Most people if they were willing enough to go on a date in the first place, don't decide to bail like 45 minutes in to it. Don't worry so much about having an out from the situation. Movie by itself is barely even a date. You don't get a chance to talk.

So I'm saying this, and yet the first date I took the girl I been seeing lately on DID involve a movie. But it was Singin' in the Rain on the big screen (a local theater shows a different old movie every week), and we first went to a sushi joint with semi-private tea rooms for like an hour or two.

If you want something cheap, just pick an easy social activity that allows you a chance to talk and be goofy. You said she knows you're not loaded, so she's not expecting you to wine and dine her. Go play mini golf, or check with your local parks to see what kind of activities like pedal boats or horseback rides they have. Basically anything fun and easy where you get a chance to talk with her one-on-one.