When developing your monthly budget sometimes there is a tendency to overlook things that are not bills.  The money that you spend on daily activities (ex: your morning trip to Starbucks) or other personal activities can make up a large portion of your monthly expenses. One of these potentially large expenses for a man is the money you spend on dating.  If you want to keep your finances on track it is important to know how much certain dates cost and how often you want to take your lady out.  With these two pieces of information, you can develop your monthly budget for dating.  Below are the costs for some typical dates followed by a summary of the monthly total cost.  Adjust your budget based on your lifestyle and dating preferences.

Dinner for Two - $100

If you are looking to take your special someone to a decent restaurant (no paper napkins), expect to drop at least $100.  Two plates of pasta or chicken will run about $40.  Although you can get a good bottle of wine at a reasonable price, still expect to spend a minimum $20.  Add in dessert for $10, an after dinner drink for another $15 and the obligatory 20% tip (don't want to look cheap) and you've dropped your c-note.  If you're going to dinner in a big city, don't forget to bring an extra $20 for parking.

Two Tickets to the Ball Game - $150

Going to an NBA basketball game used to be a fairly inexpensive way to spend a few hours with a person gettin g live quality entertainment at a reasonable price.  Nowadays you need to take out a personal loan just to go see LeBron or Kobe.  NBA tickets for two (not in the nosebleed seats) will run you anywhere from $90 to $180.  If you want to go courtside be prepared to drop between $400 and $800 for you and your date.  Don't forget the $40 for a couple of beers and hotdog for each of you.  Toss in $20 for parking and you have yourself a budget of $150 minimum.  Ever wonder why you don't see your cousin, your neighbor or your boys at the game.  Now you know.

A Night Out at the Club - $80

Cost to go clubbing varies greatly depending on type of club and the club's current popularity.  On the average though you should plan on at least a $20 cover charge per person.  Two drinks each for you and your date will run about $40 (with tip) as long as you stay away from the Long Island Iced Teas.  If you think you want to be like the hiphop star and start "poppin' bottles" - beware.  A bottle of "cris" (Cristal) can run you anywhere from $500 to $2,000 in a swanky club.

Movie Night - $40

The "old standby" date of going to the movies continues to move from an inexpensive date to one that requires some financial planning.  Since neither of you are children, expect to pay the full price.  Two adult tickets will run you about $25.  The obligatory tub of popcorn and two sodas will run about $15.  All things considered, $40 for a good flick is a small price to pay for a good time out.

A Lunch Date at  McDonalds - $20

Everybody knows this is the joke of the dating world, but don't sleep on the cost of eating at McDonalds.  The cost of two Big Mac Meals is around $12.  If you "splurge" by "super-sizing" her and adding in a couple of apple pies you are between $16 and $20 (depending on the meal you ordered.  If you go to McDonalds once a week for a year you would spend $1,000 on this cheap date.

These dates are representative of some of the things you might enjoy with your lady on a periodic basis.  If you are the type of brother who wants to take your lady out at least once a week, you can figure that you would need to take some combination of the 4 options and calculate your cost for the month.  If you want to go out Friday AND Saturday night - double it.

If you want to keep your woman, swap out McDonalds for lunch at a nice coffee shop (and add $200 a year). 

If you want to stay out of the doghouse, budget at least 1/3 for birthdays, holidays and anniversary (and add $1,540 a year).