A night out in an upscale restaurant followed by a great show can make for a memorable date night. Occasionally, the splurge and ‘will there be anything else ma’am?’ is totally worth it. Date nights can be fun and a great bonding experience. But, if we have to go into debt or save up a worthy nest egg, they may end up being few and far between. I’m not here to tell you to cut out date night, I just want to encourage you to use a little creative thinking to create a special experience while leaving your wallet almost entirely out of the picture.
Outdoor skating
Now that it’s winter there are all kinds of things we can do with this sparkling, beautiful season. No, I’m not telling you to shovel the driveway together! Consider a date night on an outdoor pond or public rink. Don’t worry if you don’t have skates, you can rent them at most rinks. Enjoy music under the stars, sip hot coffee by a fire pit, and skate hand-in-hand with the person you love (or try to at least!). It’s the kind of date they make movies about.
Read a good book
Almost every kid grew up loving story time. Just because we’re grown up doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the lure and excitement of a good story any less. Sure, we can get our stories by watching TV or by reading independently, but what about sharing a book?
Set yourselves up under a cozy throw, open a bottle of wine, maybe a box of chocolates, and take turns reading a book you’re both excited to read. Reading together can be a romantic, entertaining way to enjoy an evening together.
Bring out the board games
My significant other and I play board games all the time. Some healthy competition can be a great way to laugh and bond. Grab battleship, scrabble, or whatever 2-player game you want!
Did you know there are cafes you can go to where you can choose from all sorts of different board games? You’ll probably find games you’ve never played or maybe never even heard of. Most cafes charge nothing up to a small fee (such as buying a couple cups of coffee).
Picnic
A blanket spread out on the grass, the songs of nature around, a lovely meal out of a basket. Picnics can be a starry-eyed delight. Too cold? Consider a living room picnic. Eating at the table or on the couch in front of the TV can feel routine and mundane. But imagine setting up an indoor picnic. Candles, ambient music or nature sounds, dim lighting, cushions, it could be one of the most romantic nights of the year!
City walk
Most cities have all kinds of walking tours available online. Google ‘free walking tours’, download a map, and set out on an adventure!
When we were kids, we managed to have exceptional fun all the time without spending a penny. With a little imagination you can think up all sorts of ideas for inexpensive and exciting date nights.
To help get the creative juices flowing check out these 98 super fun, cheap date ideas from ‘And Then We Saved’.