15+ Affordable Date Ideas
Ever since Bart and I had kids, we’ve tried to make sure to get out together pretty regularly and have time with just the two of us.
For many years, money was TIGHT and we did a lot of babysitting swaps and the cheapest (or free!) dates we could find!
If you’re looking for some affordable date ideas, I collected all your best suggestions from Instagram!
Here’s to a fun night out without breaking the bank!
15+ Affordable Date Ideas
*Free concert series. Our community has a lot of free summer concerts at parks and amphitheaters. Not only that, sometimes there are movies or plays in the parks…for free! This would be the perfect date night and you can pack a picnic or a favorite snack or treat to make it extra fun!
*Local community events. Most communities usually have free events throughout the month. Just check your local and surrounding communities event calendars and you are bound to find something that will pique your interest. Think farmer’s markets and art fairs: you don’t even need to spend money, it’s just fun to walk around and see what they have to offer (we just did this a week or so ago and didn’t spend a dime!).
*Go to the theater. Movie theaters can get really expensive with the tickets, and the popcorn, and the drinks. But if you are looking to save money, check out a discount movie theater (where movies might be older, but the tickets are typically only a few dollars), go during a matinee, or check to see if your movie theater has a discount day (like a bargain Tuesday). If you are more into the Broadway theater, look into smaller community theater productions or matinee tickets.
*Game night. We are a huge game family and spending $30 on a great game that we will play 50+ times, feels like a great investment! Even better, lots of libraries lend out games or you can swap them with friends. I have an entire post about games that are perfect for 2 people – these are ones that Bart and I play on our own after the girls go to bed. You can think outside of the board game box and do adult legos, jigsaw puzzles, crossword, or logic puzzle together! Make it even more special and make a fancy treat or snack for while you are playing!
*Cook together. I love to try out a new recipe or use a recipe I’ve loved for years – and it’s a bonus to get something yummy to eat at the end of it all. It would be fun to try a recipe from a new cuisine after shopping for ingredients at specialty store, or even have a make your own cookie recipe contest.
*Hiking. There is just something special about getting out for some fresh air and enjoying your beautiful surroundings and it usually costs nothing!
*Camping. If you have the gear, camping is often much more affordable for a night compared to a night at a hotel. Or, you can even camp in the backyard without actually camping – make s’mores and or tin foil dinners in the fire pit, play games by lantern, and stargaze! No babysitter required!
*Picnicking. I love the idea of a picnic, because you don’t just get a lovely meal, but you also get to experience being outside while eating it! It is a fun way to check out new parks, lakes, and beaches, and…bonus points if there is a view!
*Community sporting events. We’ve lived in a lot of college towns, so there have always been a lot of sporting events to attend. Collegiate, high school, or even little league sporting events are so much fun and inexpensive. Or, if you have a professional sports team in your city, nosebleed tickets are really reasonably priced and are just as fun!
*YouTube date night. If you are having a night in, don’t underestimate the power of YouTube. There are plenty of paint night tutorials, cooking classes, and trivia night videos out there, that would make staying in, feel like a real date night.
*Go for a bike ride. It’s such a delight when the weather is nice to go for an evening bike ride around the neighborhood. We don’t even have fancy bikes – we bought almost all our bikes at a second-hand bike shop – but they’re perfect for a little 20 minute ride. Whether you are biking on a trail, or just riding around the neighborhood, a bike ride can be the perfect date!
*Active outdoor activities. There are tons of outdoor activities that are even more fun to do with a partner, and you get your blood pumping while doing it. We love disc golf, pickleball, paddleboarding, and playing at the lake. (The beach would be fun too, if you live close.) If the activity you want to try requires gear, ask if you can borrow some from friends, or sometimes renting equipment for a few hours is really inexpensive!
*Go out to a restaurant – but not for dinner. Going out to eat can get really expensive. But if you just go for appetizers, drinks, or dessert, you will save a lot of money while still getting the ambiance and taste of the restaurant, and getting to spend time together.
*Ice cream or coffee shop. Instead of opting for a dinner date, sharing an ice cream cone at the local ice cream shop, or having a pastry and drink at the local coffee shop can really save money while still going out.
*Window shopping. No money needs to be spent, and you still get to see all the beautiful things, clothing, or furniture. One of my favorite date nights last summer was walking through all the shops downtown that we’d never been into before!
*Museums, zoos, and botanical gardens. There are many museums out there that are completely free, so check your surrounding area to see if you live close to any. Also, some museums, zoos, and botanical gardens offer discounted admission days/times.
*Tour open houses. Open houses are completely free…as long as you don’t buy the house. If you love houses, or are wanting to get ideas for decor or renovations, this would be the perfect date. We do the Utah Valley Parade of Homes every year and we love it!
*Fun car drive. Hop in the car, pack some snacks or hit up the drive through, and get ready to go somewhere you have never been before. Head in a direction you have never been before – even if it is playing tourist in a nearby town, or flip a coin at every intersection (heads go right, tales go left).
*The Adventure Challenge Couples Date Book. If you struggle coming up with date ideas on your own, this book will give you 50 creative and spontaneous dates! Plus, you get to scratch them off after you complete them.
*Alphabet date. I thought this was a really fun idea! You choose a letter of the alphabet, and partake in a game, activity, movie, snack, etc all staring with that same letter. For example if the letter “S” was picked, you would play the game Splendor, stargaze in the backyard, watch Star Wars, and eat sundaes. Then on the next date, you would pick a new letter and repeat!
*Taste test. If there is one thing my family knows how to do, it is a taste test. A couple years ago we got Bart a root beer taste test for Christmas and we’ve done ice cream taste tests at our family reunions. I love this for a date because you really get to know your partner’s taste, plus the options are endless for what you could decide on. If you need taste test ideas this post has a whole list. Don’t forget the score cards!
*Bring on the books. You know I was giddy with excitement when I saw someone recommend books as a date idea! This could be as easy as having a book club with just your partner, going to the library, or going out on a hunt for the Little Free Libraries in your area.
*Volunteer together. There are so many organizations out there that would love to have your help, so why not volunteer with your partner? Whether you are helping distribute food at the food bank, or asking your local humane society about fostering a dog for the day, two volunteers are better than just one!
Any other suggestions? I’d love to hear!
