery once in a while.
That's where our beloved Applebee's dates entered the chat. It was conveniently the closest restaurant to Chris's house. Making it the perfect low effort, high reward date night. And the price? It was gold. We’re talking about the mythical land of dollar Long Islands and margaritas. Seriously, back when things really only cost a buck. It almost felt like we’d stumbled upon a cheat code for date night. We quickly named them our "Dollarbee Dates," and honestly, it was such a special time of life for Chris and I.
Our Secret Sauce: Half-Price Apps and Zero Regrets
Our routine? Pure science and following the deals. (I know, we are THAT OLD, before becoming that old!) We'd roll in right before late night half apps. We would order our drinks for a total of two whole dollars. You simply couldn’t beat it. Now, Chris and I aren’t exactly known for closing down the bar (unless the "bar" is our living room couch and the ending credits of a good movie). More often than not, one drink a piece was more than enough. But just knowing we could easily afford a dozen a piece and still spend under a usual dinner for two price, that felt like a power move.
Then the main event... half-price appetizers. Forget the fancy 2 for $25 entrees; we were dedicated to that starter life. Spin dip, crispy wings, or if we were feeling wild, the sampler platter with the mozzarella sticks. We rarely broke the bank, walking out usually having spent a grand total between $12 and $20.
We kept this little tradition going for almost an entire year. Think about it; regular date nights and only dropping $100 for a whole month's "going out" budget. It wasn't just about saving cash. It was about getting super creative with our limited funds. It hammered home the point that connection doesn't require a giant credit card balance.
More Than Just a Meal: Our Budget Love Language
Here’s where the feels come in. These dates were never about being fancy. We weren't trying to impress anyone, especially not by dropping a ton of cash. It’s our early 20’s, no one can really afford the lavish life and build a solid life foundation. From the beginning, it was simply about trust and showing up for each other. It was about intentionally building a plan for our future and doing something together that we both genuinely enjoyed.
And those late-night dates at Applebee's were often quiet. Usually just the two of us settled into our favorite seats at the bar and our fantastic bartender, Heather,It gave us a space to really talk and to truly get to know each other without a lot of noise or distractions. It was a time for genuine connection, for building the foundation of our relationship, one half-price appetizer at a time. These "Dollarbee Dates" solidified that our relationship wasn't tied to a price tag. It was built on shared time, having conversations, and a mini happy dance when scoring a fantastic deal and sharing it with each other.
