If you are currently trying to watch what you are spending and looking to live on a tight budget, then the last thing that you may be interested in is spending money on a date night with someone new or with your partner. With this being said, however, you cannot put your love life on hold simply because you don’t have enough funds to go out for a truly luxurious evening. Thankfully there are many ways that even those who are living on a budget can still treat someone to a great night out filled with fun and laughter, without it leaving them in the mire where finances are concerned.
In order to give that special someone a great night, here are some idas that we worked on with Mark from thedoe.com, regardless of your financial situation, that will really put a smile on their face and bring both of you closer together.
Happy Hour
One of the most simple and common date night ideas is to head out for a couple of drinks and a chat. As the drinks flow, you feel a bit looser, and that can really add to having a good night in great company. If, however, you are struggling financially, then the thought of a bill after a night such as this may induce fear in your heart. It is for this reason that you need to take advantage of happy hours, where there are discounted drinks and promotions on multi-buys. This is something most couples regularly do, and the best happy hour in Scottsdale (visit elhefe.com) gives you the chance to have plenty of fun without it costing the Earth. Take a look around for some great happy hours near you so that you can enjoy a date night without worrying about what the bill is going to be.
Take Advantage of Promotions
There are very often promotions that you can find on experiences such as the cinema or theatre, and the trick is to plan in advance to make the most of it. If you visit coupon sites and check out local newspapers and magazines, then you will find many opportunities to save big on event tickets. This is a great way to have a night out with your partner or your new date, without worrying about how much it will cost. The key is being prepared; if you are looking for deals on the day of the date then you are unlikely to find anything, weeks in advance, however, you are highly likely to bag yourself some great deals.
Board Games
When my wife and I were in the early stages of dating, neither of us had very much money to spend on going out, and so we used to have board games evenings. Say what you want about modern technology and the options which we now have at our fingertips, but traditional board games can still offer so much value and entertainment. If you are trying to impress a girl or you want to rekindle some romance with your partner, grab yourself a bottle of wine and some snacks from the store, set up some board games like Monopoly or Clue, and spend your evening battling it out to see who is able to become victorious. This is an evening which is guaranteed to offer fun, competition and plenty of laughter, what more does a date night need?
Box Set Binge
There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending your date night in front of the television, snuggled up with one another, getting your teeth stuck into a great box set, or a movie marathon. With so much entertainment at our fingertips, there really is nothing stopping you from indulging in such an evening, that will be very gentle on your pocket and thoroughly enjoyable. If this is your first date, then a ‘Netflix and Chill’ style evening may not be the best idea, just in case, it gives off the wrong impression. If, however, you are well into your dating life with your partner, or if you are well into a relationship, this is a wonderful option to spend your evening. When you do this, however, it is important that it isn’t like any other night when you watch the television. Plan your meals and snacks ahead of time, ensure that the mood is right, reposition the chairs, get the lights off, bring down the blankets, and really give some effort to getting prepared.
Cooking Together
Preparing a nice meal for someone is a lovely gesture and a more than an acceptable idea for a date night. To really set things off, however, why not find a great recipe, buy in some ingredients and prepare the meal together? This is a great way for you both to have fun with a shared activity, and there will no doubt be plenty of laughter as you each do your best to deliver a great tasting meal. Once the cooking is over, the fun will really begin as you can both sit down and enjoy what you have created together in the kitchen.
Walking
The idea of a date night is enjoying time in each other’s company, getting away from the pressures of daily life, and learning more about each other. One of the best ways of doing exactly that is to take a long walk through the countryside or through a park. A long slow walk, hand in hand, is a gorgeous way to clear the head and to really enjoy each other’s company. This is a completely free idea which may at most cost you the price of ice cream or a coffee to take with you as you wander. To make the walk even more special, you can always pack up a small picnic, which you can enjoy in a secluded spot during your walk.
Being on a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t have a wonderful time with your date, get creative, and you’ll have a great time.