The secret to planning a cheap date that feels priceless? A little creativity.
Getting to know someone should be fun and exciting, but the pressure it puts on your wallet can get stressful, especially in the early stages of dating.
Dropping a few hundred dollars just for the experience to be a flop (or for you to get ghosted) can get tiresome in a hurry.
If your go-to date night itinerary is getting monotonous and expensive, maybe it’s time to start shaking things up with some date night ideas that feel special but aren’t costly.
RELATED: How Much Should You Spend on a First Date, Really?
At a time when it feels like everything’s getting more and more expensive and salaries just aren’t keeping pace, it’s important to remember that having a good time doesn’t have to be — especially if you’re with the right person.
Whether it’s a first date with someone new or the hundred-and-fiftieth with your spouse, we’ve compiled date nights that won’t break the bank but will be fun and memorable:
1. Plan a Picnic
Dining al fresco at a restaurant can get expensive. Take your date somewhere scenic, roll out a comfy blanket and enjoy the view with some wine and cheese or a pizza, and you’ve got a romantic date for less. Too cold for a picnic? Set the same scene indoors, get cozy and play your favorite movie.
RELATED: Fun Date Ideas That Easily Beat Sitting Around in a Bar
2. Go on a Hike
One of the great things about the great outdoors is that it’s free to enjoy. Depending on where you live, invite your date to check out a nearby trail or take a scenic stroll through your city. The scenery takes the pressure off, filling gaps of silence and providing plenty of opportunities for conversation starters along the way.
(However, just note that many people may be hesitant to venture into the middle of nowhere with a guy they’ve never met before, so a full-on nature hike is probably a better idea for a third date or later on.)
“One of the first dates I went on when I moved to a new city was a free walking tour my date found online,” says Maci, 26. “Even if I were a local, I think a walking tour like this is so fun and interesting to do on a date — it’s fun to be a tourist in your own city.”
3. Grab Ice Cream
Those sample spoons are there for a reason. Treat yourselves to a free ice cream tasting at your local shop, then spring for a cone (or a cup) of the flavor that each of you likes best. It’s a fun way to learn more about your date’s favorite flavors, likes and dislikes, plus it’s a fraction of the cost of dinner and drinks. Bonus points if you can take your ice cream to go and enjoy it somewhere scenic nearby.
RELATED: How to Date When You’re Struggling Financially
4. Play a Game Together
Don’t knock on old-fashioned dates like mini golf or bowling. Even if these past times have gotten more expensive in your area, most spots run specials on certain nights of the week. Plus, a little competition is always fun — and how someone handles winning or losing says a lot about the person you’re dating.
“I took my now-wife to mini golf on our first date, and she absolutely destroyed me,” says Todd, 32. “Her skills were impressive, but I was really won over by how humble she was about the whole thing — plus the way she genuinely cheered me on.”
5. Make Pizza Together at Home
Cooking isn’t everyone’s forte — but pizza is one of those foods that’s easy to throw together and relatively cheap. Depending on how ambitious you both are, you can either make dough and sauce from scratch, or buy everything premade. Bonus points if you pair your pizza with a nice bottle of wine and a great movie.
RELATED: Why Dinner Dates Can Be Tricky
6. Attend an Open Mic Night
Find a free open mic night at a bookstore, coffee shop or bar in your town and prepare yourselves to be entertained. Even if the performances are still a work in progress, it’s fun to experience and discuss with your date afterward.
“I had never been to an open mic night or even really knew what they were until a date took me to one at a bar nearby,” says Hannah, 24. “It was so fun to have no idea what you would see next; we experienced every type of performance from harmonica to saxophone that night.”
7. Catch a Sunset
When was the last time you intentionally stopped to watch the sunset? Do a quick Google search of the best spot to catch a sunset in your area and park accordingly. For an added touch, curate a playlist that matches the vibe (or find one on Spotify) to set the mood.
8. Have a Home Paint-and-Sip Night
Skip the expensive paint-and-sip event and opt to have your own at home. Grab a bottle of wine, a watercolor paint set, and some inexpensive canvases, and then find an easy YouTube tutorial to follow — or go wild and follow your imaginations.
“My girlfriend suggested we do this a few years ago, and it ended up being so much fun,” says Dale, 34. “We were both on a tight budget at the time, so we ended up getting everything (including snacks and drinks) from a dollar store nearby. We still have our artwork hanging up in the hallway.”
RELATED: What Women Notice on a First Date
9. Volunteer Together
Giving back to the community feels good, plus it’s even more special when you can share the experience with someone you care about. Find a cause you’re both invested in and plan to volunteer together, whether it’s at your local animal shelter, food bank or community center.
10. Tour a Local Art Gallery
Even if you’re not into art, you and your date can have fun giving one another your interpretations of what’s hanging at your local gallery. Most art galleries host free showings on certain nights of the week (some even with free wine), so it’s worth visiting. Some museums also offer evenings where entry is free.
“Art is so subjective that anyone can find some meaning in it, or at the very least an appreciation,” says Jane, 27. “If you want to learn more about how your date’s mind works, take them to an abstract art show and ask what they see in a certain piece.”
You Might Also Dig:
How to Meet Women IRL Without Going to a Bar or a ClubWhat to Do When Your Partner Makes More Than YouAskMen’s Official List of the Top 10 First Date Ideas
Getting to know someone should be fun and exciting, but the pressure it puts on your wallet can get stressful, especially in the early stages of dating.
Dropping a few hundred dollars just for the experience to be a flop (or for you to get ghosted) can get tiresome in a hurry.
If your go-to date night itinerary is getting monotonous and expensive, maybe it’s time to start shaking things up with some date night ideas that feel special but aren’t costly.
RELATED: How Much Should You Spend on a First Date, Really?
At a time when it feels like everything’s getting more and more expensive and salaries just aren’t keeping pace, it’s important to remember that having a good time doesn’t have to be — especially if you’re with the right person.
Whether it’s a first date with someone new or the hundred-and-fiftieth with your spouse, we’ve compiled date nights that won’t break the bank but will be fun and memorable:
1. Plan a Picnic
Dining al fresco at a restaurant can get expensive. Take your date somewhere scenic, roll out a comfy blanket and enjoy the view with some wine and cheese or a pizza, and you’ve got a romantic date for less. Too cold for a picnic? Set the same scene indoors, get cozy and play your favorite movie.
RELATED: Fun Date Ideas That Easily Beat Sitting Around in a Bar
2. Go on a Hike
One of the great things about the great outdoors is that it’s free to enjoy. Depending on where you live, invite your date to check out a nearby trail or take a scenic stroll through your city. The scenery takes the pressure off, filling gaps of silence and providing plenty of opportunities for conversation starters along the way.
(However, just note that many people may be hesitant to venture into the middle of nowhere with a guy they’ve never met before, so a full-on nature hike is probably a better idea for a third date or later on.)
“One of the first dates I went on when I moved to a new city was a free walking tour my date found online,” says Maci, 26. “Even if I were a local, I think a walking tour like this is so fun and interesting to do on a date — it’s fun to be a tourist in your own city.”
3. Grab Ice Cream
Those sample spoons are there for a reason. Treat yourselves to a free ice cream tasting at your local shop, then spring for a cone (or a cup) of the flavor that each of you likes best. It’s a fun way to learn more about your date’s favorite flavors, likes and dislikes, plus it’s a fraction of the cost of dinner and drinks. Bonus points if you can take your ice cream to go and enjoy it somewhere scenic nearby.
RELATED: How to Date When You’re Struggling Financially
4. Play a Game Together
Don’t knock on old-fashioned dates like mini golf or bowling. Even if these past times have gotten more expensive in your area, most spots run specials on certain nights of the week. Plus, a little competition is always fun — and how someone handles winning or losing says a lot about the person you’re dating.
“I took my now-wife to mini golf on our first date, and she absolutely destroyed me,” says Todd, 32. “Her skills were impressive, but I was really won over by how humble she was about the whole thing — plus the way she genuinely cheered me on.”
5. Make Pizza Together at Home
Cooking isn’t everyone’s forte — but pizza is one of those foods that’s easy to throw together and relatively cheap. Depending on how ambitious you both are, you can either make dough and sauce from scratch, or buy everything premade. Bonus points if you pair your pizza with a nice bottle of wine and a great movie.
RELATED: Why Dinner Dates Can Be Tricky
6. Attend an Open Mic Night
Find a free open mic night at a bookstore, coffee shop or bar in your town and prepare yourselves to be entertained. Even if the performances are still a work in progress, it’s fun to experience and discuss with your date afterward.
“I had never been to an open mic night or even really knew what they were until a date took me to one at a bar nearby,” says Hannah, 24. “It was so fun to have no idea what you would see next; we experienced every type of performance from harmonica to saxophone that night.”
7. Catch a Sunset
When was the last time you intentionally stopped to watch the sunset? Do a quick Google search of the best spot to catch a sunset in your area and park accordingly. For an added touch, curate a playlist that matches the vibe (or find one on Spotify) to set the mood.
8. Have a Home Paint-and-Sip Night
Skip the expensive paint-and-sip event and opt to have your own at home. Grab a bottle of wine, a watercolor paint set, and some inexpensive canvases, and then find an easy YouTube tutorial to follow — or go wild and follow your imaginations.
“My girlfriend suggested we do this a few years ago, and it ended up being so much fun,” says Dale, 34. “We were both on a tight budget at the time, so we ended up getting everything (including snacks and drinks) from a dollar store nearby. We still have our artwork hanging up in the hallway.”
RELATED: What Women Notice on a First Date
9. Volunteer Together
Giving back to the community feels good, plus it’s even more special when you can share the experience with someone you care about. Find a cause you’re both invested in and plan to volunteer together, whether it’s at your local animal shelter, food bank or community center.
10. Tour a Local Art Gallery
Even if you’re not into art, you and your date can have fun giving one another your interpretations of what’s hanging at your local gallery. Most art galleries host free showings on certain nights of the week (some even with free wine), so it’s worth visiting. Some museums also offer evenings where entry is free.
“Art is so subjective that anyone can find some meaning in it, or at the very least an appreciation,” says Jane, 27. “If you want to learn more about how your date’s mind works, take them to an abstract art show and ask what they see in a certain piece.”
You Might Also Dig:
How to Meet Women IRL Without Going to a Bar or a ClubWhat to Do When Your Partner Makes More Than YouAskMen’s Official List of the Top 10 First Date Ideas