You can’t put a price on love… oh wait, yes, you can. Especially when your bank account is screaming for the drive-thru instead of a five-star dinner. But costs shouldn’t kill your fun together. With a little creativity, you can plan plenty of date nights that feel special—without draining your wallet.
Paint Together
Break out the bruschetta—and the brushes—for your own living room Paint and Sip. All you need is some paint, a couple of canvases, and maybe a cocktail or two. No pressure to create a masterpiece—the fun is in laughing at your “art” together.
Game Night
You’re not one to brag, but you’re basically a Battleship boss. So break out the board games for a night full of nostalgia and laughs. Spell out something flirty in Scrabble, go head-to-head in Jenga, or invite friends over and make it a team competition. Either way, you’ll probably discover a whole new (possibly competitive) side of your partner.
Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
Art is an easy—and inexpensive—way to spend time together. Many museums offer discounts or even free admission on certain days of the week. You’ll get to experience something new, spark conversations, and maybe even see each other in a different light. Call it a masterpiece of a date.
Find Budget-Friendly Food
Who needs fancy reservations when you can eat your way through the city? Try a cupcake crawl, hunt down the best taco truck, or take on the viral “budget meal challenge,” where couples see who can plan the tastiest date-night spread on the lowest budget. The smaller the price tag, the bigger the bragging rights.
Form a Book Club for Two
Think book clubs are boring? Think again. Pick a book together, set a reading deadline, and plan a cozy night to discuss it—wine optional. Browsing the bookstore as a couple gives you insight into each other’s interests, and the conversations that follow often lead to deeper connection (and maybe even some sparks between the chapters).
Swap Hobbies
Your partner’s a car guy, but you still can’t figure out what that mysterious dashboard light means. Meanwhile, they don’t quite get your obsession with yoga/photography/baking (insert your thing here). For date night, trade hobbies—you try theirs, they try yours. Not only will you learn something new, but you’ll also see each other’s passions up close. Who knows—you might even unlock a hidden skill.
Be Tourists in Your Own Town
No plane ticket needed. Lace up your sneakers and explore a neighborhood you’ve never visited. Stroll through a local park, check out an outdoor concert, or grab street food from that food truck you always pass but never stop at. Discovering your own city together makes the ordinary feel like an adventure.
Window Shop
Sometimes imagining your dream life is just as fun as living it. Stroll through furniture shops, thrift stores, or even car dealerships. Pick out the couch you’d someday put in your dream home, or joke about which luxury car you’d buy if you hit the lottery. The point isn’t to spend—it’s to dream together.