As a newly wed I am constantly looking for new ways to surprise Russell with fun little dates. Before we got married we promised each other we would not stop dating each other after we got married. So whether you’re single, you’re a newly wed or if you’ve been married for years, please feel free to use these ideas to surprise your sweetheart.
20 Dates Under $20 (from thenest.com)
Going out doesn’t have to work over your wallet. Plan the perfect night without hitting the ATM!
Date Ideas on the Cheap
Remember the days when dinner and a movie made for a cheap night out? Sigh. Neither do we. That’s why we came up with 20 dates for $20 (or less!).
Key:$: $1 - $6$$: $7 - $14$$$: $15 - $20
Sporty Dates
$ Hiking Pack your hiking boots or a comfortable pair of sneakers, two large bottles of water, and yummy sandwiches.
$$ Roller Skating If you own skates, head over to the nearest roller rink for a retro good time. If not, expect to pay about $6 for rental skates. Make sure you hold hands during those couple skates!
$$–$$$ Minor League Games Buy tickets for seats farther in the back of the stadium and you’ll spend as little as $8 a piece. $$–$$$ Bowling Between the $5 pitchers and the rental shoes, it’s the perfect date for some low-key fun.
Artsy Dates
$ Art Gallery Most art galleries are free, so check out new artists in your area. Free wine is often served on the opening night of exhibits. Cheers!
$–$$ Local Concerts Check your local paper or its website for free concerts. For shows in the park, pack a picnic so you can dance and dine in the same place.
$$$ Pottery Painting Okay, you won’t exactly be able to reenact the scene from Ghost at a pottery shop, but you’ll be able to paint funky coffee mugs!
Free: Book Reading Check out a local (free!) book reading. Then grab coffee and talk about your latest read.
At-Home Dates
$–$$$ Bathroom Spa Take turns giving each other massages and rinse off all that oil with a bubble bath. Just don’t get too relaxed. Falling asleep really kills the mood!
$$ Movie Theme Night If you’re in the mood for Italian, rent The Godfather and cook up some pasta. Watch Wedding Crashers with slices of cake from your fave bakery.
Foodie Dates
$ Street or County Fair Whether it’s a pie bake-off on a farm or a falafel stand in the city, fairs are great places to sample and soak up the local flavor.
$ Ethnic Eats Here’s the thing about low-key ethnic restaurants: The food is often just as good as pricier cuisine.
$$ Cooking Class Get friends together and ask everyone to bring their favorite recipes and the ingredients to make them. $$ Farmers’ Market Grab your reusable grocery bag, and head over to your local farmers’ market.
$$$ Brunch Many weekend hot spots offer deals on brunch buffets and drinks.
Offbeat Dates
$$$ Thrift Shopping Head to a flea market or thrift store and have a contest to see who can find the wackiest item. The only catch? You can spend no more than $10 each.
$$$ Amateur Comedy Show Laugh it up during open mic night at a comedy club. Admission rates are cheaper when you watch amateurs take the stage.
On-the-Go Dates
$ Volunteer “Work” Doing good together can be a lot of fun. If you love the outdoors, find an organization that plants trees or cleans beaches.
$ Historic Tour Every town or city has a unique history, so find out yours by taking a walking tour of local sites with historical significance.
$$$ Dance Class Obsessed with Dancing With the Stars? It’s time to test your own skills by taking a couples dance class.
