Are you feeling stressed out by the rising cost of…everything, but don’t want to give on the romance in your relationship? Looking for some inspiration for affordable date night options? Look no further than our Manning Up 10 Best Affordable Date Night Ideas! We have searched far and wide for inspiration for date nights that are still romantic but won’t break the bank, and as a bonus these are all activities that could be done even if you don’t live in a big city, and can be done even during colder winter nights. If you have younger kids and you’re looking to save some money in babysitting, consider trading child care nights with a couple friend so you can each have regular nights alone without paying the current exorbitant fees many babysitters demand (or if you’re in the Lethbridge area hit me up and I’ll trade with you). Also, as an important note, make sure that saving money on date nights is something your partner is on board with, and that they don’t view it as a reflection of how you value them. Without further ado:
1.Bowling. Bowling gets a bad rap, but I don’t think I have ever had a bad time bowling. It normally allows for fun conversation, you can put funny names on the score screen and it’s a sport only a select few really take seriously so being goofy (within the rules of the alley) is encouraged. This one is especially good for double (or triple) dates.
2. Cook or bake together. Save money on the restaurant and make yourself a gourmet meal or dessert at home. Cooking allows for fun and flirty conversation, or getting deeper and discussing long term goals or addressing relationship issues. If you want to make it a little sexier, do it wearing nothing but your aprons, or if you want a little messier and possibly dangerous, skip the apron too.
3. At home movie theatre. Dim the lights, find your comfiest seats, melt some real butter on your microwave popcorn to get that theatre taste, find a couple of your favorite overpriced movie theatre treats or beverages at the dollar store and rent the new release (or classic) you haven’t seen on demand and snuggle up together for a private screening.
4. Go for a drive. Take some time to see new areas around you and take some time to talk about your hopes and dreams, try to work through issues in your relationship or just listen to a good audio book or favorite playlist. Speaking for myself and my wife we have worked out some complex problems and had inspired ideas for raising our family while driving.
5. Buy a lottery ticket. Buy a ticket than go to your favorite coffee shop and dream of what you could do if money were no longer an issue and begin to make plans of how you can change your lifestyle to help make some of those dreams a reality just in case that ticket isn’t a winner.
6. Build a blanket fort. Release your inner child and get creative building a blanket palace or perhaps like me a blanket shack is more on your creativity level then snuggle together and talk, or do other things couples might do together.
7. Write love letters to each other. Share your feelings, what you first noticed about your partner, your dreams for the future together and what you love most about them, then save a stamp and exchange your letters so you can start writing a reply right away.
8. Couples book club. Pick a book to read together, whether it be a relationship or parenting book, or a mystery book you both want to read, read a section on your own, then meet together a cup of coffee or glass of wine and discuss your thoughts on the book with each other.
9. Slow dance at home. Get dressed up for a night out, put on some music if you already have some moves, or find a training video on Youtube, and dance the night away with your favorite dance partner.
10. Spa/massage night at home. Go to your local discount store and find some massage oil and facial masks, put some cucumber water and take turns pampering each other.
Whatever you choose to do, the key is spending time together, as opposed to spending money. Take time to talk together, plan together, dream together and have fun together. It’s about the effort and love you put into planning your date and the time you share together. Share your date ideas or even photos with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
