The following article is a guest post, courtesy of Lily Rudolph

So you have mastered the going out to dinner date and the local festival or event date.  Now it is time for the next step: the stay-at-home date.  You probably remember the buzzword “staycation”  as a product of the 2009 financial crises, defining the  inexpensive stay-at-home-vacation, but staying in should not be your last resort.  Even if you have the cash to go out all the time, activities that focus on the moment rather than the money are bound to bring you closer together.  Here are my dating tips for the 3-Step Staycation, the perfect date to make the first move.
Step 1: Cook Together

Food is a bonding experience especially when you make it yourselves.  Check out Alex and Sonja Overhiser’s blog A Couple Cooks for fantastic recipes, healthy food facts, and tips on cooking together.  If you are on a budget, Gabi Moskowitz’s recipes might be more your style.  Her blog BrokeAss Gourmet offers healthy recipes that can be made for $20 or less!
Step 2: Add a Bit of Music

Cooking together is nice, but cooking together with music is even nicer!  Sites like Grooveshark allow you to make playlists, pick stations by genre, and play virtually any song you can think of for FREE.  Make a playlist that shows off your musical taste and creates a warm, comfortable atmosphere.
Step 3: Sprinkle in Some Love

So you enjoyed an amazing meal and listened to some awesome beats.  Now, here you are, Step 3.  What’s next?  I know what you are thinking.  If I say “dinner and a _____.”  Of course you will answer “movie” right? It’s the classic date, but I challenge you to take a step outside that box.  I know it’s tempting to click on the Netflix and drift off into screen-watching Never Never Land, but you have created the perfect setting to do something else, something that really lets you get to know each other.  Take this opportunity to talk.  If it is a warm night go outside and look at the stars.  Check out Mashable’s list of Apps for Stargazers for some astronomical knowledge.  If stargazing isn’t your thing, you can alway do other things.  This is your chance to make a move and you don’t need that movie-crutch to do it.  Just feel out the situation and be creative.  Good luck!