Cute Date Ideas — Kate
Well everyone, the official month of love is upon us. For some that is a blessing, others a curse. I admit that I’m a romantic at heart. However, my wallet does not always allow me to make the gestures that I wish I could. Through our college years and now in our post college student loan paying back years my partner and I have mastered the elusive “cheap but cute” date.
Here’s a list of some of my inexpensive date ideas!
- The Picnic in the Park
We usually end up going to a park that is close enough to walk or is a short drive so we can save on gas. Once the park is picked we figure out what food to bring. Since we’re on a budget we normally don’t go out and get any “special” food for this event. We bring whatever we would have already had for lunch with us. The food doesn’t have to be special. Money doesn’t have to be spent as long as we’re having genuine quality time with each other. A change in scenery makes it feel more special than just sitting at table or on the couch while we eat. After we get the food ready we grab a blanket to sit on and head out the door. Simple, easy, and still making time for our relationship.
2. The one with Pups
Go to an animal shelter and volunteer to walk dogs or play with cats or clean cages! We have a dog and a cat of our own and we absolutely love and adore them. But it feels good to give back to animals that don’t have the loving home environment we strive to give our own pets. Plus both of our fur babies are rescues so we have a soft spot for animals in need. This date was especially fun for us when we lived in the college dorms and weren’t allowed to have our pets live with us. Animals are incredible and so therapeutic. Also, if you’re in a newer relationship this one is great to see what kind of person your partner is. Are they kind and patient with the animals? Do they get flustered easily? What are their opinions on dog breeds? etc… *Before trying this date make sure to contact the shelter you have in mind first to make sure they do allow volunteers to interact with their animals*
3. Dollar Store Gift Exchange
So this one involves spending a little money. We now live close to a dollar store where everything is actually a dollar. My idea is to challenge each other to a craft or gift competition. Set a dollar amount limit and buy things with creating something for your partner in mind. Then go home drink some hot cocoa or wine and craft away. Exchange the gifts with each other and just enjoy making more memories together.
4. Nostalgia
This date also involves spending a little money, this time at the grocery store. So keep that in mind when preparing for this date. We each have families whose gatherings are centered around food. So this date idea came so naturally to us and our relationship. One day we were each talking about favorite foods from our childhood so we decided to go out and make them. A few texts to our moms later we had a fridge full of ingredients. It was so fun laughing and exchanging memories while cooking with each other.
5. Exploring
We recently moved to Oregon so a lot of our dates have centered around exploring our new home. We grab cheap gas station snacks or bring ones we made at home. Water bottles and go. We’ve been to waterfalls and mountain hikes. We love exploring the things that our new home has to offer. And we did this in Chicago as well. We would get off the train into a new neighborhood and explore. Or google “free things to do in___” and make the free thing the center of our date and explore the area that attraction was in.
I know it can be hard to feel romantic or like you’re putting in or receiving enough effort in your relationship when you’re broke. Dates don’t have to cost a lot of money in order for them to be special. The important thing is to carve out time in your schedule for you and your partner to connect. The effort and the time put into your relationship is what makes dates special.
- Kate
