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Date Night Ideas by Price

For All the Budgets!

By Mary Louise DeCrescenzioPublished 6 years ago 9 min read
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Sometimes we want affordable or at-home date nights but what about those nights where we have a little cash and want to do something different? Here is a list for you!

I provided links where applicable to help you out.

Enjoy!

Free(-ish)

  • Dream Home Blue Print - Sketch out a blueprint of your dream house. Make of list of must-haves in your dream home (laundry chute, three car garage, spiral staircase, etc). Check out this site for some ideas and make a Pinterest board for inspiration!
  • Anniversary Vacation - Have a milestone anniversary coming up? Sit down and plan the vacation you both want to take! Grab the laptop and go to town! Look for hotels, airfare, and attractions for your trip.
  • Where I’d like to Visit - Make a map of places you have been and want to go. Make a list of places and sites to see.
  • Hobby Love - Teach each other your favorite hobby. Sometimes you don’t really know or understand something they love – take the time to learn!
  • Build a fort and watch a movie - Grab all the blankets and pillows in the house and build an awesome fort. If possible, pull a blanket over the TV to make it really authentic!
  • Watch home videos - Embarrassing and fun, it’s a great way to bond.
  • Build out bucket list - Building one as a couple and as individuals. What on your list have you already accomplished?
  • Volunteer at the local shelter.
  • Why I love you list - Make a very specific list of things you love about each other. Share lists over a glass of wine.
  • Go on a picnic - Take food, wine, and a blanket to your favorite location and enjoy.
  • Historic walking tour - Sometimes we don't appreciate the little things, like our town and its history. Don't live in a historic town? Take a day trip out to a nearby town!
  • Watch stand-up comedy all night - Netflix has a ton of stand-up. Laughing is a great way to bond!
  • Make a list of potential baby names.
  • Make a 5, 10, 15 year “basic” plan - I say basic because life doesn’t always go as planned but it could be fun to dream it out!
  • Go for a long walk.
  • Go through that junk drawer!
  • Rearrange a room.
  • Play video games all night - Battle it out or work together. Racing games are always a good choice!
  • Pajama Party! - Pop some popcorn, make a pallet, and watch a cheesy show or movie.
  • Mix CD - Make a CD of songs that remind you of your time together.
  • Long drive to nowhere - Roll the windows down, turn up the music, and hold hands.
  • Favorite Childhood Movie - Watch each other’s favorite movies from childhood. May have to get a VHS player ;)
  • Have a rapping or singing contest.
  • Movie Script - Mute your favorite TV show or movie and make up your own dialogue. :)
  • Start a new exercise routine.
  • Go window shopping downtown - Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s a fun way to spend the afternoon.
  • Head to a local park and catch a game! - Board Game tournament- Break out some old board games - think Guess Who, Life, Candy Land, Connect Four, Mancala, Jenga, or Battleship. Don't have them around the house, go to Pogo and play some together for free!
  • Morning Date - Who said date night had to be at night?! Get up and cook a big breakfast together, then climb back into bed to eat it!
  • Have a marshmallow war - 50 mellows each and may the best person win! ;)
  • Go for a hike or bike ride.
  • Hit the courts - One-on-one basketball game or play HORSE or Around the World.
  • Kissing Challenge - 100 kisses in three hours.
  • Snowing outside? Go build a snowman! Don't be skimpy! Grab the scarf, carrot, coal, and hat to make a cool looking snowman!
  • Play 20 questions.
  • Grab a blanket and head outside to go stargazing
  • At home drive-in - Have a car with a DVD player in it? Put the seats down, make some popcorns and have a “drive-in” night. Laptops work too ;)
  • YouTube Date night - Spend time watching funny videos! This couple has a list already made for you to see (scroll to bottom of her post for the link)
  • Bubble Bath, Wine
  • Night Time Picnic
  • Cook a yummy meal and have a night time picnic. Candles and wine are a plus!
  • Bookstore Date - Head to the local bookstore and browse the books. Pick out a coffee table book and look through it together. Check out this Bookstore Date Challenge idea!!
  • Grab your suit and find some water. Beach, lake, pool - your choice!
  • Read a book together - Read out loud together or read separately but read the same thing. Then discuss!
  • Go climb a tree.
  • Jump on a trampoline.
  • Break out a deck of cards - Go fish, poker, gin rummy, solitaire....

Under $20

  • Baking for others - Deliver cupcakes, cookies, etc to friends, family, or nursing home.
  • Attend a festival - Greek, Italian, art, or music - check out a local festival.
  • Spa night at home - Grab the face mask and foot lotion. Enjoy pampering each other.
  • Cookie Bake-Off
  • Make a time capsule - Plan to open it in ten years!
  • Go to a bar to watch a game - Eat, drink, and root for your team.
  • Go bowling.
  • Go to a Flea Market.
  • Water Balloon Fight
  • See a movie at the dollar theatre.
  • Goodwill shopping spree - Go to a Goodwill or Thrift store and pick out one crazy item for the other person. $10 budget.
  • Get up early and go eat brunch somewhere nice.
  • Make a gift for someone else.
  • Go to a driving range - For about $6-10 you can buy a bucket of golf balls and borrow a driver. It's actually pretty fun!
  • Go to an outdoor concert - During the summer, there are a lot of places that offer free music. Grab the pups, some drinks, a blanket, and enjoy the show!
  • Karaoke
  • Grab your honey and head to the park to fly a kite :)
  • Slip-N-Slide - Release your inner child and break out a Slip-N-Slide!
  • Dessert Only Date
  • See what musical or play a local school is having and go check it out!
  • Go play mini-golf.
  • Grab a 1,000 piece puzzle and settle in for the night.
  • Go hits some baseballs at the batting cages.
  • Make your own pizza.
  • Garage Sale Spree - Get $20 out of the ATM - $10 a piece – and go around to garage sales and see who can get the best item/deal.
  • Check out the local drive-in theatre.
  • Play Twister.
  • Fro-Yo Challenge - Go to your local frozen yogurt place but let your significant other make you a creation.
  • Old School Candy - If your city has an old General Store, head to the candy buckets and pick out some fun candies to try!
  • People Watch - Head to the mall, grab a pretzel and people watch. Make up fun stories about their lives.
  • Marshmallow War
  • Grab a girly magazine and a magazine your man would like and read the cool articles to each other.
  • Find a new TV series to watch together. It could become your weeknight date!
  • Head to the racetrack or drag strip.
  • New York Times Crossword Puzzle
  • Visit a historic location - Old battleground, historic home, monument, or park. Some are free but don't forget to leave a donation!
  • Go pick some fruit! Fall - check out an apple orchard. Spring/Summer - head to the strawberry field. Enjoy gathering some yummy fruit together!
  • Put together a model car.
  • Build a bonfire. Roast your dinner and dessert!
  • Egg Art - Break off the top of an egg, dump the insides, fill with paint, and take turns throwing at a canvas! Sound nuts? Check out this blog for more "info" ;)

Under $50

  • Head to the Farmer's Market and pick out your dinner. Enjoy with a glass of wine!
  • Picasso Night - Make a work of art for the house.
  • Paint your own pottery.
  • Paint each other’s portrait.
  • Go see a local band.
  • Cook an exotic meal or cook something we have always wanted to try.
  • Take a cooking class.
  • Take a dance class.
  • Nerf gun war anyone?
  • Arcade Fun - Head to the arcade and play a game of laser tag, ride go-carts, and eat pizza.
  • Around the world in meals. Cook food from a country of choice and set the mood.
  • Go play BINGO.
  • Go wine tasting and buy a bottle of your favorite!
  • Go rock climbing.
  • Ripley’s Believe It or Not
  • Go tubing down the river.
  • Check out the local museum.
  • Head to the zoo.
  • Ice Skating
  • Rent a tandem bike or scooters and hit the park.
  • Check out a kick-boxing class.
  • Get in a great work out and spend time doing something fun together - who can ask for anything more!!
  • Head to the aquarium or go deep sea fishing.
  • Let your partner pick out your entire meal and you order theirs! If you have a cool waiter, maybe you can tell them what's going on and point to the items. That way it would be a total surprise what is brought out.
  • Make home-made ice cream.

Under $100

  • Whitewater Rafting
  • Get a 60 minute couples massage.
  • Food Crawl - Eat your appetizer, entree, and dessert at different restaurants (don’t forget to leave a great tip if you have a great server!)
  • Go get a pedicure.
  • Go get a facial.
  • Rent a canoe or kayak and head downstream.
  • Go horseback riding.
  • Go play paintball.
  • Not up for horseback riding? What about a carriage ride?!
  • Scuba diving.
  • Go on a Segway tour.
  • Hot summer day? Head to the water park!

Over $100

  • Spend the night at a Bed and Breakfast - Groupon and Living Social sometimes have great deals!
  • Dinner at a Fancy Restaurant
  • Stay the night at a nice hotel. Head out of town for a weekend getaway
  • Get tickets to see your favorite band.
  • Check out a pro-team game.
  • Skydiving!
  • Bungee Jumping
  • Take a dinner cruise on the lake.
  • Go for a ride in a hot air balloon.
  • Weekend Cruise
  • Limo Lovin’ - Rent a limo for a few hours and ask the driver to just drive around. Bring some champagne, dress up real nice and enjoy!
  • Take a helicopter ride!
  • Go swimming with dolphins.
  • Head out to an amusement park.

Up in the Air (Price Depending…)

  • Recreate your first date or the night you got engaged. How romantic?
  • Camping - Price depending on your level of experience and access to equipment. Don’t forget to turn off your electronics and really enjoy nature.
  • Pinterest craft night! Find a craft you both like/want to do and make it together.
  • Learn together - Check out a local college and see if there is a one night class/session you'd both like to take together.
  • Pretend to be tourist - Do the things only tourists do in your town. It'll give you a new appreciation for where you live!
  • Photoshoot - Hire a photographer and update your photos! Keep them up-to-date and print them off!

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