52 Fun Cheap Date Night Ideas For Couples On A Budget

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Who says you can’t plan a fun cheap date night while you’re on a budget or living on one income?

Truth be told, you can have an inexpensive date night without breaking the bank.

The key is to use your imagination – it’s part of the fun!

My husband and I LOVE coming up with creative and fun date nights that we can do once a month.

Because our fun date night ideas are inexpensive, we manage to have at least one date night a month without spending too much money.

Our love for creating fun cheap date nights inspired me to write this post so you and your hubby can enjoy a date night without having to worry about money.

We’ve done most of these cheap date night ideas and if we haven’t, you can be sure we plan to in the future!

Most of these fun cheap date night ideas are under $50.

RELATED READ: 10 Tips for Living On One Income Successfully

52 Fun Cheap Date Night Ideas For Couples On A Budget

Creative Date Night Idea

1. GO TO THE PARK

Remember how much fun you had at the park when you were little?

Pack a picnic basket and head over to your local park with play equipment.

Yes, play equipment.

Relive that fun with your hubby and see who can swing higher!

This date idea literally costs $10 if you pack a couple of sandwiches or a fruit platter.

2. GO TO A PAINT NIGHT

Groupon.com always has some sort of deal and they’re often really cool things you can do on an inexpensive date night.

We love going to paint night and proudly hang our paintings in our home.

It’s a unique date night idea because no two paintings are the same!

3. GO FOR A DRIVE

Something that is so exciting is getting in the car with no plans on where to go.

Drive in one direction, take a couple turns and see where you end up!

Bring a picnic with you or try one of the local restaurants you discover.

4. START A MEMORY BOX

Grab a box like this and go around the house hunting for things you’ve been meaning to save somewhere safe – stuff that has awesome memories attached it – like concert tickets, or a great birthday card.

That box will become your memory box!

It’s so much fun to reminisce about good times – something you’ll look back on as a couple for years to come!

5. HAVE A GAMES NIGHT

If you have a few board games kicking around then you should definitely have a games night against your spouse!

That will definitely lead to some laughs! 🙂

6. KICK THE BALL AROUND TOGETHER 

My husband and I love to be active together and sometimes that just means kicking a soccer ball around at the local park.

It gets the blood pumping and its a fun way to test your hubby’s soccer abilities. 😉

RELATED READ: 64 of the Best Frugal Tips for Families

7. BUILD THE BEST ICE CREAM SUNDAE EVER

This is one of our FAV fun cheap date nights!

We both love ice cream (because really who doesn’t?) so we go to the store and each pick 3 things to top the ice cream with.

There are no limits!

Have fun being creative with your ice cream!

8. TEST DRIVE CARS

Now is the chance to test drive a car you’d love to check out.

Have fun testing a high-end car and also take some other cars out for a spin too.

Then you can pick out your favs and know what car you’ll get when you’re ready!

9. DO A PUZZLE TOGETHER

When is the last time you did a puzzle?

Work together at putting together a hard puzzle like these ones. 🙂

10. GO LOOK AT HOUSES

My husband and I have a favorite neighborhood that we hope to live in one day.

Sometimes, we book showings of several houses for sale in the area so we can do some dreaming about the future. 🙂

It’s a great way to spend time together!

11. PICK UP A HACKY SACK

I’m not sure if I’m aging myself but hacky sacks were a huge hit when I was younger and a TON of fun!

Grab a hacky sack and test each other to see who can keep it up the longest!

12. GET LOST IN THE FOREST

One of the most tranquil and calming ways to spend time as a couple is to get lost in the forest on a hike.

Check out your local conservation area or hiking trails to see where you can get lost as a couple. 🙂

13. WATCH THE AIRPLANES TAKE OFF AND LAND

Drive down to your local airport and park on the side of the road so you can watch the airplanes take off and land.

Bring a blanket, something to eat and lay on the front of the car.

You’ll almost feel like teenagers! ha!

14. COOK EPIC TACOS

We LOVE tacos in our family so that means my husband and I like coming up with epic taco combinations.

It’s kinda a no holds barred situation lol!

Then we recreate them and have them with our daughter so she can see what we made!

15. INTERVIEW EACH OTHER

Start by writing down 10 questions you’re curious about your partner.

Then go back and forth asking the questions and see what kind of answers you get!

Willing to bet this will lead to some great conversations!

16. GO TO PUB NIGHT

Most pubs have trivia night so check out your local listings.

Go have a pint and test your knowledge!

17. RENT A CANOE

If you have lakes nearby, consider renting a canoe and paddling around.

You could bring fishing poles if you have them or pack a picnic to make it romantic.

18. MAKE A CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Sometimes an evening date just calls for a charcuterie board and a glass of wine.

Cut up your favorite meats, cheeses, and add your favorite olives, veggies, crackers, and spreads.

This fun date night idea can add up money wise but there’s nothing wrong with splurging here and there!

19. GO TO THE DRIVE-IN

The drive-in is an awesome inexpensive way to make going to the movies fun again!

Grab some popcorn and snuggle up in the back seat of your car!

20. BUILD A BLANKET FORT

I have PLENTY of fun childhood memories making blanket forts.

Building a blanket fort is a very fun CHEAP date night idea!

The best part is getting to sleep in it afterward. 😉

You could even challenge your husband to a blanket fort face off for even more fun!

21. GO TO THE BASEBALL GAME

There’s always cheap baseball tickets to be had, scope some out and enjoy a game.

Then, after the game, walk around the city holding hands and maybe do some window shopping.

RELATED READ: 15 Frugal Tips to Save Money at the Grocery Store

22. JUMP ON THE TRAMPOLINE

Do you have a trampoline center close to where you live?

You should definitely Google search that if you haven’t already.

Jumping on trampolines is a great way to get some exercise and a fun way to spend your next date night.

23. GO TO THE FARM 

Take your date night back to the roots of all communities – your local farm.

Often your local farm will have a cafe filled with farm fresh food, different animals you can interact with and fresh produce to purchase if you want.

It’s nice to kick back and relax while you get a taste of what farm life is all about!

24. ATTEND AN OPEN MIC

If you can carry a tune (or think you can like me ha!) then look up local open mic nights and give it your best shot!

These events are very friendly and usually attract talented people so it’s liking getting a free music night!

Enjoy the show!

25. GO FOR A STROLL IN A BOTANICAL GARDEN

Getting lost in a garden is a beautifully cheap way to have fun while enjoying nature.

Go for a stroll, find a bench and have a great conversation!

26. PLAY A WORD GAME

Pick a word that must not be said during the date OR one that you have to use in as many consecutive sentences as possible!

Either way, it’s word game on!

You can switch up words to keep the fun going!

27. TRY A CUISINE YOU’VE NEVER HAD BEFORE

Never tried Indian food?

Or maybe you’ve wondered about dim sum?

Grab your husband and make your first experience of the food a fun date night!

28. WALK IN AN OLD NEIGHBORHOOD FULL OF CHARACTER

I love walking in a neighborhood filled with old and historical Victorian houses and buildings.

There’s something magic that takes you back in time!

We’ve found that a lot of old houses will have a sign letting you know the history of the house, like who bought it and what they did for a living.

It’s neat to learn some local history!

29. GO FOR A LATE NIGHT WALK AROUND YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD

This cheap date night idea might make you feel like a teenager again.

Wait until late a night and then walk around your own neighborhood – maybe visit the park and play on those swings too!

30. PLAY CARDS

There’s a lot of love in this house for the card game Euchre.

Did you know the way you play Euchre can be adjusted to two players?

There are a lot of two-player variations so search for the one that makes sense for you.

My husband LOVE to challenge each other in a best of 5 rounds!

31. UPCYCLE A PIECE OF YOUR FURNITURE

If you’ve been putting off refinishing a piece of prized furniture, why no crack a couple of beers and finish it together?

You’ll be proud at what you’re able to create as a couple!

Romantic Date Night Ideas

32. FIRE NIGHT DATE NIGHT

My husband and I picked up a firepit, like this one, and now we enjoy a glass of wine or a homemade dinner with the fire going.

It’s perfect for snuggling and having a great conversation.

It’s also perfect for making smores together!

The great thing is the firepit was an investment that will pay off in memories for many date nights to come!

33. CREATE A SPA AT HOME

No need to go to an expensive spa!

Grab some bubble bath and hop in the tub together.

Bond as you have a bubble fight! ha! 🙂

Related read: At Home Date Night Ideas

34. COOK A NEW RECIPE TOGETHER

I think every family has staples that they eat all the time.

Freshen things by cooking a new recipe.

Bonus points for making a dish from another culture.

This fun cheap date night idea pairs well with a nice bottle of wine. 😉

35. GET LOST IN THE CORNFIELD

A lot of farms have cornfields which make for a totally fun way to have a date night!

Check your local listings for farm locations with a cornfield maze and get lost together!

36. GO ICE SKATING

If it’s winter, why not lace up your skates?

Keep each other warm by packing some hot chocolate in a thermos.

37. GIVE EACH OTHER MASSAGES

A very sensual date night idea is to pick up some massage oil and give each other a nice, long massage.

Who knows where that fun date night will lead! 😉

38. HOST YOUR OWN WINE TASTINGS

Instead of going out to the winery, why don’t you both choose a couple bottles of wine, make some yummy food and have your own wine tasting at home?

The best part?

You won’t need to worry about drinking and driving since you’re already at home!

39. EXCHANGE REASONS YOU LOVE YOUR SPOUSE

Sometimes it really is the little things we love about our spouses.

But, how often do we share what we think with them?

A great date night is sitting together and exchanging the things you love about each other.

It’ll rekindle the spark and bring you even closer.

40. MAKE A LOADED PIZZA

And, when I’m saying loaded, I mean LOADED.

Visit your local grocery store and grab ALL of your favorite ingredients and go crazy!

Make sure you check out the produce sale section so you can save money on the groceries since you’ll be using them that night!

41. CANDLES, CANDLES AND MORE CANDLES

If you’ve got candles, set them up in your bedroom or bathroom and do everything by candlelight.

Talk about romantic!

42. CAMP IN YOUR BACKYARD

One of the BEST fun cheap date nights my husband I LOVE to do is camp out in our backyard.

You can really feel like you’re camping, especially if you have a fire like I mentioned in the fire date night idea above.

Cheap Day Date Ideas

Looking for cheap day date ideas for those occasions the kids are with their grandparents? Day dates can be just as fun as date nights.

Here are some ideas:

43. HAVE A MOVIE MARATHON

A good old movie marathon NEVER gets old.

Pop some popcorn, grab the candy and snuggle up on the couch for some much need relaxation time as a couple.

44. HAVE LUNCH AT A CAFE

Most cafes have sandwiches, pastries, and other really yummy food.

Grab one of each and a couple of hot beverages and share each other’s food!

Sit back and do some people watching together.

A fun cheap day date!

45. GO TO A FARMERS MARKET

I love going to the farmers market with my husband.

We enjoy walking around picking out fresh fruits and vegetables and usually picking up some baked goods too!

Check your local listings for a farmers market near you!

46. VISIT A FLEA MARKET

You just never know what you may discover at the flea market and that’s what makes this day date idea a lot of fun.

Another person’s piece of junk could be upcycled to that unique piece you’ve been looking for.

And, the best part?

Flea markets are cheap which is perfect for your budget.

47. PHOTOGRAPH YOUR DAY TOGETHER

A great way to get new photos as a couple is to day trip it to an area you love to visit and start snapping away together and of each other.

You’ll have new photos for frames and items for your memory box!

48. MAKE BRUNCH TOGETHER

Who doesn’t love brunch?

Brunch incorporates breakfast and lunch and there are endless brunch recipes to try!

Get creative in the kitchen.

Maybe it’s a spinach egg benedict kind of day or perhaps banana pancakes.

YUM!

49. RENT A TANDEM BIKE AND EXPLORE THE CITY

If you live close to or in the city, become a tourist for the day and rent a tandem bike to get around.

Check out 5 hotspots in your city.

You never know what you might discover!

50. GO TO ANTIQUE STORE

I love antiques and so my husband and I go antique shopping sometimes during the day.

I’m always looking for unique character pieces to add to our decor.

It’s a lot of fun!

51. VOLUNTEER TOGETHER

One way of bonding with your spouse is to give back to the community together.

Maybe volunteer at the local food banks or check out a volunteer of your choosing.

52. GO TO THE DRIVING RANGE

If you don’t want to commit to a full golf game, why not have some fun at the driving range.

See who can hit the furthest and most consistently!

RELATED READ: Budgeting Advantages for Families

There you have it – 52 fun cheap date night ideas for couples on a budget.

You can have so much fun coming up with fun date night ideas with your spouse too!

Give it a try.

The key ingredient is your imagination.

If you want to make a fast decision between the suggestions made above (or can’t decide), have fun trying this: Magic-8-Ball. This game provides complex, oftentimes humorous answers to questions people could have regarding minor issues that come up in daily life.

Having cheap and fun date nights does not automatically mean you have to spend a ton of money.

While a couple of my date night ideas were slightly over $50, they weren’t by much.

Going on inexpensive date nights IS possible and fun too!

What’s the best cheap but still fun date night you and your spouse planned?