With inflation sky high and economic uncertainty abound, it might be time to stay in and avoid any fun dates out and about, right? Wrong! There’s no reason to put your life on hold, even amidst banks closing, layoffs, mortgage fee increases, or whatever comes next! You will just need to get creative, and here are a few cheap date ideas to get those creative date plans flowing!
My personal favorite for a first cheap date is to go grab coffee or drinks. This usually allows for a safe, public environment for both people. Coffee works best for me personally, as I much prefer the taste and effects of coffee over alcohol. And while I have in the past said that coffee can also get expensive, it is still far cheaper than a restaurant date. But breweries are also fun! Breweries will usually work a bit better than bars if you have one nearby, as bars can get overcrowded and loud. Additionally, breweries often have more comfortable seating, such as couches or outdoor lounging. And of course, both these options work beyond a first date! Grabbing a coffee and just chatting in the morning or over lunch with your significant other can be a great boost to your day! And while the next option may not work with grabbing drinks, you could definitely combine this cheap date idea with grabbing coffee!
The second cheap date idea can be completely free, excluding gas of course. Going for a walk or hike (probably a walk in a public place for a first date) is completely free, and allows you to get outside and enjoy a nice day! It’s a great opportunity to just talk to each other, and hopefully get to see some wildlife as well! However, you might want to avoid this on too hot or cold a day, unless you plan to combine it with a hot chocolate or coffee or even some ice cream. And if this idea isn’t active enough for you, there are cheap date options for you too!
If you really need some adrenaline rush (like me) to maximize a first cheap date, think about playing a sport! With two people, playing tennis, basketball, or disc golf are just a few of the many options. The only cost of these, assuming you have free courts and courses, is the price of the equipment. However, you can often find these at thrift stores for very low prices, and you can use them over and over again. But you’ll probably want to take it easier, especially if it’s a first date. For example, maybe instead of playing 1 v 1 in basketball, you could do PIG or HORSE instead. But if sports sound too intense (or sweaty) even though they’re a cheap date, the next few will work great!
If you like driving, you could finally take that long road trip up to that one gorgeous park you’ve been wanting to go to. Sure, gas is pricey, but it’s still a cheap date compared to grabbing food and drinks. And to make it more exciting, you could also bring a homemade picnic along to enjoy! You could also do sightseeing along the way, or even enjoy a local museum or hotspot you’ve never been able to make it to. Plenty of options for sightseeing, and lots of creativity to make your perfect cheap date!
But if you’re also looking to save on gas? Go for a movie and game night in! If you’re already paying for Netflix or HBO or any of the other services, you might as well take advantage and include this for a cheap date. Or my favorite, take out the Monopoly or Risk or 7 Wonder, or any other card or board games you have. Although, if you’re like me, this can also get very competitive, VERY fast, so make sure to manage those emotions!
My last, and probably favorite, cheap date idea is to go to a library. I know, I know, musty old books and quiet, who wants that? But if you really want to get to know someone, find out what they like to read! Plus, if you’re a couple college students, making this a study date as well could be a very productive use of time! But I personally just love libraries, and the sheer amount of money you can save (and knowledge you can gain) is impressive.
Hopefully you’ll be able to use at least one or two of these cheap date ideas to stave off the loneliness and boredom that can result from trying to save money and get your finances right! I am a firm believer that it is very doable to live a fulfilling life today while saving for tomorrow, and these are just a few ways to do so! Of course, if you have any creative cheap date options yourself, let me know!