Death of Date Night? Struggling Economy Forcing Couples to Change Traditions

Remember when dinner and a movie was the standard for couples on a Friday night?

Ladies dressed up for their fellas, and pairs set out for a night on the town.

But the economic downturn has forced couples to rethink date night, if not drop it altogether. Expense cutbacks, children, time and other reasons keep people from spending their extra cash, and many couples opt to stay home.

Does that mean dinner and a movie is dead?

Twin Falls, Idaho, film lover and former Lamphouse Theatre owner Dave Woodhead says the number of people going out to the movies isn't what it used to be because there are other, cheaper options for film watching.

Every time someone rents or downloads a movie, "that's one less time they bought a ticket to the theater," he said. Netflix, home movie theaters and illegal downloading may be keeping people out of the theaters and in their homes.

One year Woodhead and his wife, Tris, saw 70 movies at the theater, he said, going at least once a week. Last year, Woodhead said, he went to the cinema four times.

Although Woodhead still watches movies, his theater routine has diminished and he suspects he's not alone.

While some couples may be letting the tradition die, some believe in keeping date night alive -- in a new and cheaper form.

One young Wendell, Idaho, couple has vowed to keep it strong. Scott and Renae Tree, married 7 1/2 years, rarely miss their date nights.

The Trees began their date-night routine when newly married and have managed to keep it alive even after four children. Three girls and one boy, all younger than 6, keep Renae busy during the day, while Scott works in Twin Falls. But commuting and children don't keep the two from planning to spend time alone every week, usually on Friday evenings.