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.