Cheap Date Night Ideas

When I told my boyfriend that this week’s blog was about cheap date night ideas the first words that came out of his mouth were “so does that mean we have to go on a date?”  I love doing research for my blog, thanks babe!  Dating can be a real money pit these days if you’re ‘too proud’ to use a coupon or search for a cheap deal.  There are SO many deals out there for restaurants and dining it would be silly to frequent expensive places that were already overpriced.  I do understand that we can’t give up those places all together, especially for special occasions, but that’s why saving your money and budgeting other dates is important.  There are also a number of date night ideas that are practically free, my favorite! I love saving money, but I also love having fun.  Tonight my boyfriend and I are having a Halloween themed date night and it’s not even going to cost us $10! He was relieved to find out that doing research for my blog wasn’t going to cost him an arm a leg… he obviously hasn’t read my blog or been listening to me when I have told him what it’s about :P.  The agenda for tomorrow includes carving pumpkins, renting a scary movie, making some homemade popcorn and getting spooky! (too cheesy? Haha).  There are a number of websites that offer free carving printouts for pumpkins, simply go to your favorite search engine and type ‘free pumpkin carving patterns’.  Carving pumpkins brings back the kid in all of us, and I can’t wait.  I’ll post some pictures on my FB Fan Page once we’re done and you can let me know what you think. 

****

TIP: when renting movies, especially ones that have been out for a while visit your nearest Red Box.  Movies are less the $1.50 a night, which is much cheaper than the $5 or $6 you will spend from renting On Demand.  If you rent a movie a week for a year straight you can save around $235 by using Red Box!! Red Box also sends coupons to people that have used it before for $0.50 off rentals, buy one get one free and sometimes even free rentals.  You can take that money and go on a REALLY nice date for your next anniversary.  

****

Some other free to inexpensive date ideas can include:

·         Pick a television series you’ve both always wanted to watch, and WATCH IT! Get some of your favorite snacks together, put on some comfy clothes and make a weekend out of it.  Of course it’s going to take longer than a weekend, but it can lead to filling up multiple free nights in the future together.  Currently my boyfriend and I have started Breaking Bad.  We didn’t even have to rent the DVD’s because I DVR’ed all of the episodes during the Breaking Bad marathon. We’re only on season 2, so no spoilers please!

·         Go to the park or for a walk.  With fall upon us and the leaves changing going for a walk can be a beautiful surprise, take a camera and bring your gloves and enjoy an afternoon of the outdoors.  Maybe you can even find some leaf piles to jump in!

·         Pack a picnic and go to the beach.  Although you have to wait until next summer for this one, add it to your list of things to do! A day at the beach with your man can be relaxing, fun and exciting all at the same time. 

·         Build a snow fort together and have a snow ball fight! As much as I hate to admit it, winter is coming and the snow will be here before we know it.  Instead of staying all cooped up inside go get silly with your man outdoors.   Build a snow fort/shelter anything to keep you safe from all the snowballs that are about to pelt you.  Make sure before starting the fight some ground rules are verbalized, otherwise this one could turn out with some bruises.  Make sure to keep it relaxed and fun (If you’re boyfriend or husband is some type of athlete that involves a lot of throwing I would probably sit this one out, lol).

·         Find a Groupon to a local sports bar/pub or café.  Most Groupons are offered at about 50% off face value, when you’re talking about going to a restaurant that already charges anywhere from $6-$10 for a meal you can go out and get a decent meal and drinks for less than $20! As you all know by now… I LOVE Groupon. 

·         Create a scavenger hunt of some sort and find another couple to do it with.  Scavenger hunts can be a blast, and the best part they are FREE.  The only thing you will have to pay for is the gas money you use by driving around to complete the tasks.  The more the merrier for scavenger hunts, grab some friends and turn it into a competition.  Loser buys a round a drinks afterwards!! 

 Below I’ve found a couple current deals online (Groupon) that would be great date night ideas. 

Remember, date night doesn’t have to empty your pockets fellas.  Doing some research online for coupons, or getting creative can save you tons of money on your future date nights!