40 Cheap Date Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Go On

When you’re trying to stick to a budget but also want to treat your special someone to date, you might feel stuck. After all, date nights can be expensive especially when you have to pay for a sitter. Even if you don’t have anything more than dinner and a movie planned. But don’t worry—there are plenty of ways to spend one-on-one time together in a budget-friendly way. Here are 40 cheap date ideas to get you started.

10 Cheap Date Ideas to Get Started

Let’s get one thing straight: Cheap doesn’t equal boring. If anything, it means you get to be a little more creative with how you plan the date. Plus, you get to think up exciting, out-of-the-box ideas and put in that extra effort. Here are 10 cheap date ideas to try out any day of the week.

1. Browse at a bookstore. If you find books you both like, put them on hold for pickup at your local library.
2. Listen to your throwback records, vintage tapes, or mix CDs. Pick the ones that were important to you while you two were dating. Or if you’re still dating, share music that was important to each of you earlier in life.
3. Go out to breakfast. It’s the most important meal of the day, and it’s a much cheaper date than going out to dinner. There’s no rule out there saying you can’t have a date in the morning. So go ahead! Plus, who can pass up the chance to eat pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage?
4. Watch the sunset or sunrise. C’mon—it doesn’t get more romantic than that! Plus you can do it in the comfort of your own yard.
5. Celebrate the year you met, got married, or started dating. Watch a popular movie or listen to music from that year and try to recreate the style of the time. If the year was 1983, we’re sorry for the fashion options. But take heart—you’ll have some of the most iconic movies and music to choose from!
6. Take a dance lesson. There are tons of dance studios that offer casual dance instruction with time afterward to practice your moves. This is a great way to perfect your salsa, ballroom, or disco dance moves together.
7. Hit up a sports game. All right, going to watch the pros play isn’t going to be cheap. But don’t worry. You can still be a fan in the stands! Take in a local college or high school sports game, and chat with your date about your glory days.
8. Volunteer together. Use your time to serve at a homeless shelter or elderly ministry. It’s amazing how helping others can bring the two of you together.
9. Test drive an expensive car. But don’t buy it because it most likely isn’t in the budget.
10. Go to an open mic night. You never know what kind of talent you’ll get to hear!

10 Cheap Date Ideas for the Outdoors

Whether it’s hot outside or there’s a crisp chill in the air, you can still take advantage of some cheap date ideas. Get out there and enjoy the great outdoors! It’s healthy, it’s refreshing, and best of all, it’s cheap.

1. Enjoy a hike. Hiking in the fresh air under a sunny sky? You just can’t beat it! Be sure to remember how far you’ve walked so you aren’t making your date hike 20 miles (unless that’s on purpose). We speak from experience.
2. Go for a run together. Maybe not a great first date idea (you know, the sweat and all), but if you’re both looking to get fit or are already runners, this can be a great way to bond.
3. Camp at a state park. Need a little getaway from the kids? Take advantage of camping out for a night or two.
4. Drive to see the autumn leaves. There isn’t much out there that can compare to the colors of trees in the fall. But some trees in the country just show off more than others do at that time of year. Find out where the leaves are changing color and take a scenic drive.
5. Go berry or apple picking. Berry picking in the summer or apple picking in the fall is a blast. You can enjoy some quality time with each other and time away from electronic devices (amen!)—and you’ll leave with some delicious fresh fruit to make homemade apple sauce. 
6. Visit a public garden. We know your date’s pretty and all, but so is a garden. So take her there.
7. Grab a cup of coffee and stroll around a town square or downtown area. Nothing beats coffee and conversation! Throw in a stroll around some nice scenery, and you’ve got a match made in heaven.
8. Concert in the park. Sometimes they’re free, and sometimes you have to pay a small ticket price. Either way, it’s worth it to take in some nice tunes under the stars.
9. Walk a nature trail. Soak in the company of your significant other while soaking in the beauty of nature!
10. Feed ducks at a local pond. It’s the little things in life, isn’t it? I loved feeding the ducks at a park pond when I was growing up.

10 Cheap Date Ideas for Staying In

There are plenty of fun dates you can have without ever stepping out of your front door. And sometimes after a long week, who even wants to leave the house anyway?

1. Cook a special or fancy dinner together. Cooking dinner with your special someone is a great way to spend some quality time together. Try out a new recipe or find some ingredients you don’t normally buy.
2. Eat takeout by candlelight. Eating this way is a real treat. Don’t believe us? Give it a try. You’ll see the light.
3. Have a picnic on the floor. You don’t need good weather to have a picnic. Have one on the floor of your living room! I have done this with the kids and they loved it.
4. Make drinks and sip them on your patio. Whatever your beverage of choice, serving it up at home is going to be a lot cheaper than buying it out and about.
5. Stargaze from your backyard. If you don’t live in the heart of a city, you might be able to see a good number of stars in the sky. Grab a blanket, look up, and be amazed. You can’t beat that ambiance!
6. Play board games. You can branch out with some strategy games like Settlers of Catan or Ticket to Ride, or just play timeless classics like Monopoly and Clue. Loser does the dishes!
7. Get dessert to go from your favorite restaurant. You can save around $30–40 just by eating at home for dinner and then picking up dessert to go (and you don’t have to pay a tip).
8. Use Redbox coupons for a movie night at home. We know everyone wants to see the latest and greatest blockbuster movies the first week they’re out. But that’s overrated. Save $30–40 by not going to the movies and not hitting up the concession counter. Instead, rent a DVD at Redbox and pick up snacks at the dollar store. Boom!
9. Take a trip down memory lane. Get out old photos or family home movies, and spend some time reminiscing.
10. Make milkshakes, floats, or fancy ice cream sundaes at home. Instead of going out and dropping 10–15 bucks at your favorite ice cream joint, just make your own at home. You can even grab a variety of toppings or mix-ins and still come out cheaper than you would at the ice cream shop.

10 Cheap Date Ideas for Double-Dates

Double dates get a bad rap. It’s totally possible (and fun) for two couples to hang out on a double date without it being the least bit corny. Here are 10 double-date ideas for your budget:

1. Sing karaoke. Nothing brings you closer more than embarrassment.
2. Play miniature golf. Look for coupons on apps like Groupon and Living Social.
3. Do a taste test. Pick up the same kind of food from three places to compare them. Think of things like cookies, cakes, or brownies. Or do a blind taste test with flavored jelly beans.
4. Go bowling. Try to find “beat the clock” nights. The earlier you bowl, the less you’ll pay.
5. Rent canoes. It’s the perfect way to get lost in a good conversation.
6. Dress up and go out to eat on a dollar menu. Put on your best duds and get ready to dine like a (Burger) King and (Dairy) Queen.
7. Go to a drive-in movie theater. Drive-ins are usually much cheaper than the regular movie theater. You might even be able to pay one price for the whole carload!
8. Eat ice cream in the park. Pick up a tub of ice cream, plastic spoons and bowls at the grocery store, and head to the park.
9. Borrow or rent bikes to do some sight-seeing. The best way to see a city? On wheels, of course—bicycle wheels, that is. You’ll get some exercise, take in the fresh air, and cover more ground than you would if you were walking.
10. Go Hiking. Explore mother nature on foot while you get some exercise, fresh air, and clear your mind.

Do you have more ideas? Please do share in the comments! I love learning new and cheap ideas that my husband and I can try.

Sincerely,