Last week I talked about an at home date night idea that I had with my husband. Also my sister on The Mama Birds blog has an amazing list of 52 inespensive dating ideas you could check out. I am excited to share this great guest post by Marine to help you date on a budget!!
How to Date on a Budget by Maurine Anderson
Dating is important. Even once you’re married, it’s an essential step to maintain the relationship. My fiancee and I made it a priority to have regular dates… real dates, where you go out and do something new together. But when you’re on a budget, it can be hard to maintain the effort.
The good news is, with a little creativity, dating doesn’t have to break the bank. Whether you are enjoying a seasoned marriage or are new to the dating game, here is a look at some essential tips for dating while on a budget.
Don’t underestimate cheap or free activities.
Don’t underestimate the power of a cheap or free activity for your date. Finding something inexpensive to do can truly be an adventure and a bonding experience. Here are a number of things you and your significant other can do while spending little, if any, money:
- Museum trip
- Free outdoor concert
- Local festival
- Bike ride
- Walking or jogging
- Frisbee or reading in the park
- Food trucks
- Picnic
- Making dinner together
- Renting a movie
Eat out wisely.
Going out for dinner is truly the classic example of a date night, so it’s understandable to want to go out for dinner as a couple every so often. There are a number of ways you can save while eating out, however, and this article lists several great tips, such as:
- Opt for counter-serve rather than sit-down.
- Get food to go when the restaurant is sit-down only so as not to pay for sit-down service.
- Split your meal, or split a small appetizer and a meal.
- Drink water.
- Take advantage of happy hour deals.
- Join the promotion lists of your favorite restaurants.
- Purchase discounted gift cards to your favorite restaurants.
Take advantage of couples specials.
Don’t forget to take advantage of the date-driven promotions that local businesses are running. Maybe a local restaurant or dessert stop offers a “buy one, get one free promotion” during the week. Or maybe a local ice skating rink offers couples a more affordable entrance fee to couples on a particular night during the month. Couples deals can be easy to overlook, but once you start looking for them, you’re bound to notice more than you think.
Be willing to date during the week (and during the day).
With special promotions in mind, remember that Friday and Saturday nights are the two most expensive times to go out. Be willing to switch up your usual day (and time) for dates in order to save some money. Since many movie theaters hold a $5 movie night promotion on Tuesdays, for example, consider moving your date night to the movie theater to a Tuesday. Since restaurants often have a more affordable lunch menu than dinner menu, consider eating out during the middle of the day. Once you’re willing to move date night from Friday or Saturday evening to any time during the week, the ways to save money really open up.
Try out a social buying website.
Social buying websites like Groupon and LivingSocial are great for finding incredible deals on local restaurants, date-night locations, and special events. Subscribe to one of these sites for free and check often to see what budget date-night options are out there. Let the deals that are available dictate what you and your date do, rather than letting it be the other way around (deciding what you want to do and hoping there will be a special promotion running.)
Save on gas.
As 52 inespensive dating ideas points out, gas usage is a major expense that many of us don’t think much about during the month. But it can really add up, and taking some active steps to reduce your carbon footprint can benefit not only the environment but also you financially. Consider saving on gas in your dating life as well by relying less on your own car. You might, for example, stream something online or walk to the grocery store together to rent a movie, rather than driving to the grocery store rent the movie. Or, you might make a date out of walking to a local park instead of driving somewhere farther away. It all may seem inconsequential, but you’ll notice the savings when you don’t have to pump your gas as frequently.
