9 Free and Inexpensive Ways To Have Amazing Dates

I’m a sucker for doing new things and finding fun ways to have dates, without breaking the bank. I love sitting on the couch and watching Netflix with my partner as much as the next person, but I think it’s important to come up with different dates and adventures to experience with one another. It helps with strengthening your bond and keeps things fun and feeling like the honeymoon phase.

I encourage you to come up with some great ways to have dates, but here’s some ideas that I really like to do…

1. Set up a tent or fort in your living room

Maybe I’m reminiscing of the times when I used to build forts in the living room when I was young but this is a great way to have a fun night. Set up your tent or build a fort in your living room, and of course pile in the blankets and pillows. Have your regular Netflix marathon with snacks, but enjoy it from the fort you built to sleep in that night. It may sound silly but it’s a lot of fun, and a great way to shake things up a little without spending any money.

2. Find a nearby beach or lookout to simply sit there and talk

Some of my best conversations with my partner happen when we go somewhere to just sit there and talk, and of course eat some snacks too. One of our favorite spots is a nearby beach. We usually grab some food from home or takeout and just sit there and chat. We’ll ask each other a bunch of questions that really get you thinking. I bet there’s a lot you don’t know about your partner even if you’ve been with them for a long time.

Here’s some questions to get the juices flowing:

• What are the top 5 countries you would like to visit and why?

• If you won 1 million dollars, what would you do with it?

• If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend most of your time?

• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

• What’s your favorite memory from when you were a kid?

3. Go for a hike at your nearest nature park

If you’re an outdoorsy type of person, this one’s for you. My partner and I love being outdoors with our dog as much as possible. Every month we’ll look up a new nature park or trail that we’ll go to and spend the day at. We’ll get up fairly early in the morning and pack a lunch and just go. We’ll usually spend 4-5 hours just exploring and enjoying nature. It feels so good getting away from traffic and other distractions, and just living in the moment.

4. Make some fun drinks and listen to throwbacks

This one’s a lot of fun. Make some fun drinks that you can find online and listen to music that you haven’t listened to in decades. I like checking out one hit wonders. It brings you back in time and feels so nostalgic.

5. Take a trip down memory lane

Get out some old photos and videos and share them with your partner. You’ll learn so much about them from before you met. And of course, make some great snacks before you get into it. It may take up most of the night :)

6. Go to a drive-in movie

I bet you haven’t done this in forever. There’s usually a drive-in movie somewhere near you. Pick a night and go see a movie. It’s much cheaper than the regular movie theatre, too. And it’s so comfortable being able to sit in your own car and sharing the snacks you love.

7. Have a spa night together

Make some of your favorite drinks, put on some calming music, and have a relaxing spa night together. Treat each other to a massage of choice, put on some face masks, and take a bubble bath.

My partner and I do this usually after a stressful week of work. It’s a great way to let your stressors slip away and helps strengthen your bond.

8. Build something together

You don’t have to be a handy person to build something. This could be a simple shelf, painting, flower garden, or anything else. It’s a great way to work as a team and feels amazing when you’ve accomplished something together.

The most recent project my partner and I built was a wine shelf for our kitchen. It even turned out better than we thought.

9. Go for a midnight walk

This is another one for the outdoorsy people. And this one can be a little spooky depending on where you go for a walk. My partner and I have gone for midnight walks in the park, back trails, on the beach, and in our neighborhood. It’s always a great way to get out of the house and do something different. From time to time, depending where we are, we’ll take some mugs with hot chocolate in them to enjoy on our walk.

These are only 9 simple and inexpensive ways to have dates. There’s millions of options out there, you just have to get creative. I think it’s really important to do these fun and unique dates because you’re able to learn more about your partner, you don’t break the bank, and it keeps things fun and light.

What fun and inexpensive dates have you been on?