Major League Dates on a Minor League Budget

When your finances are tight, “date night” often sounds like a luxury that you just can’t afford. It doesn’t have to be that way! Don’t let your budget bench your date night. Spending quality time together doesn’t have to be costly, and your dates can still be special and unique. Here are some fun and fresh date ideas for you and your partner that will strengthen your relationship without breaking the bank

 Have a “Fake Fancy” Picnic 

You can classy up any picnic to celebrity-level status with the right items and a creative mindset! For the ultimate pretend-bougie picnic, you’ll only need a few things. First, ditch the checkerboard red and white blanket for a solid color one ($3-Dollar General), or opt for a plushy, faux bear rug ($5-Five Below). Add the snacks you have at home, or make your favorite sandwiches. Instead of the normal looking sandwiches, use large cookie-cutters ($1-Dollar Tree) to make fancy designs instead of a basic cut. Pick up silver-trimmed plates and ornate silverware from the dollar store. They will look just like the real thing except they’re disposable which also saves you time on clean-up! Add a bottle of wine ($5-Target) or some sparkling water and voilà! 

Rainy or cold outside? No problem! With a few scented candles, your living room floor can just as easily make an indoor picnic feel fancy and special. 

Estimated total: $7 – $13 + cost of food 

 Host a Red Carpet Movie Night

Turn your living room or backyard into the ultimate Red Carpet Premiere! Instead of lounging in your yoga pants tonight, grab a cocktail dress or suit from the back of your closet and get ready to strut your stuff. For a “real” red carpet look, pick up a red table runner ($1-Dollar General) and make a runway. Hang some white Christmas lights ($5-Hobby Lobby) to make your red carpet twinkle and grab some photo booth props like feather boas and silly movie star sunglasses ($1 each-Dollar General). This would be a fun night to invite another couple or two or keep your Red Carpet Premiere an intimate affair.  

Next, turn your living room or backyard into a private theater. Stove-top popcorn is a must, and you can serve it in red and white movie theater popcorn boxes ($1-Party City). Set out some boxed candy ($1-Dollar General) for the perfect snack display. Make your living room cozy with extra snuggly pillows and blankets, and don’t forget to dim the lights. In your backyard, build your own outdoor cinema for a romantic night under the stars. To set up comfy seating, grab all your favorite blankets, pillows, rugs, or air mattress and place them on the ground.  Use the side wall of your house or a white blanket as your DIY movie screen. The only thing left to do is turn on a movie! No one ever said that your living room or backyard can’t be special too.

Estimated total: $15 – $20

 Compete in a Mock Food Network Showdown

Turn your kitchen into a game show! For this activity, you can rummage through your pantry or determine your own budget. Decide what type of course you’d like to cook (appetizer, entrée, or dessert). Split your funds and give each other a time limit to quickly shop for your ingredients (we suggest $15 per person and a time limit of 15 minutes).

Once you get home with your ingredients, turn up the heat and compete head-to-head. Set the clock for 30 – 60 minutes and cook your heart out! Be creative with the ingredients you were able to purchase. Pretend to be a gourmet chef. Your goal is to impress your date by turning graham crackers and chocolate chips into something fancy and (hopefully) delicious. When it’s judging time, taste each other’s creations and rate them on creativity, presentation, and taste. Don’t be afraid to let your inner foodie show and get ready to laugh! 

Estimated total: $30 

Glow Up Stargazing

This idea is romantic and beautiful with a little pizzazz. Tonight is all about that glow! Pick up a package of glow sticks ($1-Dollar General) and make a few DIY lanterns. Clear mason jars or bottles and battery powered twinkle lights work great ($10-Bed Bath & Beyond). Next, grab some blankets and a library book on constellations. Find a location that’s not too close to all the city lights. A park in a rural neighborhood or just outside of city limits works great. Make sure you watch the weather forecast.  You’ll want clear and cloud-free skies. Get your glow on, lay back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of the night. 

Estimated total: $11

Indulge in an At-Home Deluxe Spa

Let each partner decide which service they would like to offer at your home spa:  pedicure, manicure, neck and back massage, facial etc. Then, set up your spa accordingly! Here are some of our favorite ideas:

1. Bust out all the lotions and oils you already have, or pick out a new one at your favorite vendor ($5 – $7) for a relaxing and aromatic massage.
2. Turn a large plastic container into a foot bath. Add warm water, a squirt of lemon juice, and some glass marbles ($4-Michaels) to massage those toes. 
3. Purchase a face mask at the store ($2 to $10-Target) or make your own. Thinly slice some cucumbers for the eyes and mix up one of the following facial masks with your pantry ingredients: honey + a pinch of Turmeric (cleansing), honey + coconut or avocado oil (hydrating), honey + mashed banana (soothing). 
4. Get in the mood! Turn on some soft music, light a scented candle ($5, Target), set out a stack of hot towels and cloths, and display your nail files, clippers, polishes, and lotions. 

Estimated total: $15 – $25

 Community Service Round-up

Nothing draws a partnership together quite like working together. Head out and look for spontaneous ways to spruce up your community or brighten someone’s day! See if you can complete 5 things from the list below. 

• Pick up trash at a local park
• Pick up trash from your neighborhood/on your street
• Help someone bring groceries to their car
• Put away 5 stray shopping carts
• Leave inspirational notes on 5 cars in a parking lot
• Bring non-perishable food to your local food bank ($10 – $20, Target)
• Volunteer at your local homeless shelter 
• Rake your neighbor’s leaves or pull some weeds
• Bring a neighbor a home baked treat
• Pay for the car behind you in the drive-through at your favorite fast-food restaurant ($20 – $40)
• Compliment someone rendering a service (i.e. the park maintenance worker, a community firefighter, the checker at the grocery store) 
• Water someone’s outdoor plants 

Estimated total: $0 – $60 

Get Messy Game Night

No Monopoly tonight. Get down and dirty with these silly and messy games. You may want to turn this into a double date for extra laughs! 

• Don’t Let the Penny Fall: Pack some all-purpose flour into a large mold, a little smaller than the plate you plan to set it on. Invert your mold onto your plate and remove the mold. Place a penny on top of the flour mound. With a butter knife, take turns carefully slicing the flour. The first person to make the penny fall, has to retrieve the penny WITH THEIR NOSE! 
• Cucumber Race: Slice a cucumber, and with each person standing on one end of a table, slide the cucumber with your nose down the length of the table and back. The person to reach the starting end first gets bragging rights! 
• Getting to Know You, with a Splash: Grab those first date ice breaker cards, or write-up some “getting to know you questions.” At this point in your relationship, hopefully you know most of the answers to these! Fill a tablespoon with water and take turns asking each other the questions. The first person to get a question wrong, gets the splash of water. Make sure both partners have a good sense of humor! 
• Messy Twister: You’d better play this game outside! Get out that old Twister board, and a swimsuit. Fill each colored Twister circle with colored shaving cream ($3, Target). You can color the shaving cream the appropriate colors using food coloring ($4, Target) and a spoon. Time to twist! 

Estimated total: $0 – $7

Get Outside and Geocache!

Geocaching is a great way to enjoy the great outdoors and find local treasures at the same time! Geocaches are small, hidden objects in your community neighborhoods and parks. You can get the Geocaching app ($0) to find one near you. Select a coordinate, and go explore! The GPS and the app on your phone will lead you to the location, but you have to look around for the object. Once you find it (typically a small container) log your name and if there’s a small prize, grab that too! Make sure to put the Geocache back exactly where you found it so that others can enjoy the hunt. Bring a water bottle and a snack, and you have the perfect outdoor adventure right at your doorstep. 

Estimated total: $0 

Now you have the knowledge you need to plan that unique, extravagant feeling date minus the extravagant cost! So what are you waiting for? Jump off the bench and into the game! 

Enjoy!