It was date night. A pair was getting ready for a dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse and decided each needed a standout outfit for the evening, so they went shopping for attire.
They pulled up to Goodwill to hunt for the most outrageous outfits they could uncover. Total cost? $10 apiece.
That’s how Noel and Shane Pauley spent a Friday evening, according to Noel’s Facebook post, which exploded online, racking up more than 300,000 reactions, 401,000 shares and 179,000 comments (and counting!) in under four days.
Noel explained on her blog, Baby Bows and Bullets, that her husband suggested the date after hearing about another couple who’d done something similar.
They set a few ground rules: each could only spend $10, they had to wear whatever their partner selected, and they couldn’t talk about their ridiculous plan once they left Goodwill.
Passersby couldn’t help but wonder if this was their usual attire.
Shane picked what looks like a floral two-piece dress with shoulder pads that seemed several generations out of date for his wife, while Noel outfitted her husband in a clashing plaid ensemble.
Enter the laughter.
Laughs Without Breaking the Bank
The duo spent a combined $13 on their outfits — well under the $20 maximum, Noel noted on her blog.
To make the night even sillier, they adopted fake names and agreed to use those alter egos all evening. Noel became Ethel, and Shane went by Roger.
“Y’all, I don’t think we have laughed this hard in a long time,” Noel wrote on her blog. “Marriage is hard, parenting is hard, and honestly, life is hard. But everything is easier when you’re doing it with your best friend.”
For frequent Goodwill customers who thought the Pauleys were poking fun at thrift shopping, that wasn’t their intention.
“Some people think we’re making fun of folks who shop at Goodwill, but we definitely are not,” Noel told Scary Mommy. “We shop there for clothes too! This was just to find ridiculous outfits we wouldn’t normally wear!”
Join the Fun
Noel dared other couples to test out the idea and share photos of their antics on social media using the hashtag #goodwilldatenight.
Although the Pauleys’ bargain-basement date sounded like a riot, there are plenty of other inexpensive options if constant laughter isn’t your thing.
Try geocaching or explore one of these 25 wallet-friendly date suggestions.
Strolling through an unfamiliar neighborhood with your partner appears on this list of 11 cheap date-night ideas for parents.
For a daytime outing, consider attending an arts festival — it’s included in this list of 10 ideas for a fun, free excursion.
Romance doesn’t have to be pricey. You can create a memorable experience with your loved one no matter your budget.
Amanda Blake is a staff writer at Savinly.
