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Don’t put a price on your love. Expensive dates shouldn’t be the key to unlocking someone’s heart- and if it is, you should be concerned.
That said, it also doesn’t excuse you from being a total cheapskate. You want to balance being thoughtful and planning a fun night with being mindful of your budget. That’s where we come in with adorable date ideas that are both fun and affordable.
Kinda frugal spending tips are our specialty. This article is a culmination of personal experience and ideas inspired by stories online where people shared some of their favorite dates.
1. Have a Picnic in the Park
Few things are more budget-friendly and romantic than taking your significant other to the park to enjoy a picnic. I think not. Between the fresh air, the delicious sandwiches, the stereotypical blanket and basket, and the general isolation, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with the one you love.
The only downside is that you will have to deal with some ants now and again.
2. An Old-Fashioned Movie Night
Back in the day, couples headed to the local movie theater nearly every weekend to enjoy some of Hollywood’s best films. Of course, many still do this today, but streaming from the comfort of your couch has gotten much more popular.
Have an old-fashioned movie night with an old-school twist: break out the VCR and cassette tapes and watch a classic film like it’s 1988 all over again.
3. Explain Your Music-Listening History
You don’t know someone until they take you through their music-listening history. For the perfect frugal date night, prepare a presentation from when you were a teenager. Think back to your favorite bands growing up, and present one song per band to your significant other for each year you’ve been alive.
Not only will this give your partner an illuminating look into which bands and artists influenced you, but both of you will have a few hearty laughs about your possibly terrible taste in music.
4. Have a Battle of Wits
This frugal date idea is too straightforward. Each of you curates a list of the best jokes you know (or can find online) and takes turns trying to crack each other up. The person who makes the other person laugh the most wins.
It’s a delightfully simple way to bond with your significant other and get those endorphins flowing by laughing with each other. Of course, avoid off-color jokes. There are plenty of other ways to be funny without causing offense or making the other person think less of you.
5. Take a Long Drive
Something about hitting the open road with the windows down, wind in your hair, and your favorite music playing over the stereo makes for an intimate, romantic date. Any luck will take both of you back to your childhood, to better, simpler times when the only thing you worried about was kissing your crush.
Bonus points if you drive to Makeout Point like the old days. Embrace the teenage soul lying dormant inside you.
6. Hike and See the Sunset
Exercise is arguably the best frugal activity you can do, so you should make it a bit romantic and include your significant other and a well-timed sunset while you’re at it. Taking a hike to an overlook and watching the sunset together is a cathartic experience for any couple.
Assuming you live in an area where a short hike can lead to a fantastic view of the setting sun, there should be no reason you shouldn’t be having this date night regularly.
7. Visit a Museum
When we were kids, going to the museum was one of the most boring activities we could do. Fortunately, as adults, museums have finally revealed their true colors: it’s the ultimate way to have a frugal date and expand your knowledge simultaneously.
Most museums are free or have surprisingly low admission fees. Don’t hesitate to spend a Saturday afternoon strolling through the exhibits with the person you love.
8. Have an Indoor Picnic
If it’s raining or you don’t have access to a romantic little park or beach, having a picnic at home is your next best option for a great date night. It takes all the romance of an outdoor picnic and makes it more practical because you won’t have to drive or walk anywhere to experience it.
One upside to this date idea is that ants will be nowhere near you as you’re sprawled on the living room floor.
9. Go Camping
Although camping isn’t for everyone, there’s arguably no date more cost-effective than spending the night in a local park underneath the stars. Romance will be in full effect as you and your loved one cuddle up in a tent and awake to the sunrise the following day.
Of course, suppose camping isn’t your cup of tea. In that case, you can level up the experience by glamping, an upscale version of camping that will cost (unfortunately) a few dollars more.
10. Bike Around Town
Riding bikes is a fantastic way to exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and participate in an activity slowly becoming extinct. For those reasons, a leisurely bike ride around town should be your next frugal date idea.
Obviously, this date idea is infinitely less expensive if you already own bicycles. Still, I’m sure your hometown has cheap bikes to rent. Either way, a good bike ride will make you and your loved one smile. Take it slow and steady and enjoy the sights of your town.
11. Track Down a Karaoke Bar
Do you or your significant other have fantastic singing talents? Whether the answer is yes or no, finding a karaoke bar and getting to work is an excellent idea for a unique date night.
As a veteran of the karaoke bar scene, performing with (or against) your loved one in a public setting is guaranteed to garner laughs at the very least and wild adoration at best. To up the ante, decide on the other person’s song for maximum entertainment value.
12. Have a Game Night
It’s time to break out the greatest hits of your childhood. Monopoly, Scrabble, Candyland, Yahtzee, and other classic board games make for an unbelievably fun, budget-friendly date night.
Besides, if you plan a game night, you can participate in the time-honored tradition of angrily flipping over the Monopoly board in protest as the game enters its fourth hour without a winner being declared. Fun times. It doesn’t get any more intimate and romantic than that.
13. Attempt To Cook a Ridiculous Dinner
Making dinner for your loved one is boring if you’re an accomplished home chef. However, if the two of you have zero cooking talent, attempting to cook a ridiculous, over-the-top meal is one of the most unique date ideas out there.
Go for broke. Attempt Beef Wellington or a French-inspired quail dish. Consider a crazy, prep-intensive dessert, too. Even if you fail miserably, you and your significant other will make memories that will last a lifetime. Isn’t that what date night is all about?
14. Play Miniature Golf
Get those competitive juices flowing by challenging your significant other to a round of miniature golf. That’s right. Middle school first-date ideas never go out of style later in life. Make a friendly wager to make the activity more enjoyable.
As an avid miniature golfer (and someone who can tally the score on the fly faster than any computer in existence), mini golf night is the perfect way to make me think I’m in charge of the relationship after months of my fiancee calling the shots.
15. Do a Challenging Puzzle
I admit that as I get older, I’m increasingly into puzzles. They’re a fantastic time-waster and a great way to keep your brain firing on all cylinders, so why not include your significant other in the action and make a date night out of solving a thousand-piece puzzle?
Arguments, playful anxiety, and plenty of stretches of awkward silence will occur while doing the puzzle. Still, nothing beats the feeling of finishing one. At a price of free, it’s the ultimate date night idea.
10 Practical Ways to Be Frugal Without Being Cheap
You can be frugal without being cheap by understanding the difference between price and value. A cheap person cares only about getting the lowest price. Frugal people look at price as one factor that determines value.
14 Insanely Overpriced Fast Food Chains You Shouldn’t Bother With
Fast food is now a luxury. My family and I have completely limited our fast-food outings. Just ordering a basic meal can cost close to $15, and it’s easy to spend even more. Some fast food spots, though, are more expensive than others. Being shocked by a food bill will surely leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth. So when you plan an outing, consider the cost of where you will eat rather than just your favorite meals. At these prices, a sit-down restaurant with a more comfortable ambiance where you can better enjoy visiting with friends and family might be a more affordable choice. So, to help you have the best experience, I chose 14 ridiculously expensive fast-food chains you should be aware of. Many of the restaurants on this list come from my own experience and occasionally wrecked budget. Here are 14 insanely overpriced fast-food chains you shouldn’t bother with.
16 Things That Are So Expensive That People Now Do Without
The cost of living in the United States has skyrocketed in the last four years. So, what happens when the cost of living goes up? We stop buying certain things. I can think of many items and luxuries I’ve let go of because they’ve gotten so expensive. Honestly, with the increasing prices, it’s not worth it. Maybe you’re experiencing the same dilemma. It’s hard to decide how to buy the things we need without breaking the bank. To help with those tough decisions, we curated these things based on luxuries and wants instead of needs. Some may be more difficult than others to let go. However, in the end, we think it makes sense. What about you?
