33 Cheap Date Ideas to Save Money When You Are On a Budget

Disclaimer: The article may contain affiliate links. please read through the disclosure page for more insights.

Last updated on September 21st, 2024 at 10:28 am

 

A couple having coffee on a date

Nowadays it is harder for people to spend on dates compared to way back when they used to go for romantic outings. Going on a date yields no income to the two people but rather drains your wallets hence you should consider cheap date ideas to save money.

Additionally, challenging economic times have made some people give up on luxurious lifestyle practices like date nights and other forms of outings that cost money.

We all believe that economies are staggering all over the world but you must find ways to survive without completely giving up on life. There are lots of free and cheap date ideas that you can adopt and will cost you little to nothing at all to save money.

What Are Date Ideas?

These are indoor or outdoor activities a couple uses to spend time together for the sake of nurturing their relationship.

Define Cheap Date Ideas.

These are little to no-cost activities or ideas a couple may use for the sake of spending time together to nurture their relationship.

When Should People Plan Cheap Date Ideas?

  • If one is living on a tight budget
  • If one is not employed

33 Cheap Date Ideas to Save You Money on a Budget

You want to save money that is why cheap date ideas are good to stick with but there must be activity to enjoy the date. Despite being cheap, creativity should be at stake so as not to disappoint your partner indoors or outdoors together.

A couple standing outside

  1. Go For a Romantic Walk

Taking yourselves out for a stroll is one of the most enjoyable moments that I have tried at no cost yet very romantic and emotional. Here you are unlikely to spend any money unless otherwise but you may fail to find time to spend that much money.

Most especially when you have just met, on a romantic walk you want to deeply talk to each other, time may not allow you but I guess it is a great way to spend time together.

  1. Move Out For a Movie

I don’t know about you when it comes to watching movies but it’s a great way to spice up your date at a cheaper cost. Yes, a romantic movie will tell it all for that day as planned with your partner.

Being a fan of horrors and adventure, sometimes I enjoyed the moment when she grabbed me out of fear. You won’t spend a lot on tickets after all there are discounted offers to grab for a couple on early bookings at movie centers.

  1. Go To a Free Museum

Take a visit to a free museum with your partner around your state on a date to save. Sure, you will find a lot of museums and galleries that won’t charge you to hang around for a romantic date.

Places like Fairbanks Community Museum and Musher’s Museum in Alaska won’t cost you that much to visit with your partner when you are living in the States.

Besides, some galleries and museums charge a fee but they have arrangements whereby some days you can get free access. Why not mark the days to save?

  1. Take a Game Night Out

A night out with your partner to play games is a cheap way to have fun on your date. There are many games to enjoy even when you are not a gamer you can have a great time for example board games, video games, drinking games, and more.

Compared to a movie out date, here you won’t have to talk a lot especially when the game chosen needs some concentration to work it. So, decide on a game that fits your date and enjoy the time together.

  1. Romantic Home Dinner Date

Organizing a romantic dinner date at home is a great cheap date idea that will save you money big time with your partner. This is one way to bring you so close to each other in the relationship understanding your tastes.

Preparing dinner together will save you a lot compared to going out to a nearby restaurant for dinner. Yes, you buy some ingredients, food, and drinks but the cost is way much lower than eating out as a couple.

  1. Enjoy the Sunrise or Sunset

Have you ever imagined that watching the sun rise or set for the day can be an emotional romantic moment with your partner? The best part, you don’t spend any money to watch the sun plus the healthy vitamin hence shooting two birds with one stone.

It’s one of the cheapest date ideas on the list you won’t spend money on at all with your partner.

  1. Take Dance Lessons for Fun

Another great cheap date idea to save money on is going for fun dance lessons at the dance studio. Taking lessons for fun on an outing is not as costly as doing it for commercial purposes but is a nice way to save rather than going to expensive places.

This is not only just about dating, but you also learn some dancing strokes to use as a couple when you go for a disco dance.

  1. Go Hiking

Unless you are not a fan of adventure hiking is one thing that will create memories for both of you on a date. Go check out the mountains and valleys together to have those wonderful views around at no cost to you after all you are just moving.

However, before planning this talk to your partner about it to avoid being disappointed on that day. Sharing with your partner in time about the date idea conditions both of you for the moment.

Therefore, if looking for cheap date ideas for you and your partner hiking will save you the money you don’t want to spend on a date.

  1. Go Camping

Whether you are a married couple or not going out camping at the park is not costly when you want to save on a date. That night out together will build a strong bond for your relationship.

When you have kids don’t move with them to have that great time together at the park with your partner. Some camping grounds are very cheap for a night and you could carry that meal with you to save.

  1. Take Cooking Lessons Together

Taking cooking lessons as a couple will help both of you to learn how to prepare the best meals while on a date saving you from spending out in restaurants. And they don’t have to be paid lessons, use platforms like Youtube and TikTok to follow your preferred chefs for tips together.

  1. Visit The Public Gardens

A couple in a public garden

Depending on where you live, there must be a public garden to visit for fun as a couple on a date. In such places, you won’t have any interference because they are quiet and convenient for conversations.

Trust me in a public garden you will ask all the questions you want but also prepare answers for the partner’s questions. They are some of the best places that won’t cost you a fee on a date while enjoying nature.

  1. Go To a Local Concert

Take advantage of local concerts around your area to spend time with your partner. These won’t cost you a lot of money and you will have fun enjoying performances from the best artists.

Local concerts are cheaper than going to big concerts which accommodate a large number of people.

  1. Go Fishing

You don’t have to be good at fishing on a date to start catching fish by a river bank or pond, but this is another great way that won’t disappoint you financially with your partner.

Look around your state or town for a river bank or fish ponds where you can spend time together without going to expensive places. Sure, cheap date ideas like fishing will cost you little to nothing at all to save money.

  1. Bike Riding

There are several ways to shoot two birds with one stone like taking a romantic ride out to have some fun as a couple but at the same time exercising for a healthy living.

Compared to going to the gym, you won’t spend much riding out apart from stopping by the nearest ice cream parlor or café to refresh for less than $10.

Riding around your city or to nearby places for fun creates memories from checking out places you don’t take time to look at while driving. It is a great way to go out on a date when you are on a budget to save.

  1. Visit the Farmers Market

Without the intention to spend any money, going to the farmers market can be life-changing for both at no cost. This is a great time to check out a variety of products on sale in the market before coming to make purchases.

However, there are some days with lots of entertainment hence great to consider visiting the farmers market to have a good time for free.

You mayn’t have plans of shopping on the visit but the offers could also be quite interesting on some food products you exhausted at home hence buying cheap.

  1. Go Coffee Taste

If you are a fan of coffee, some cafes and restaurants around promote different flavors every end of the month or so to attract customers. Check out different places to find free coffee-tasting days that suit your schedule to go on a date with your partner.

Yes, it is an interesting moment since you won’t need to buy the coffee it is all free despite discovering new brands in the market.

  1. Go Feeding Ducks at the Pond

I have real-life experience with ducks because we had them at our place with my granny. Connecting with ducks and feeding them is a great moment, there is that sound of happiness they make when serving them.

You can have a lot to talk about at the pond when your partner has no idea and he or she will listen and ask questions for ready answers. It can be a day to remember spending little to nothing on a date.

  1. Stargazing

You can spend time together looking at the stars with your partners for the sake of dating to grow the relationship. Whether you want to spend time at dark sky parks or do it at home with your partner it all works out.

When you are on a budget, this is for you other than stressing your wallet moving to expensive places for a night out.

  1. Try Mini Golfing

Golfing for fun you don’t have to be good at it. If you are planning a date it is one of the best games to compete with your partner scoring.

Find a nearby golf course where you can spend time with your loved one to have fun at no cost. Sure, it is a great money-saving date idea when you are on a budget as a couple.

  1. Go Window Shopping

You don’t want to spend but are interested in knowing what is on sale? Window shopping is the best way to do it.

Planning a day out window shopping is great when you want to have fun with your partner outdoors. Couples get to know what is on sale at the best price without spending any money till when it is the right time.

  1. Drive Around

Couple driving around

I know some won’t feel this date idea as a way to save money, you can make it work. Let’s say you decide to drive around town for fun with eats and some non-alcoholic drinks from home to avoid spending from expensive places.

Expect to incur some gas fees driving around but it is much less compared to hanging at restaurants, parks, and bars spending.

  1. Go To Sip and Paint

There are some sip-and-paint events around town where you can hang out for just a small fee. You don’t have to be good at painting to go have fun with your partner.

Check around your state to find one that will work for you at a small fee to go show some painting skills while you sip wines for fun together.

  1. Spend Time at the Local Animal Shelter

Are you an animal lover with your partner? If yes, then this a great date idea that can save you money.

Having fun together taking care of animals in the local shelters on a date is such a memorable moment. You voluntarily look after animals to pass the time but you should do things the right way attending to stakeholders.

  1. Read Tarot Cards

You may not know how to read tarot cards but this is a great way to spend time together on a date. Tarot cards help you to know about each other despite reading them for fun.

Whether you are dating for the first time or have been together for a while, it is a fun date idea that costs little to nothing at all.

  1. Have a Beach Day Out

Spending time at the beach doesn’t mean drinking and eating the whole day. Beach day out can be playing games and sunbathing, then some easy food and drinks later in the day.

Don’t spend that much money on a beach day out to save money on a budget. I don’t know about you but it is a great date idea to add to your list.

  1. Make It a Skating Day

If your date doesn’t know how to skate, let her learn from you as you show some skills. You can hire extra roller skates for your date not to spend buying out.

Move around town to have fun or to any nearby public place where you can go skating. Ice cream and some simple snacks will make a day for the two.

  1. Go To the Library

If you don’t want to spend much money on your date, going to the library won’t cost you a lot. Some libraries are completely free to access or charge a very small fee to use the resources.

This cheap date idea works well when your date likes reading and quiet places on a day out. You will need some cheap snacks and drinks to make the day fun.

  1. Head to a Carnival

Spend the day out at the carnival with budgeting in mind to save, you will find there are lots of cheap things but you have to know your limits not to spend on everything.

Your favorite games to play with prizes to win, different foods, drinks, and several other ways to entertain yourself for just a few dollars all in one place.

  1. Spend Time in the Sauna

Without moving here and there searching for where to spend an outing at a low cost, going to the sauna can be a great way to save money as a couple on a date.

It is such a great experience for you and your date to relax at the sauna having a conversation with a few drinks and eats. Sure, you won’t spend that much money with this date idea when you are on a budget.

  1. Check Out Garage Sales

Compared to window shopping, you can visit different garage sales around your town for fun. Even if you are not going to buy a thing it is a great way to look out for things at the cheapest price.

Garage sales have a lot of stuff to offer you might have been searching for quite some time. You will find bikes, clothes, shoes, electronic appliances and more.

  1. Work Out a Puzzle Together

Picture of a couple working out a puzzle

Your date will love that time together working out a puzzle on a fun day out. It is quite challenging when just learning to work it out but such a good game to kill time together.

Working out a puzzle with a new date brings you closer to one another for a good relationship and is a great idea to save money rather than spending time out.

  1. Head to the Park to Feed Birds

Another great dating idea that saves money is feeding birds at the park together. Just grab a few snacks and drinks for you plus some bird feeds for the day.

Trust me you will save money than spending time at some expensive places in town you wish to visit.

  1. Go Swimming

When it is hot, going to swim at the nearest pool or lake can be great to spend the day together on a date. You can teach your date some swimming techniques or learn from each other that day.

Pools and other public swimming places charge little to no cost for spending time there with your date. If you are looking for cheap date ideas, this can also be included on the list.

The End-Cheap Date Ideas to Save Money

Having looked at several cheap date ideas to use, just choose one that works best to fit your date. Hope this list offers the best options for you and your partner to save money.

 

Similar Posts