25+ Cheap Date Ideas For Couples. Have Fun For Cheap!

There’s one mistake you don’t want to make as a couple, and that’s letting the romance fizzle out of your relationship. Although, if you’re like most couples, your budget is a little too tight to make regular date nights work.

But the thing is, you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to spend quality time with your significant other. There are several cheap date ideas for couples that can fan the flames of romance without blowing the budget.

Here are more than 25 different ideas for you and your partner to consider for your next date.

  1. The Zoo:

If you and your partner are animal lovers then the zoo is the perfect place for a date. Not only is it relatively cheap, but it’s a great opportunity to learn something together and build memories.

 2. Paint each other:

This option can go hilariously wrong or breathtakingly right depending on your skill (or lack thereof) as a painter.

But of course, this activity is more about the company than the skills, and of course having fun.

It’ll just take a small investment in some cheap painting supplies and you’ll be set!

3. Go on a picnic:

Picnics are the poster child of courtship and budding romance. You’ve seen the movies…

But picnics aren’t just for new couples, they’re a great option for any couple looking to spend some quality time together without distractions.

4. Go to the Beach:

If you live near the beach, you have the perfect place to go on a date. Not only is it fun all year round, but there are multiple things to do there.

From walks along the shore, to building sandcastles and collecting seashells you’ll always have something to do together. Just don’t forget to bring change for the parking meter!

5. The Park

The park is one of the best cheap date ideas for couples. Whether you’re people watching, enjoying nature, or taking part in some activity, there’s always something interesting happening there.

6. Make a bonfire:

If you’ve got the space for it, a bonfire can be a lot of fun. Making s’mores, talking, and cuddling together can be very romantic. Or if either of you has a guitar, now’s the perfect time to bust it out!

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7. Go bike riding:

Grabbing your bicycles and heading out can be a lot of fun as well. Not only will you get some great exercise with your partner, but you’ll probably see some sights that you’ve never noticed before.

8. Go fishing:

Fishing is one of my favorite cheap date ideas for couples. Just grab your poles, find a fishing hole close to home and relax. 😊

We occasionally go fishing and even though we rarely catch anything the experience is great.

And if you do manage to catch something, it’s free dinner.  Win-win.

9. Watch a movie at home:

We all know how expensive going to the movies is nowadays. That’s why most people on a budget just wait until it shows up on Hulu.  But there’s an alternative to watching old movies at home or waiting for newer films to appear on Hulu.

The alternative is Vudu. New films arrive on Vudu much quicker than on other streaming services. You’ll just have to pay a small fee to rent the film. But hey, it’s a lot cheaper than the movies and a lot quicker than other streaming options.

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10. Cooking competition:

Grab some ingredients and try your hands at making a dish. Make sure you pick a dish that you both like and make a variation of the same dish and decide which one is better. Remember have a little prize for the winner, so the competition will be more real and exiting.

11. High School Sports Game

You don’t have to empty your savings to get first row tickets to a sporting event. Instead, you can go watch your local high school team play for next to nothing. Not only will you save on tickets, but you’ll save on gas, accommodations and meals as well.

12. Bowling

When you think of “date night”, dinner and a movie are probably what you picture first. But bowling has a lot more to offer. It has friendly competition, fun, comfort foods and still gives you the opportunity to talk to each other. On top of that it’s much, much cheaper.

13. Do a puzzle:

If you enjoy puzzles you can have a nice, quiet date night in the house. It’ll give you a common goal to work towards, take your mind off the hundred other things you need to do, and give you plenty of time to talk to each other.

This is also one of the best cheap date ideas for couples with young kids as you’ll be able to skip the babysitter.

14. Star Gazing

Stargazing is an extremely romantic way to spend an evening with your significant other. Just find an area without much light, cuddle up and get ready to contemplate the heavens!

Seriously, though, you could even name a star after your partner without breaking the bank.

15. Go to the fair:

Depending on the time of year, the fair is another classic option for a date night. It’s always an interesting experience with the sights, sounds, and smells. And it’s cheap too (depending on how good you are at the games).

16. Enjoy the sunset together:

This is something you can do from anywhere with a view of the horizon. The beach, the park, maybe even your backyard.

Sunsets are different every day and never cease to amaze. If you’re like me, you won’t be able to resist taking some pictures to immortalize the moment. 😊

17. Browse the bookstore:

This is one that we enjoy a lot, because we love books. Spending some time in the bookstore can be fun as you’ll learn a lot about your partner by seeing which books they like. Not to mention you’ll find interesting books for yourself and actually have time to read a few pages.

18. Go to a farmer’s market:

Taking a stroll through your local farmer’s market can be a surprisingly fun experience for the both of you.

You won’t just be shopping for in season product. But you’ll have time to stop and smell the flowers, get a few samples and maybe even buy a few ingredients for a romantic dinner for two.

19. Take a drive:

You don’t have to have a specific destination in mind. Just go joy riding and see where you end up.

By exploring your town you’re bound to find some hidden gems that you didn’t even know existed.

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20. Browse your photo album:

You and your partner can have a wonderful time going through your old photos and reminiscing about the past.

Not only will you share your fond memories together, but you may even learn that you’ve forgotten certain events or remember them differently than your partner.

21. Go to a museum:

There are some museums that have special deals on specific days of the week.

Make sure you keep in the loop and plan to visit museums that interest both of you.

22. Go antiquing:

Antiquing can be a date full of surprises and nostalgia.

Going around and exploring antique shops with your partner can cause you both to remember things that you may have forgotten.

For sure, you’ll both have some interesting stories to explain to each other.

23. Mini golf

Mini golf is another of the great cheap date ideas for couples. Neither of you have to be serious golf fans to enjoy a round of mini golf, you just have to be ready to have fun.

24. Go to a coffee shop:

I know, I know…a coffee date is usually a first date, not something that couples usually do. But, why can’t seasoned couples keep it casual? Coffee shops are great to people watch, spend time together and of course try out different types of coffee.

25. Go to a restaurant with a discount:

There are some restaurants that offer great deals and discounts. You can check some of them out and enjoy food prepared by someone else for a change. Check out restaurant.com to see if there are any discounts you can take advantage of.

26. Go sampling:

Have you ever gone to Costco on the weekend? If so, you’ve seen a free sample on practically every aisle.

Go browse through your local store on days they’re giving out samples and have fun trying the free food!

You may even discover your new favorite food!

27. Prepare your own homemade ice cream:

Do you love ice cream? What about making ice cream from scratch? If you get your own ice cream maker you’ll find that making it yourself is a fun and tasty activity to do together.

28. Dinner in the dark:

There’s been a rise of restaurants that offer customers the chance to dine in the dark.

But you don’t have to go out to experience heightened sensory dining, just grab yourself a pair of blindfolds and you’re set.

I’ll admit this is a challenging one. But If you and your partner are adventurous you can try this out. Just make sure your dinner is actually safe to eat blind. 😊

Cheers!

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