Date your spouse, money not necessarily needed...

Happy February 1st! It is hard to believe that the first month of 2013 is already behind us.
Today I wanted to talk about dating your significant other and I am convinced you don't need a ton of money to do so. With Sean and I down to one income while I continue my job search, we can still continue to have fun or eat out every once in awhile,
we just have to find cheaper or free ways of doing it.
After some serious brainstorming, we came up with a few ideas that we want to pass on to you all so maybe you and your significant other can go out on a different than you usual dinner and movie type of date, plus these dates will be free or at least definitely don't break the bank.

Free Dates:
1. go for a hike
2. ride your bike around your neighborhood, and even if you already own a home, ride your bike and go house hunting. Point out what you like or dislike in some home features
3. have a picnic in your living room even if it isn't raining outside
4. check out the days your local museums have free admissions days and visit then
5. if you already own a basketball or volleyball, go play a game with your love at the local park
6. have a game night at home - make it challenging whoever looses has to wash the dinner dishes for a week, or whatever you two choose or the winner gets a kiss, make it interesting and fun but don't be a poor sport if you loose
7. go to your local park and play on the swings or jungle gym set - did anyone else say cherry bomb as a kid when on the swings?
8. cuddle up in front of a fireplace, either inside your home or in front of a fire pit outside with a bottle of wine you already have or make some s'mores

Cheap Dates:
1. take $5 and go to your local fast food place and buy things off of the $1 and split the meal
2. see a movie during the matinee prices
3. have a theme night using Redbox or Blockbuster, themes such as foreign, documentary, comedy, action - pick a movie appropriate to the theme night you picked
4. visit a new town and walk around the downtown area - grab a cup of coffee or tea
5. each of you make a list of 6 things you love most about the other person, go to a coffee shop and every 10 minutes you tell each other one item off of your list
6. dress up for each other , girls a skirt or dress, guys a pair of slacks and a tie, and go out to a cheap dinner even fast food
7. buy a Groupon as a favorite restaurant or use it as an opportunity to try a new restaurant and split a meal
8. text your significant other an address of either a restaurant or a wine bar, and tell them not to look up the address but plug it into your GPS or smartphone and be sure to let them know what time to meet you there (one of my personal favorites to do for Sean)

Above all, be creative and make it fun. The date shouldn't be primarily be what you two are doing but it is always about who you are with. The purpose of dating is to continue to stay connected whether you have been together for 2 months or 22 years.


34 comments:

Alissa said...

It's so hard for me to find date ideas that don't include spending money! This list is perfect!

Rachel Beer said...

Go to a frozen yogurt bar. Cheap and delicious!

Simply LKJ said...

As someone who is approaching 25 years, I wholeheartedly agree. And, truth be told...when we look back over the years the times we talk about the most were the ones that didn't cost a fortune and sometimes cost nothing at all (like the water hose fight in the middle of summer).

Amy Shaughnessy said...

I like the gps idea. That is fun! We used to do game nights all the time but haven't in a long time. Maybe we will do that this weekend. Great list girl!

Amy

Fashion and Beauty Finds

Kara Renee said...

Haha I'm currently single, but I love all of these ideas for even doing with my roommates! You just made out single V Day that much better! :)

TheTinyHeart said...

These are all really great ideas! We're on a budget too so it's nice finding cheap dates. Restaurant.com has great deals on restaurants too :)

-Sharon
The Tiny Heart
Sephora Giveaway!

Bev said...

You two are just presh!

Love your free date ideas. I love me some hiking, but not so much my hubs! He does like to walk, but not so much hike LOL WELP! I'll take a walk... gotta snatch what I can get ;)

Happy Friday love! xo, Bev

Jennifer @ Delightfully Noted said...

Great list! We almost ALWAYS entirely eat out on groupons and restaurant.com. It saves us lots of moolah!

Regina of Live Delightfully said...

Wonderful ideas!!! Great post!

Lisa said...

Great ideas!! We try to do free/cheap things quite often - dating does not need to be expensive, especially when you're already married! :) Thanks for sharing.
~lisa
Floating Along

Sarah Alway said...

I love the free date ideas, especially the ones involving the outdoors. :-)

Jenna said...

These are such great ideas - and so applicable to us since I just quite my job to pursue a full-time Master's!

Love the idea about the address :)

xxx
Jenna

Jess said...

Thanks for sharing. I love the GPS idea.

Krista said...

There are some great ideas here! Now I just need a cheap babysitter :)

CALLIE said...

Y'all are so presh! Love these ideas :)

Unknown said...

I love all of these suggestions!!! I especially love the one where you give Sean an address and just meet up at a surprise location!!! It's true, it doesn't need to be an expensive date to be a fun or successful one. Thanks for the ideas! =)

Heather said...

Great ideas! We have also cut back since I'm not working full-time, but it's definitely important to still have fun.

Val said...

Thank you for posting this!!! I love your suggestions.

Kristin said...

I have been wanting to go on a bike ride around the hood, we will have to do that soon!!

Lauren said...

love this post! we are hoping to get outside a lot more once the weather warms up...going for family walks is one of our favorite things to do!

Unknown said...

these are all such wonderful ideas. I need to do some of these since we're a little broke :)

❤ Meghan said...

i love hiking, and we play basketball at the park quite often in the summer! (i always win.) thanks for all of these awesome ideas, and have a great weekend!

Cathy said...

Love these ideas! To piggy back on the themed movie idea, why not cook a meal at home that matches the movie theme? For example, cook some French food and watch "Julie and Julia." Restaurant.com is another place to buy discounted gift certificates, just be sure to read the fine print first. Another idea is to take a tour of a local microbrewery or winery. The tour may be free or only cost a small fee and samples may be included. Hang out after the tour and enjoy another glass of wine or pint of beer.

shayla. said...

these are awesome ideas! thanks for sharing :)

Jessica said...

I love the theme movie night idea. I have a feeling my hubby would pick an alien or sci-fi genre for sure. I love curling up next to the fire place. Most amazing smell and so romantic on its own! We enjoy cooking meals together too!

Discovery Street said...

love the picnic in your living room idea...this is such a great post!

Danielle Todd said...

Great ideas! I often find my favorite moments spent with my husband usually involve just going for a walk, or watching a movie on the couch. It's just important to be together.

Mellissa "Shia" Rondinelli said...

Love this list!

Thanks!
Shia
World According to Shia

Unknown said...

These are all so great! My favorite idea was number 3. having a picnic in our living room. I love that!! Thanks for these reminders. I also love what you said, "the date is not about what we are doing but who we are doing it with"...I'm learning that more and more. Thanks!

Lexie Loo, Lily, Liam & Dylan Too said...

Great ideas! Thanks for sharing your list!

Ali W. said...

I love all these ideas! The picnic at home is so cute. McKay and I were just talking about how much we NEED to have regular date nights. We haven't been because we don't want to spend money on dates...so I really really love this post!

Erica said...

Oh, I love a cheap date... and a free date is even better. Hiking is one of my faves. I can't wait until spring arrives so that we can go out exploring on the trails again. :)

his little lady said...

As we get ready to travel to Europe we are definitely trying to be better at how we spend our money. Love all of these ideas!!
xo TJ

Kasey Lynne said...

Great ideas friend!!