Listen up, all you girlfriends on a budget! If you’re dying to have a fun, romantic date with your man, but you’re not dying to drop $100 or more on dinner and a movie, don’t trip. I got you. My boyfriend and I know the struggle of being on a budget, but still wanting to do something fun together. So, I’ve compiled a list of super fun and inexpensive date night ideas that you can do as a couple. After this post, you’re going to be so excited to have date night with the boyf/hubby because you’ll have 35 fun budget date night ideas in your back pocket, ready to try on any night of the week.
Let’s do this thing.
35 Budget-Friendly Date Night Ideas for Couples
1. Wine and paint night at the house.
Grab a bottle of Two Buck Chuck at Trader Joe’s, or whatever your favorite budget-friendly wine is and set up a painting station at home! Find a beginner’s painting tutorial on YouTube and follow along.
2. Cook a delicious dessert off Pinterest.
I know you’ve saved like a bajilion dessert recipes on Pinterest. I know ‘cause I do, too. It’s time to pick one (or two!) and bake to your heart’s content. Eating homemade dessert together is never not romantic.
3. Make a charcuterie board and have a movie marathon in your living room.
I recently put together this charcuterie board for a friend’s birthday, but it’s so easy and delicious for a date night, too!
You definitely don’t need this much for just two people, but feel free to stock up on the stuff you’ll keep eating for the rest of the week.
Cheese, salami, crackers, grapes and jam are all great places to start. Of course, the wine goes without saying. Graze together and chat like you’re lovers in Paris, or play your favorite rom-com. You probably won’t be needing much dinner afterward.
4. Have a picnic in your backyard.
A simple, yet subtly romantic date night idea for couples on a budget is a backyard picnic.
Picnic food is so fun and affordable, so this is a great choice for those perfect weather days. PB &Js, freshly squeezed juice, fruit and a picnic blanket (or table cloth) are all you need to set the scene.
5. Go on a hike.
Hikes can be hard work, but they’re also so rewarding. My boyfriend and I go on hikes occasionally near his home, farther out in the country. It’s always fun and doesn’t cost a dime except gas money to get there, which makes hiking a great date idea for couples on a budget!
Gear up and find a fun hiking trail near you. Make sure you’re prepared with water, sunscreen, and the proper hiking attire. Don’t forget to pack a lunch so you can stop and enjoy the views.
6. Learn a dance together.
Learn one of the many, many popular dances circling the internet right now. Just to say you can do it.
7. Play a board game or card game for a budget-friendly date night in.
Some board games are more fun with lots of people, but there are plenty of options for couples, too! Try these board games for two people and have a whole game night just for you.
Feel free to make it more interesting with some kind of gamble or “loser has to ___,” to keep the competition stakes high 😉
8. Make each other custom coffee mugs.
This DIY idea came from the absolutely lovely Ruth Soukup’s blog. Go check her out! She’s got great content 🙂
Making your own mugs is so fun and super easy! I’ve made some for friends before, and they last a long time as long as you hand wash them.
It’s such a nice feeling to start the day drinking coffee or tea from a “Good morning, handsome,” or “Hello, gorgeous,” mug. Especially when you and your boyfriend get to bond together while creating them together!
Buy a cheap, plain white mug from Target or Walmart, grab some oil-based markers, and create cute customized mugs. Bake them at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes. Hand wash only!
9. Try a couple’s yoga video.
If you’re not “yoga people,” this might be hilarious to attempt. If you are a yoga couple, then go ahead and challenge yourselves with a more complicated yoga routine! Either way, this is a fun and engaging way to get closer to your partner.
Search for “couples yoga” on YouTube for some fun options.
10. Go on a bike ride to the best sunset spot in your town.
This activity is a great two-for-one date. Bike riding together is fun and feels playful. Like you’re just two kids in the neighborhood falling in love all over again. Then, you get to sit and cuddle while you watch the sunset together.
Don’t overlook the simple romantic moments that are always available to you.
11. Go to a free concert in your local park.
A lot of communities host free music events that are open to the public and completely free to attend. Find one near you and take advantage of the free entertainment and cheap food vendors!
12. Grab chalk, and draw a huge outdoor mural.
Get some chalk and design your own work of art! Draw it on the sidewalk, in your driveway, or along the sidewalk!
13. Go stargazing in your backyard.
Stargazing is so romantic, even if you don’t know the first thing about constellations. You can even download an app like Sky Walk 2 or Sky View to identify the constellations around you.
If you have a pickup truck, fill it with blankets and pillows and drive somewhere away from city lights!
14. Have a sunrise walk date.
Get up before the sun rises, make coffee, and take a walk to a good sitting spot. Look up at the early morning constellations visible before the sun rises. Then go home and take a nap together.
15. Hit up an open mic night during happy hour!
Cheap drinks, cheap appetizers, and lots of opportunity to have a super fun and potentially embarrassing time singing together in public.
16. Make dinner in, order your favorite dessert to-go.
Dessert is a much cheaper buy, and let’s face it. It’s the most fun. Make a delicious home cooked meal together, then head out for your favorite dessert spot. Get it to go and eat it at home, or better yet, take it to a romantic public area where you can sit and talk.
17. Go on a coffee date like you did when you first started talking.
Coffee is literally my boyfriend and I’s love language. We love to get our favorite coffee together, sit, and talk about life. If you want to get really creative with the conversation topics, head to Pinterest and search “fun couples questions.” Save a few pin ideas, get comfy and caffeinated, and get to know each other even better!
18. Go to a thrift store and pick out ridiculous outfits for each other to try on.
It sounds silly, but I’ve actually done this at a mall with friends and it’s super fun. Go to a thrift store, pick out the craziest or coolest outfits you can find for each other, and try them on. See how wild of an outfit you can concoct for your significant other.
And if it’s in your budget, buy the outfits and wear them for the rest of your date night!
Pics or it didn’t happen.
19. Have a bookstore date.
Grab a coffee, dress up cute for each other, and go to your favorite local bookstore or Barnes & Noble to browse together. If you find something you like, you can buy it used online or even check it out from the library.
20. Hit up a museum on a free night
A lot of museums have free nights now and then, or highly discounted days. For example, Balboa Park in San Diego has a whole discounted month in February when most museums are discounted to enter.
21. Go mini-golfing or bowling.
Both these activities are usually very affordable and are a great way to spend any evening! It’s good to bring out each other’s competitive natures, too. Lots of chances for flirtatious smack talk.
22. Make breakfast together at midnight.
The best talks happen late at night anyway. And besides, it’s a great excuse for midnight mimosas!
23. Hit up a local sports game.
Check online for local sports teams’ games and make a night of going out to see the game! The team might suck, but hey. You’re there for each other, not the game.
24. Look for free wine or beer tastings near you.
These can be challenging to find, but they do exist. You can also check out Groupon for local tastings near you for a better price!
25. Spend an afternoon teaching each other your hobbies.
This idea came from Marie Claire!
This is a simple idea in theory, but it’s actually really fun to get to share your hobbies with each other!
What do you both do in your spare time? Play video games, learn a language, draw, rock climb, make music, craft, play a sport? Take an afternoon to teach him your hobby, and let him teach you his too.
This is a great way to get more involved in new areas of your significant other’s life while bonding together. You don’t have to love each other’s hobbies, but it’s still good to experience them!
For example, my boyfriend could teach me how to swing a baseball bat, and I could teach him how to play the flute.
26. Go to a county fair.
Deep fried food, carnival rides, live music, petting zoos, and games. County fairs are basically an entire day of different date activities. They’re so fun, and have lots of opportunities to take cute pictures together.
27. Go paddleboarding or canoeing.
This is surprisingly affordable for an hour or two, and definitely a fun option for the more adventurous couple.
28. Pick fruit and bake a pie.
Find somewhere near you that offers fruit picking, then make a pie together with whatever fruit you pick. A quick Google search will show you lots of great farms that offer fruit picking. This fruit picking website in seems particularly helpful. Prices range from farm to farm, but they’re usually pretty affordable.
29. Buy a movie projector for an outdoor or indoor movie night.
This date night activity does require a bit of an investment if you don’t already have a projector, but it’s a fun one so it’s totally up to you and your budget!
You can get one of these movie projectors, point it at a blank wall and build a fort in the living room for a movie night. Or, find a way to set the projector up outside, point it at the side of your house and put down a blanket for an outdoor movie theater.
30. Attend a local art gallery event.
Art galleries often have opening nights for new exhibits that include appetizers and drinks. Many times, it’s free to attend or tickets are a very affordable fee.
31. Trivia night at a bar.
Drinks and trivia games are always a good idea. It’s pretty common for bars to have a designated night of the week when they have trivia games, and it’s a fun way to see your partner’s competitive side come out. There are usually fun prizes too, like a free drink or free appetizer.
32. Go rollerblading.
If you already own rollerblades, this is a great active option. You can rollerblade and hold hands, and take a little trip around your town.
33. Frisbee date.
Frisbee is way more fun than I used to give it credit for. Take a frisbee and a small picnic to the park to get some exercise. It’s a fun way to work together and be on the same team!
34. Go to a flea market or farmer’s market.
You can browse, look for good deals, or just hang out and people watch.
35. Have a cake decorating contest.
It’s you vs. your honey!
Buy a box or two of cake mix, then bake two cakes. Each of you decorate your own cake however you want. You can also decide on a theme beforehand, like “tropical,” or “movies.” The winner can be chosen by a) sending both cakes in a group chat to family members, or b) post a picture of both cakes and put them on your Instagram stories with a poll to let your audiences decide who did best.
Related readings for couples
How to Argue Effectively in a Relationship for Better Results
9 Ways to Get Closer in Your Relationship for Stronger Love
8 Caring Tips for Better Communication in Your Relationship
How to Make Your Partner Feel Loved in a Long Term Relationship
Conclusion to 35 Fun Date Night Ideas for Couples on a Budget
There you have it, lovebirds! My 35 super fun date night ideas for you and your boyfriend or hubby, suitable for nearly any budget! I hope these cheap date ideas inspired you and gave you some entertaining things to do as a couple.
If you liked this post, I would so appreciate if you would share it! The share buttons are just to the left of your screen 🙂
Til next time. Don’t forget to make out a lot no matter what kind of budget friendly date you go on. It’s good for your health 😉
