Inexpensive date ideas

[TeenHelp]

Inexpensive date ideas
By Jenna (~Abibliophobe~)

When you are in a relationship, or are simply getting to know a special someone, it’s fun to go on dates. However, dates can be expensive. Dinner and a movie can end up costing quite a bit of money and if you are on a tight budget it’s unlikely you’ll be able to do those types of dates very often. Coming up with the money for dates can be really stressful and it can take the pleasure out of dating. This article is going to outline some cheap dates that you and your special someone can do.

• Look for cheap or free events in your hometown: A simple Google search should turn up some events that you can attend. After you get the list of events in your area you can call some of the places that interest you and see what their prices are. You will find that most of the suggested events are very low cost or free. Something else you could consider doing is Googling community events or calendars for your hometown. This will list a lot of daily activities. If you find an event you are interested in, you can look and see if it will work with your budget and your schedule.
• Go to a farmers market: This can be free to do unless you want to buy some of the produce. Doing this will give you some time to get to know your date because you’ll be walking around. If you buy some produce you can also go home and cook a meal with the ingredients you bought.
• Cook a meal at home together: Going out to dinner costs quite a lot of money. It’s nice to do occasionally, but very few people have the money to go out to eat every week. However, if you look up recipes online with your partner, you can both decide on a meal and cook it together. This will give you time to talk to your partner and you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious meal that the two of you made.
• Have a movie night at home: Instead of going to see a movie in a theater you can stay home and enjoy as many movies as you like. You and your partner can each pick a movie that you’d like to watch and have a movie marathon. If you’d like you can get drinks and snacks from the store, which will definitely be cheaper than they are at the theater.
• Volunteer: It might be different than dates you've previously gone on but it can be enjoyable to do and doing it with someone you care for or are trying to get to know can make it more pleasurable. See if the two of you have common interests and then try to volunteer with an organization that relates to those interests.
• Play card games, board games or video games together: All these things can enable you to talk to your partner and get to know them. Having a game night with someone can be entertaining, and as long as you have the games you want to play it should be inexpensive. If you’d like you can go ahead and get snacks and drinks to enjoy while you are playing the games.
• Drive around and look at holiday lights: Looking at lights is something a lot of people like to do and aside from spending money on gas it can cost you very little. Something else you could do is see if your city has a lights show that they do for free. Sometimes neighborhoods will decorate their houses and then have people come and look. If you are unsure if this exists in your area you can do a Google search for Christmas lights shows in your hometown.
• Go to a used bookstore: This is usually inexpensive and it can be fun to get some new books. This can also be a pleasant experience if you both like to read because you can learn a little bit about what books interest each other and then try to find books based on those interests.
• Go window shopping: This is a lively activity to do and it can also give you ideas on what you can get your partner as anniversary, birthday and Christmas gifts. It’s also entertaining to do because while you are browsing you are able to talk to your partner and joke around with them and communication is always the best part of any relationship.
• Go on a picnic in the park: Usually parks have a really cheap admission fee, and bringing food that you’ve made at home can be a good way to enjoy the park. After you eat, the two of you can go walking around the park and maybe feed the ducks if there are any.
• Play Pokémon Go together: This can be an enjoyable activity to do. You can spend some time catching Pokémon and after you have caught some you can share how many and what kind you were able to catch.

There are numerous activities that you can do for free with your partner and the activities listed just scratch the surface. Coming up with date ideas that you can afford doesn’t have to be stressful. There are so many activities that are low cost; all you have to do is decide if you and your partner will enjoy the activities.