When you are low on money and are in need of a date night! Here are 25 cheap date ideas for couples that are shockingly fun and help pad your wallet while making amazing memories.

25 Cheap Date Ideas that are Suprisingly Fun!

Whether you’re in a brand new relationship or you’ve been married for years. You should always go on dates! It is so important in a relationship to turn the phones off, plan something special, and really get to know your new or old significant other. However, I know dates can get expensive, especially if you have kids! Adding in a babysitter doubles the cost of any cheap date idea for married couples. This is why I have put together a list of my favorite budget friendly date ideas for couples that you can come to when you can’t think of what to do. (and yes, I will definitely be going to this list as well!)

Write letters to open to each other in a year.

Make a dinner and sit down with a notepad and pen. Write a letter about what experiences you want to have with this person, where you want to be, and where your relationship is at right now. Read them to each other now, but then put them in a special place where you can repeat this date night.

Give each other massages.

Go on YouTube and look up how to give massages. They actually have some really good tips (my favorite is this video and this video). Bring out some lotion and pretend to be a masseuse for a little ;).

 Binge watch a show together with popcorn and your favorite treats.

Go to the grocery store and pick up one of your favorite treats (personal favorite- Snickers Ice Cream Bars). Go back home, snuggle up in blankets, and put on your favorite show. Eat your ice-cream and start the TV series- it will give you multiple nights of dates if you get into the show!

BTW, Our favorite show right now is Scandal… love it! Really good mix of action and romance.

Create a bucket list.

Whether you are married or dating, this one is so fun! List everything you want to do. Whether it is something that could be done immediately or can’t be done for a while, it will always give you something to look forward to together. Check out my ultimate bucket list to give you some ideas!

RELATED: 9 Healthy Habits of Couples Who Stay in LOVE! 

Put together a care package for someone special.

We all know someone who lives far away and whoever that person is would love/be so surprised to see a package from you and your significant other! It doesn’t need to be big, go to a local Dollar Store and pick up five dollars’ worth of things! Write a special note together, make it exciting!! Your friend or relative will SO appreciate it and it will give you both a night of fun.

Visit a museum.

Many museums offer days that are free or at a huge discount. Check online for any special promos and if you find one, head downtown! Or wherever your museums are, of course;)

Battle it out in the kitchen with each other.

Go shopping together, but each of you grab your own basket. Figure out who will make dinner and who will make dessert. Put 5 ingredients in your basket, and then pass it off to your partner ( make sure it’s items you like as you will be eating them!). Try to wow each other with your concoctions.  When you are done, try them and decide which one did the best! Ready, set, go!

Order pizza and solve a puzzle or play board game.

Dust off that old battleship game as you bake a pizza in the oven! Or do a puzzle together that’s been sitting on your shelf for awhile. You’ll be surprised how much fun you’ll have playing a game with your favorite person.

Camp out in the backyard or the living room.

Set up a tent in the backyard and campout! Or build a fort in the living room! Bring blankets, pillows, a laptop and movie. Make it a no technology night and play board games. Then, wake up early and make breakfast together. I surprised my husband with building a fort in the living room. It was one of the cheapest date ideas I did! It was a mini getaway in our own home!

RELATED: 30 Active Date Ideas

Find a cute city or town and go for a walk.

Go to a town or city close to where you live and just walk around it! Visit the stores and stop for lunch in one of their cafes. Exploring new places always bring some excitement to our relationship, because we are doign something new together.

Go fake house hunting.

Go online and look up houses for sale where you live. Put a list together of homes you both like and go find them!

Recreate your favorite meal from your favorite restaurant.

I can almost guarantee you and your significant other have a favorite restaurant. Pick your favorite meal from there and then look up dupes for it online. Make it together and compare it to the original restaurant- who knows it could be better!

Go to a high school sporting event.

Check to see when your local high school has their next sporting event. While it might be more fun if you went to the high school of the game you are attending, it will still bring all the feel of high school back! (not sure if you want that or not, but it could be fun!).

Go to the beach/lake.

I can almost guarantee there is some sort of water location near you. Down here in New Orleans, we are surrounded by water. We are a sinkhole. haha! Down here, they rent out paddle boards and kayaks for extremely inexpensive to use on the bayou. Pack a lunch for both of you, then spend half the day on the beach and the other half doing water activities!

RELATED:  10 Ways to Make Time for Date Night as a Parent

 Stargaze.

Set up a blanket outside and cozy up in it. Watch the starts and talk!

Volunteer

There are so many places that would appreciate two helping hands. Find a local shelter or food pantry, and donate a few hours of your time. Not only will you be spending time together, you will be helping people that really need it. We have volunteered for the Special Olympics for a number of years now. It’s become a favorite feel good date.

Rent a bike in your city and explore.

In almost all cities I have been too recently, they have a ‘rent a bike’ program. You can choose how many hours you want and then explore different parts of the cities from the bike!

 Set up a picnic dinner.

This is a personal favorite of mine. Go on Pinterest and look up a recipe you will both like. Make it at home and gather plates, spoons, forks, picnic blanket, etc.  Head out to a local park and enjoy!

RELATED: New Orleans Date Ideas

Set up for a fun run! (mud run, etc.)

I have a hard time putting fun and run in a sentence, but they do have so many cool 5K’s nowadays. Sign you and your spouse up for one and get fit and healthy together.

Go blueberry picking, or  pick strawberries:

They’re many seasonal activities that can be done and usually don’t require too much money. It’s almost blueberry picking of the year, and this would really make an awesome date. If you go blueberry picking, go home and turn the blueberries into a delicious dessert!

 Create a “relationship” box.

How cute would it be to have trinkets and love letters from all your years together as boyfriend and girlfriend? Even if you’re married now, make a box to look back on over the years to relive some special memories.

Local festivals.

Here in New Orleans, we are in no shortage of festivals and events. There are a ton of festivals that offer free admission! You can go enjoy a cheap date with your boyfriend or significant other while listening to music and enjoying local artwork. I’ve compiled a FULL list of different festivals that happen here in New Orleans. This list is perfect for locals and tourists to explore our city and enjoy seasonal activities.

RELATED: New Orleans Food Tour

Make a cheese board and watch your favorite show.

Cheeseboards are very in right now so hit Pinterest and be inspired of what you want yours to be like. Hit the grocery store, each picking the ingredients you want, and put it together! Turn the TV on to one of your favorite shows and enjoy your Pinterest worthy cheese board!

Go bowling.

Such a cheap and fun activity to do! Make a fun challenge between the two of you! Losers get to…..

Turn off your phone and just TALK!

This one is my favorite of them all. I am the first to be guilty of this, but I tend to always be on my phone, even on date nights! Turn those phones off for the night and just really talk. It will change your whole entire date!

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What is your favorite way to spend date night?

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