Cheap Date Ideas that Guarantee a Great Time

Dating? In this economy? It’s cheaper than you think. Whether you’ve been with your special someone for years or are freshly single and ready to mingle, coming up with affordable and creative date ideas can be a struggle. Keep reading to learn about cheap date night ideas that are heavy on romance but light on finance.

Explore the Great Outdoors or Get Lost in Your Own Backyard

Getting lunch, dinner, or drinks can get old fast, so why not shake up your routine by trying out these outdoor adventures? They’re likely to be some of the cheapest date ideas you can find.

Casual Jaunts Close to Home

If it’s your first date, you might not want to sign up for a multi-hour road trip to a national park just yet. Here are some low-key ideas:

• Picnic in the park: A picnic in your local park is a cheap date idea that still feels thoughtful. Scoop up some affordable groceries – seasonal fruit, delicious drinks, and even desserts – you’ll find that there are plenty of affordable romantic picnic food ideas! Pack up a picnic blanket and you’re ready to go. 
• Bike ride: Going on a bike ride together can be an opportunity to discover new parts of the place where you live without the pressure of having to make constant conversation the whole time. If you don’t have your own bike, rentals can be surprisingly affordable options. 
• Check out local trails or nature reserves: You might be surprised at what’s around the corner in your town or city. Many nature reserves or local trails are free to visit, making them a perfect cheap date.

Outdoor Adventures

These cheap date ideas are perfect if you know your date a little better and what they enjoy doing.

• Beach or lake day: If your dating profile said you love long walks on the beach, now’s the time to prove it. Complete the date with a simple beach charcuterie board! Looking for something a little more active? Consider renting a canoe or kayak, or dive into the water if it’s safe to swim.
• Geocaching: Described as “the world’s largest treasure hunt,” geocaching is the practice of looking for hidden items left behind by others. To get started, you just need to download the official app, making geocaching one of the cheapest date ideas out there. 
• Photo walk: With a camera in hand — even if it’s just your smartphone camera — the familiar landscape around you can feel completely new. Pick a new neighborhood or a place you haven’t been in a while, then take your date on a photography walk. If you’d like to buy a camera, whether it be disposable cameras, used film or digital cameras, they can usually be found at very reasonable prices.

Cozy Dates Indoors

From Linguini and Colette’s “Ratatouille” romance to the love stories depicted in “Julie and Julia,” there’s just something special about cooking together as a couple.

In fact, it’s one of the best date at ideas at night I can think of – it’s fun, intimate, and more importantly, affordable! To avoid kitchen nightmares, pick an easy recipe to make together, like this comforting cheesy chicken asparagus bake. 

Another cooking-themed cheap date night idea is to challenge yourselves to make two rival dishes with unique ingredients, a la “Chopped.” It’s also the perfect way to use up any stubborn ingredients that you can never quite fit into your meal plan — looking at you, industrial-sized bag of barley.

If cooking together just isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of ways to make an at-home date special. You can treat yourselves to a DIY spa night, complete with face masks, cucumber slice eye masks, and even a romantic bubble bath.

Create some ambiance by putting on a fun playlist and lighting your favorite scented candles. My husband and I diffuse essential oil blends for relaxation to set the mood for our cozy at-home date. For an extra-fancy touch, prepare some appetizers to nibble on, like Bruschetta al pomodoro and crispy loaded potato skins.

Local Dates at Low Prices

One of the best parts about dating is that it gives you an excuse to act like a tourist in your own town or city. So why not check out those cheesy but fun attractions that you’ve never been to? 

Many museums, art galleries, and other cultural centers have free days or pay-what-you-can hours, making them an easy, cheap date option. Before booking, check with your local library: many libraries provide free or discounted tickets.

Another unique but often overlooked date activity is volunteering together to give back to your local community. Websites like Volunteer Match or Idealist let you easily view all of the volunteer opportunities available near you so that you can find an option that matches your skills and interests. Delivering food together, working to clean up a local park or even volunteering for a day at an animal shelter are all memorable and impactful date ideas that are completely free.

Still not sure what to do for your next date? Check Eventbrite, Facebook Events or Groupon to discover local affordable events, then challenge yourselves to check out something you wouldn’t normally try.

From student art showcases to cultural festivals, there’s always more going on around you than you might think. At worst, you’ll have a funny story to look back on — and at best, you might discover something new that you really enjoy doing together.

Playing with Heart

Do you really know another person until you’ve seen how they play Monopoly? Whether you pick a competitive board game or a more relaxed option like a puzzle, playing games together is a memorable date night idea and inexpensive, too.

For a cozy board game night, here are some of our favorite two-player games:

• The Mind
• EXIT: The Game
• Codenames: Duet

If you’re looking to combine game night with an easy dinner in, pick an option that won’t get your hands dirty. Outback potato soup is a hearty and delicious dish that you can enjoy without worrying about getting the pieces messy.

On Your Next Date, Leave the Stress Behind

Dating can be intimidating enough without having to worry about expensive restaurant bills. 

Alternatively, if you’re in a long-term relationship, the extra expense associated with going out can be difficult to justify. Picking a cheap date idea won’t just save you money: it’ll also let you see a different side of your date, whether you’ve known them for a day or a decade. 

So why not try it out? After all, in the immortal words of the Beatles, “Money can’t buy me love.”

This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.