Date Ideas That Won't Break The Bank

There's a major misnomer that going on a date means that you will have to pay a small fortune for a restaurant bill, a movie, and maybe an Uber ride home. Though it's true that date nights can cost upward of $200, the fact is that people who are broke can also date without looking cheap.

The following dates are elegant, romantic, and surprisingly affordable. Oh, and they aren't exactly hackneyed, either.

Go to a museum.

Nothing quite says that you're cultured and intelligent like taking a date out on a trip to a museum. Though there are some museums that are very pricey, the fact is that a typical museum visit will cost less than a dinner at Applebee's.

Most museums have special entry fees for students, vets, or even just people who are too broke to afford a museum ticket. In fact, some of them, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, are free to the public.

Go to a distillery tour.

Distilleries are the new brewery tours, and if you decide to take a look at the craft distilleries in your area, there's a very good chance that their tours are dirt cheap. After all, most craft distilleries are only one room to two rooms large.

Even though they're small, they're fascinating places to go... and you also get to sample shots with your sweetie.

Go to a local park for a picnic, or hit up a major park for more outdoorsy activities.

If you don't have much cool stuff to do around your area, just going to the park for a picnic can be a good way to just unwind with a cutie. Most of us, though, live near a national park that has amazing views and unique activities you can do on the cheap.

Spelunking, hiking, biking, swimming, and even horseback riding can all be done at major parks around the country. Best of all, it's often free to do or very cheap to enter.

Go out for coffee.

Most relationship experts warn people against doing the dinner date these days, since it's an easy way to go broke fast in this multi-dating world. Coffee is cheap, found almost everywhere, and gives you that same venue to chat things up.

Obviously, this is only ideal for a first date idea. But, even so, there's nothing wrong with a little coffee once in a while.

Go to an underground concert or nightclub.

Mainstream clubs are absolutely horrible when it comes to price gouging. In mainstream clubs alone, you can expect a cover charge of around $30 per person, drinks to be another $8 to $10, and if you have to have your coat checked, that may knock you another $3.

Yeah, forget that.

Instead of trying to schmooze with others at a mainstream club, why not try an underground club? Most of these venues don't have cover charges, and if they do, it's around $10. Drinks tend to be way cheaper, with some places offering well drinks around $5.

They may not be as glamorous, but they do offer entertainment and music. Why not?

Go stargazing.

You can actually do this without any money at all if you have a telescope. If you don't, getting a cheap one can be done via a rental or via eBay. All you need for this is a clear night sky - and maybe a map of the constellations if you're rusty.

Grab some paint and canvases.

Sometimes the coolest thing you can do for a date is to try your hand at something artsy - even if you don't do this stuff on a regular basis. A good one to try out would be to give graffiti artistry a try by grabbing a large-ish canvas and some cans of Krylon. If you can't afford a canvas, a plywood board or a well-pinned bedsheet can fare well, too.

Even if you don't actually paint anything too well, it'll be loads of fun and it'll be something you can bond over.

Train together.

Do you have a gym pass? If you do, guess what - you need to check their guest policy. Some gyms, like Planet Fitness, allow you an unlimited amount of guests. This means that you can have regular dates at the gym, working out a sweat, and bonding for free.

You paid for the gym membership, so you might as well enjoy it to its fullest.

Do a DIY spa day.

Obviously, this is something you don't want to do unless you've been together for a while. Grab a bottle of wine, rent a library book on how to make facial masques, get some cheap sugar scrubs, and get some massage oil - you're prepping for a spa night.

Exchange massages, give him a facial, give one another sugar scrubs, and drink wine. It's a blissful way to unwind after a hard day at work, and it's as romantic as heck.

Volunteer together.

Believe it or not, volunteering can be a great date idea - especially if it's a cause that makes you feel proud to be associated with. It can show your partner that you're capable of empathy, that you have a kind heart, and that you can get work done.

Good volunteering date ideas include volunteering at the local ASPCA, helping clean up a beach, or signing up for Habitat For Humanity's house building program.

Go to a free event in your city.

If you're in a city, there's a good chance that there's at least one group that hopes you'll come to their event in the next week. Of course, you wouldn't know what group that is unless you check out the free events calendars in your area. So, why not give it a shot?