Dating should not have to be expensive. I have compiled some frugal date ideas to help you have a little more fun. We all know how important it is to take the time out of our busy lives to date our spouses. Sometimes life and kids just get in the way and sometimes it’s our finances. However, with these frugal date ideas finances can no longer be your reason.

These ideas can be as cheap as you want to make them and some of these ideas can be absolutely free. It just takes a little bit of searching on your part and some creativity.

Dessert Date

Eat a meal at home and go out on a date for dessert. You can go to a restaurant and ask to see their dessert menu. Don’t feel obligated to order a meal just to be able to order dessert. Besides, isn’t that the best part of eating out anyway. Snuggle next to each other and split a piece of decadent chocolate cake.

Happy Hour

Most restaurants and bars have a time that they host happy hour. Usually this means select drinks and appetizers have specials. You can use this opportunity to go out and have a nice date at the fraction of the normal cost. You could even pair this up with the dessert date and go out for dessert and drinks.

Movie Night

Why not spend a night in cuddled up on the couch? Redbox constantly has movie codes that you can use to get a free or close to free rental. Even if you can’t find a code at the moment, it is $1.50 to rent a regular dvd.

You can also go to your local library and check out movies for free. Get some snacks from the store and have a fun, frugal night in!

Smore’s

Pick a night to have an outdoor date night night. Get the firepit ready and buy the ingredients to make smores. Cuddle up under a blanket and roast smores around the firepit. You can even combine this with our next idea.

Stargazing

On a clear night bring out some blankets and pillows to watch the stars. You could make smores first and then get nice and cozy under someblankets and stargaze. You can talk about whatever pops into your minds.

Breweries or Wine Tasting

Some towns and cities have local breweries that host tours. These tours are often free or low in price. Some liquor stores even host wine tastings for free just so that you will come back and buy more wine.

Groupon

Speaking of wine tasting, Groupon usually has deals for food or expereinces in your city. I recently purchased a wine tasting as a gift for a couple and the price was $22.00. That included one full glass of wine, 6 tastings of different wines, and a cheese plate for two people. I thought this was a pretty good deal and would make for a fun date outing.

Model Home Tours

My family and I like to go out and look at model homes. While we have no intentions of buying a home, we like to look at diferent houses, see how they are laid out, and seeing how they are decorated. We find it really fun. Sometimes these new homes will host open houses and will have fun free activities for kids and usually free food and snacks.

Free Musuem Days

Some cities have musems that are always free no matter the day you go. Some musuems have free days on certain weeks or days out of the year. Check out their websites to find out if they are offered in your city.

Dance Party

Turn up the music and get your grove on! It can be full out crazy and silly or even slow and romantic. Maybe try a little bit of both. Either way it will get your blood flowing and you will find you are having more fun than you would have thought!

Plan a Picnic

Plan to have a picnic. Outside or inside is your choice. Grab a blanket and pack some finger friendly food. Go somewhere quiet and enjoy each others company.

Coffee/ Tea Date

I’m not sure about every where else but our city has so many different coffee houses. They are all small businesses and have different flares about each one of them. Plan a morning or an evening to go out and try different coffees and teas while enjoying the atmosphere of someplace new.

Farmers Markets

Farmers markets have evolved to more than just vendors selling fruits and vegetables. Many farmers markets now include music, vendors, and food trucks. You can really turn it into a fun outing!

Cook Off

What better to do with all that produce you bought at the Farmers Market than have a cook off. Pretend you are on one of those cooking competetion shows and pair off against eachother. Not only is a little friendly competetion good but you will end up with a pretty good meal to sit down and eat together.

Minor League Sports

If you are a sports fan you can catch a local minor league game for a lot less than a major league. Some even have certain specials during the week. One very popular theme is $2.00 Tuesdays, check and see if your league has a great special.

Drive-in or Matinees

Going to the movies is starting to get costly. Sometimes a cheaper option is going to a drive in theater, all though those are often not so easy to find. But if you are lucky enough to have one look into their prices. Most of them charge by the car load and usually include two movies. You can also bring in your own food and make yourself cozy in your car.

If you don’t have a drive-in, look at how much your matinee prices are. Some theaters also have one day during the week that is cheaper than the rest. Eat at home before you go so that you are not hungry and tempted by the overpriced concession stand.

Drinks on Deck

Bring Happy Hour to your house. Make some cocktails at home or keep it simple with beer and wine. Sit out on your deck and relax. Bring a board game out to play.

The Point

The whole point of having dates is to reconnect with eachother. It doesn’t have to be this huge ellaborate production. You can keep it simple and keep it frugal. The purpose is to enjoy each others company. Do you have some frugal date ideas that you guys just love? I would love to hear more ideas!