And you wanna know why? Money comes and goes. Sure, you can fall in love with Prince Charming over Cristal, fast cars, and fancy bars…that’s being swept off your Manolos, but in the long haul? If you can’t be swept off your bare feet and vice versa…is the guy worth it?

You New Yorkers may empathize. A girlfriend of mine still has the moths-in-his-wallet guy as the best date ever. It was something about hot dogs, night court, and the skyline. Whatever your metropolis, here are a few cheap date ideas that’ll help you get to know him better than that high end Cabernet.

1. Play Sports. It’s almost summer time and the balls are a flying. Lost you man to the NBA playoffs? Challenge him to some one on one. Doesn’t matter how good you are, he’ll be happy to share his interest with you. He might even like playing coach. Or you can hike or run or any other thing that incorporates what makes the outdoors great in your city. If you keep it competitive, you’ll see what kind of winner or loser he is.

2. Play Board Games. Ditto on the last point. What’s more soul revealing than Monopoly and Pictionary? The game of greed and the game of universal symbols. Jung would have a field day.
3. Visit a Court. This can be surprisingly entertaining. Plaintiffs, defendants, angry lawyers, all factions of society embroiled in litigation. Talk about a conversation starter. You’ll probably get to know a lot about each other’s belief systems.

4. Be a Tourist. Take a tour of your city’s cultural landmarks. Learning something new and exploring your city with fresh eyes may shed new light on a beau…like, are you two culturally compatible, or how do you feel about your home?

5. Explore the World of Free. Who know what delights await on the city’s dime? Out in L.A., we have marionette theater, world music, Shakespeare, salsa lessons…what happens when you type free ????? into your search engine? You’ll soon find out how open he may be to new things.

If you guys can take free and cheap and turn it into crystal bells and golden whistles, then hey, I think you’ve got a keeper.

‘member when love was fresh, exciting, and the make out sessions lasted for hours? Oh, high school romance was just the best. Well, here are a few ways to get back to the days of driver’s ed and passion so strong you’d brave the wrath of your parents for a peck on the lips.

1. Hold hands. Part of the intensity was the build-up. Take time for holding hands. Explore those expressive digits. Fondle each other’s fingers and, well, add a little adult naughtiness by nibbling his fingers and biting lightly on the flesh of his palm.

2. Don’t Touch Below the Waist. There are plenty of PG-13 moves that probably don’t get used when we’re busy focused on “the end game” and what we know will come. Well, remember when sex wasn’t a given? Remember how exciting petting was? Sneak in some soft petting next time you’re in public, or keep foreplay at second base until you two get too hot to handle.

3. Make Out. Fleshy lips, tongues touching tips, soft, slow exploration, sharing breath. Like the song says, it’s in his kiss. Again, now that we can have sex or have had sex, sometimes we rush past the good stuff. Let him show you how he loves you so, and vice versa, with your kiss.

4. Only use your hands. You heard me. Sure a little third base action wouldn’t hurt. Using old school tricks with a grown up mind just might revolutionize how you experience those hands you were holding back at first base.

Did you just move into a new place? Do you feel like your relationship has everything and the kitchen sink? Well, loyal She Knows readers, here’s one that’ll pop the cork on that housewarming happy buzz.

The basic idea is that you get lifted up onto a domestic surface - the kitchen counter, the drier (especially if it’s running) - and he stands. You wrap your legs around him and fill yourselves with the joy of your new place, your new remodeling job…whatever. It’s your relationship, your apartment and it comes with everything and the kitchen sink.

Who knew bath time could be so much fun? These delightful crayons are the perfect, flirtatious accompaniment to  a romantic aromatic  hour.

Pour a few drops of ylang ylang into a hot tub, climb in with your lover and unleash your inner child. Write what you want to do on each other and where or doodle on the parts of the body you find most arousing. When you’ve soaked yourselves sexy and silly, take that creativity to the bedroom…unleash the fantasy. Buy them here.

Ok, so we expect him to have a condom, warm us up, and not be pushy. But what is our role ?

1. Be Generous. Sex is about giving. You can’t expect just to lay there and let him do all the work. Talk to him, touch him in unexpected places and read his feedback. If you’re regulars, pay attention to your patterns and take the initiative to switch it up. Let today be all about him.

2. Guide Him. If he’s just gettin it wrong and you’re getting frustrated: Speak up! How can he learn about you if you “suffer” in silence?

3. Listen to His Needs. He  may not like having the inside ofhis thighs stroked. Listen for those soft grunts and moans, the muscle twitches that indicate pleasure. Keep on doing that or ask him if he wants more, harder, faster…

4. Be Well-Groomed. Isn’t this basic life etiquette? The first rule is to keep yourself up to your standards, but if you discover you man is really into a more natural girl, let him have the woman of the wild sometimes. Plus, feeling and looking sexy is a cornerstone to any romantic interlude.

What is it with some guys that can’t take a hint? You’re not making eye contact. You’ve got your arms folded. You’re holding up a copy of “She’s Just Not That Into You.” But somehow…you’re cornered. Here’s a how to get him out of your face.

Some men will take any liberties they like in a social situation. Maybe his friends are watching. Maybe he’s a little tipsy and is looking at himself with beer goggles. Maybe he’s really super into you and will not take no for an answer. This can be a little intimidating for a girl, especially if she’s on her own.

Here are a few ways to get him to back off:

Don’t be afraid to be very, very direct. Tell him you’re not interested. If he won’t take you’re “I have a boyfriend” answer, let him know you are super committed to your man. And don’t worry about being curt. If he’s not backing off, there is little that won’t be forgiven if you make a scene to get a too aggressive guy off your back.

If he won’t leave you alone, make eye contact with your friends or a waitress to signal that you are in distress.

If he keeps on keeping on and you feel like you are in danger, remove yourself from his presence, tell an employee of the establishment your dilemma and stay with them until a cab comes to pick you up or you get walked to you car by someone you trust.

What does it take to seduce you? Thinking about this may help you understand a little more about yourself and what you need to turn you on. I’m mentioning this during one of those horrid, stressful slumps that happen so often with go-getting career girls…so, here’s my little wish list. Any combo of these is sure to get me from slump to…oh, that rhyme is just too tacky! Suddenly seduction seems less an art and more a factor of care and intimacy.

1. Bottle of good wine and an artisanal cheese platter.

2. A simple phone call acknowledging whatever it is you know I’m stressing over.

3. Body contact: stroking, foot massage, playing with hair.

4. Clean sheets.

5. An unexpected offer to do the dishes.

6. Be given a bath complete with hair washing.

7. Make fun of the situation.

Glass is an amazing material. I highly recommend choosing it for your sex toys. The high-grade, non-porous borosilicate glass used by companies like Forbidden Novelties offers a slippery sensation and glides easily along your body’s every curve. It also warms to your body’s temperature and can be cooled for fun sensationplay.

Because it is a non-porous material (here’s a little sex ed for ya), it can be fully sterilized…washed like your dishes, boiled…whatever your sterilization method of choice is. This just means, if kept properly clean, you never have to worry about you body’s health. Speaking of which…

Though there are no conclusive studies stating explicitly that phthalates, an agent that softens plastic that is ubiquitous, will give you cancer and disrupt your production of hormones, a debate on the matter rages on. (Think “cigarettes don’t harm you…conclusively” statements made by tobacco companies.) Play safely with yourself and choose a more body-friendly adult novelty…like glass, wood, medical-grade silicon, or steel. By the way, you can win the glass toy pictured above here at Sexcerpts!

Check out this darling Euro-pudding giving you tips on seducing men without being vulgar or slutty. How unusual that it’s a man, no? As far as self-esteem goes, this should bolster our confidence about what men want. Demure, seductive, mysterious, who you are, how you project yourself well…not all hope is lost in this day and age where sex is turned into such a commodity by mainstream media. See, ladies, there are guys out there who want to date you for who your confident, funny, sexy self! But maybe we have to move to Europe…

With guys like Neil Strauss out there promoting pick up and seduction tips that are all about playing on your insecurities, why not trump his game by arming yourself with the “knowledge” that he’s accumulating? Help yourself out with your own dating game. Check out this guy and his top 10 tips. The good stuff kicks in at about minute two.