20 Cheap Date Ideas
So, I’m pretty frugal myself. I’m the type to just drink more water to fill my stomach when I’m hungry. I’m kidding. But I’m more likely to stay home than leave the house because I know that if I do, I’ll have to spend money. Even just turning on my car and driving is costing me money. But that doesn’t mean I’m not happy or that I’m a boring person. Or maybe I’m. But I’m happy just being home and making videos in my underwear because that’s what makes me happy. But that’s just me.
When you have a partner or a potential partner that’s different. Sometimes you don’t want to stay home and do nothing. Maybe you want to go out. You still can and sometimes you can do it on a budget or for free. So, if you want to keep your wallet full and still have an awesome dating experience, make sure to hit the like button so I can one day hit the YouTube algorithm jackpot and take my date to an actual restaurant and let them order the off the appetizer section for once. But anyway, here are 20 cheap date ideas you can implement right now.
1. Go to your local free events
In any urban areas, I can assure you that there’s going to be at least a few free events you can go to. There can be free museum days, free local concerts, local carnivals or parades, festivals, fairs, farmers market, local meet ups, and even movie nights at the park. Granted you might need to do a little research in your area, but if you find some, it’s definitely worth checking out because you never know what you’ll see or learn at these events.
2. People watching
People watching would be one of my favorite hobbies. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in a crowded area, I wouldn’t mind just sitting there and watching people go about their day. This could be fun at a coffee shop or just at a festival. You can sit there and just talk about other people and talk about what their life is like.
3. Paint night
Okay this might require you spend a little money only if you don’t have the tools. But paint, brushes, and the canvas itself it pretty cheap. But once you have the brushes and paint, you can use it multiple times for other dates. So, for paint night this is what I would do, I go on YouTube and type in Paint Nite Tutorials and there would be hundreds of video tutorials on different painting ideas and when you see the one you like, click on it and let it play and follow the instructor on the video. You don’t have to be an artist to paint. This will definitely be one of your most memorable dates.
4. Go through each other’s old photos together
Okay, this is definitely not a first date type of thing to do. Perhaps maybe somewhere down the road. Bring old baby photos or all photos of you in the past and share it with your date. Bring out the yearbook if you’re not embarrassed. This way you get to know your date on a deeper level. If you have hilarious stories to tell, it’ll definitely make the date more enjoyable and memorable. And remember to leave your exes out. You don’t want them to go crazy.
5. Camp out in your backyard
There’s no need for you to drive up to the woods and camp. You’ll save a lot of money just camping in your backyard without all the mess and hassle. Prop up a tent, make your own little fire pit and start making some s’mores and cuddle together to watch a movie on your laptop or just talk and enjoy the night sky under the stars.
6. Movie night
Netflix and chill, anyone? But it doesn’t have to be Netflix, it could be on Hulu, Amazon videos, or other streaming sites. But if you are really frugal like me I would just go on YouTube and browse their free movie section, then I won’t have to spend a dime on a movie.
7. Work on puzzles together
Grab your favorite grape juice, turn on some music, and solve some puzzles. I’m not just talking about the jigsaw puzzles it can be riddles or mystery puzzles. This way you can see if you both are good at working together. It’s a great way to pass time and enjoy each other’s company.
8. Take online quizzes
Have you ever taken a personality test? If not, you should try it out, this way you both can see what type of personality you both have. If you think that’s a little too much there’s always those BuzzFeed quizzes you can take like what type of traveler you’ll be or what kind of Disney character best fit you. It’s a great way to get a laugh and just curious to know a little more about each other.
9. Do the inexpensive hangouts like coffee or dessert
If you really really and I mean really want to get something on a date try to get something inexpensive, especially on a first date. This will only hurt your wallet. You really don’t want to splurge on a restaurant on the first date because you don’t know where things will go in the future or right after the meal. They might not like you or you might not like them. If that’s the case, you definitely don’t want to spending another hour or so at the restaurant if there’s a disconnect between you two. I would recommend just doing coffee or simply go straight for dessert so at least you’re not spending a whole lot of money. Whether you drink coffee or get dessert, you’ll get that energy from the caffeine or sugar rush to stay awake to make your experience that much better.
10. Go on a hike
If you’re an outdoor type of person, this is perfect for you, I probably don’t have to explain much, but for those who aren’t. You can still hike on easy trails so it won’t be too taxing on your body. This way you can soak in some vitamin D, exercise, and actually spend some quality time with your date. I’ve been on several hikes, and I’ve enjoyed every one of them so far. I can’t complain much since it’s free and I enjoy the views.
11. Go for a walk in the city or in the park
You never know what you’ll find while strolling down your neighborhood. If Christmas is around the corner, you definitely would want to walk down your neighborhood or to the park to see all the Christmas lights that are lit. But of course, you need to hold hands. That’ll make your experience 10 times better.
12. Bike ride or roller skate
Don’t want to walk, then grab a bike or a pair of roller skates. If you don’t have one, you can always phone your friend to see if they have any. Sometimes in major cities you can rent bikes for cheap by the hour so if you’re willing to splurge on that, you can.
13. Cook at home
Don’t know how to cook, even better. Learn how to cook, there’s Pinterest and YouTube for starters, so you can’t make an excuse. You can definitely cook something at home and be it at a fraction of a price than at a restaurant. Plus, it’s a great bonding experience. This is something that they’ll for sure remember in the long run.
14. Go out for a picnic
If you don’t want to stay home and you want views like an upscale restaurant, you can. You can have a picnic on top of a high building, on the beach, in a park, or even in a car next to a cliff overseeing the city. I’ve done all of that and I can tell you that it’s an amazing experience with only a fraction of the price compared to an upscale restaurant with a skyscraper view or a beachfront view.
15. Browse around online for funny post
If you’re a huge fan of memes, pranks, or funny videos why not spend some time together doing that. I’m pretty sure you do it on your down time. The only difference now is that you have partner to laugh with you. Share some of your funny memes or videos you found with your date. If your date likes that kind of stuff, you already know it’s a great start.
16. Game night
You can do card games like Uno, Speed, or Go fish. If card games aren’t your thing, you can do board games like Monopoly, Connect 4, or Guess Who. If those offline games aren’t your thing either, it’s time to take it up a notch and go online. Do any console games you like or even games on your phone. This is really a low budget to free kind of experience and you’ll definitely get a kick out of it. If you need more players why not just do a double date. The possibilities are endless.
17. Volunteer
This is absolutely free and you get to help people. Find a local charity that you like, a pet shelter, or a food bank. They need all the manpower they can get. This way you’re helping the community and if this makes you both happy, it’s definitely worth doing it again.
18. Go Stargazing
When was the last time you actually lie on the ground and look up at night sky just looking at stars? Just take a moment and relax, enjoy the night and talk away.
19. Go window shopping
If you have no self-control, then you should probably not do this. Windowing shopping is just shopping around and not buying. It’s fun just browsing around and checking out new things. Some malls or outlets would have a random specialty or gadget store that’s unique and it doesn’t hurt to just browse around on a date. You never know what you’ll find interesting or cool.
20. Work out together
Those who work out together stay together. I don’t know, I just made that up. Sometimes just staying home and drinking grape juice could be a little redundant and expensive in the long run. So why not go for a jog, watch some workout videos on YouTube and sweat a little. It’ll make both of you look and feel great at the end of the day.
Overall, planning is key when trying to make your wallet happy. If plan A fails make sure to have plan B and C on standby because there could be a lot of other external factors that can cause your plans to change. Like a sudden weather change or that one of your local events got canceled. The best part about this is that, if you can find someone who is frugal as you, then they are probably a keeper and the next thing you know it, you guys already saved up to buy a house…Wait was that too soon? Okay marriage then. That’s it for the 20 cheap date ideas.