Having a fun date doesn’t have to break the bank. There are tons of ways to entertain a love interest and keep moths from taking up residence in your pocket book.
Have fun on a budget with these 50 do-it-yourself dates. Your partner will definitely love most of these cheap date ideas.
1. Lawn Romance
Set up some lawn chairs or lay beach towels on the grass. Have a cooler of beer or bucket of margaritas. Grill up some hot dogs or make some sandwiches and bum out on the lawn.
While it may sound a bit boring, this date idea is budget-friendly and fun.
2. Yard Sales and Flea Markets
Get some pocket change together and go to yard sales or a flea market. Spend your nickels and dimes and buy each other a gift. You can exchange it at the end of the date and see who got the better deal. You will have lots of fun and you or your partner might even get a useful gift.
3. Build a Fort
Go online and do some research. Find a style of fort you could build together and get going. It’s a great way to spend a day and lounge around together. Building something isn’t for kids only, so consider trying out this idea, especially on a rainy day.
4. Pick Fruit
Go to a local farm and pick some fruit. These places often have hay rides or little petting zoos. After everything, head home and bake up a storm together. It’s one of the best fall date ideas you can try with your date.
5. Go to a Play
Sounds expensive, but you can call around to the theater and ask to buy tickets for the dress rehearsal. These tickets cost a fraction of the price. Another choice is to attend high school plays and recitals. Don’t like this idea? Keep reading. There are plenty of fun and cheap date ideas to try!
6. Go to the Book Store
If your date is a huge book lover, grab a coffee and browse the book store. Try picking out a book your think your partner would like and then see how well you know each other. Reading his favorite book together might be interesting and fun.
7. Go to the Arcade
Break the piggy bank and head to the arcade for a few hours of old fashioned fun. Kill zombies while romance blooms. Well, it’s not actually romantic, but you will certainly have a lot of fun.
8. Cook Together
Find a recipe you both want to try and get a bottle of wine. You’ll see how well you work together and get a bit tipsy. There are many quick and easy recipes to try these days, so you won’t have to cook the whole day to enjoy a delicious dinner.
9. Go Hiking
It costs nothing to pull on your hiking shoes and take a romantic walk through the forest. Hiking is a great exercise and it’s a cheap way to burn mega calories as well as improve your health. Just make sure you and your partner stay hydrated and don’t forget to take along some healthy snacks.
10. Be a Teacher
Think about what you do well. If you can draw, cook, play tennis or paint, then give your partner a one hour lesson on how to do it. After, let them teach you what they do best. This builds great communications skills. Plus, you will learn something new. Learning never hurts anyone, you know.
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11. Check the Colleges
If you or your date don’t want to be a teacher, find out what events are going on at the local colleges and universities. Go to a lecture together and learn something new. Before saying that it’s boring, give it a try.
12. Fly Kites
Get a couple of kites or even make a couple. Go to the local park and have a fun windy date. You can even battle your kites for extra excitement.
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13. Driving Range
There are plenty of driving ranges that are free to practice. Borrow a set of clubs from a friend and get down to the range. You pay for a bucket of balls and can stay as long as you like. Great!
14. Factory Tour
It’s one of the most interesting date ideas to try any time of the year. Find out what factories in your area offer free tours. You can learn something new and factories often give away samples of their products at the end of the tour.
15. Do Yard Work
It’s fun to do something together. Yard work allows you to be outside together and accomplish a task. Rake leaves, pull weeds, or plant an herb garden. Cheap, fun and useful!
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16. Go Fishing
Ask around to see if there are any nearby ponds or lakes that have great fishing. Grab a couple fishing poles, a couple beers and head down to the water. Sit at the edge of the water in lawn chairs or on some beach towels and get to know each other better. Fishing is a wonderful idea for the second date.
17. Volunteer
Volunteering is an excellent way for you and your date to connect with each other. Choose a cause and volunteer. Head down to the local government office, animal rescue or soup kitchen and use your date to do some good in the community. Volunteering is a rewarding activity and it has many great advantages.
18. Mini Golf
A wondrously fun date. Mini golf has all the cuteness of being mini and the fun of golf. The atmosphere is relaxed, a little competitive and very cheap, so why not try?
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19. Play Card Games
Get a deck of cards, a blanket and a bottle of wine. This can be a very romantic date. You can play inside on rainy days or go out to the park or even the back yard. Playing card games will keep your mind in top shape!
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20. Stage a Photo Shoot
Get your camera and head out to various locations. Take glamour shots of each other. In the end you can print the ones you like and make an album. You will have lots of fabulous memories. This is a fantastic and flirty date idea.
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21. Do a Puzzle
Puzzles are not only for kids. Start the date by heading to the store and browsing the puzzle section. Find one you both like and spend the evening talking and trying to complete it.
22. Take a Tour
Take a tour of your own city. Think of all the buildings you like in the city and guide the tour. You can walk or take the bus to the locations and take pictures as if you are on vacation.
23. Cell Phone Scavenger Hunt
Make a scavenger hunt list for each other and set a time limit. Go to the mall or a park and then run free. Take cell phone photos of the items you find on your list. Meet up and see who found more.
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24. Side Walk Chalk
Looking for a unique and cheap date idea? Buy some side walk chalk and get creative.
25. Thrift Store Fashion
Take 5 bucks and go to the thrift store. Each person buys clothes for the other and you must wear them for the rest of the date. Sometimes clothes from the thrift stores are better than if you would shop at an expensive department store.
26. Read
Find a copy of your favorite story book and then read to each other. Make funny voices for the characters and sound effects along with the story. If you and your partner don’t have any money, this free and fun idea is right for you.
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27. Play with Lego
Build houses, castles or see who can build the tallest tower first. Yes, it’s not romantic, but it’s fun, don’t you agree?
28. Glow Sticks
If you and your date want to try something new, consider playing hide and seek with the lights off or going to the park and play Frisbee at night.
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29. Water Balloons
This is a cheap and fun date idea you can try this summer. Just fill dozens of water balloons and then have a battle. A lot of fun is guaranteed!
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30. Dollar Dinner
Go to the dollar store and spend 3 dollars each. Now you have to make dinner from whatever you bought. Fun and maybe even delicious. If your dollar dinner fails, don’t worry, there are many other cheap date ideas to choose from.
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31. Yard Sale Games
Go to yard sales looking for classic games like lawn darts, croquet or badminton and get playing! This is an excellent way to spend those boring rainy days!
32. Car Wash
If you need to wash your car, ask your partner to help you. Get out the hose and some sponges and wash your car. Seriously fun and refreshing, especially on sultry summer days.
33. Blind Dinner
Spice up your dinner routine with blind dinners. Get a variety of food together and turn out the lights, guess what you are eating.
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34. Duck Time
Go to the park with a loaf of old bread and feed the ducks. It’s one of the relatively free things to do in any city. Moreover, those ducks will definitely thank you, just in their own way.
35. Karaoke
Feel like singing? Have a couple beers at a dive bar featuring karaoke and get up the courage to sing a duet.
36. Sprinkler
If you or your partner feel rundown, set up the sprinkler on a hot day and play like kids. This will boost your mood in no time.
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37. Collage
Get some old magazines and cut out the story of your life and share it with your date. You can also ask your partner to make his own collage.
38. Whip Cream
Buy two cans of whip cream and have a battle. It’s one of the most delicious date ideas to try!
39. Aquarium
Go to the pet store and buy some fish. Get a bowl and set up a little fish house. While it’s not actually cheap date idea, it’s a great way to spend some quality time together.
40. Make-up
Reduce your stress levels and have lots of fun. Put make up on each other and see who is prettier or funnier.
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41. Bowling
Go bowling. Simple, cheap and great old-fashioned fun!
42. Sundae Surprise
Take some pocket change, go to the store and buy vanilla ice-cream, candies, sprinkles and hot fudge. Build ice cream sundaes and share time and treats together.
43. Play Pool
If bowling isn’t for you, head to the pool hall and show each other your skills.
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44. Build a Model
Work together to build a model rocket or airplane, take it to the park and have fun!
45. Go Geocaching
Go online, find the direction for the little treasures hidden in your area. Couples love this free treasure hunt. Maybe your date will love it too!
46. Marshmallow Mouth
See how many marshmallows you can each fit in your mouth. Video it and send it to friends.
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47. Funny Read
Buy the local paper and read the articles to each other in funny voices. Sound like a pirate or a cowboy or count Dracula!
48. Play Pictionary
You can play this game with just the two of you. Think of a movie or a book and try to draw it so your partner can guess before time runs out.
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49. Paint Together
Buy some cheap canvas at the dollar store and paint pictures. Then exchange paintings at the end of the date. Promise to hang the picture in your home. On the next date, you can see if they really hung it up.
50. Visit a Costume Shop
Go to a costume shop and dress up for each other. Let your date pick your outfit, wear matching costumes and have loads of fun. Take pictures and make an album.
There are tons of fun date ideas just waiting to be tried. Don’t spend a whole paycheck on a date when there are lots of cheap and free activities. Show your date a nifty new way of enjoying the day and you’ll find yourself using up these 50 date ideas in no time. Do you have any other cheap date ideas?
