Free Date Ideas that are Actually Fun
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When money is tight, dating your spouse or partner can seem impossible. That’s where these amazing free date ideas come in!
Without them, you might feel like you are in a losing situation. Spend money on a date in an attempt to strengthen your relationship and feel more stressed about money (lose). Or don’t continue to date your partner and experience strain in your relationship (lose).
But it doesn’t have to be this way! There are tons of amazing free date ideas you can use to bring the excitement and bonding back into your relationship. No financial strain included!
While we were paying off $60,000 in debt, you can sure bet Joel and I used lots of these free date ideas to keep us going. Keep reading for the inspiration you need to bring the fun back to your relationship.
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Free Date Night Ideas at Home
There are lots of fun things to do from the comfort of your own home. Picking out a couple of these ideas will definitely help you reconnect with your significant other and make the evenings a little more fun!
Game Night
When you’re looking at a free date idea that you can do at home, you really can’t go wrong with a game night.
Chances are you probably have at least a few board games lying around somewhere in a closet. If you don’t I bet you can find a friend to borrow a game or two.
Having a game night can be a great way to spend time together. And if you want to get together with friends, try having a game night double date.
You can pair up with your partner and make teams so you are working together instead of against each other.
Cook a Fancy Dinner
I mean technically this isn’t a 100% free date idea, but you have to eat regardless. If you do things as usual you are just eating dinner. But if you make it fancy, then ta-da you have yourself a date!
There are quite a few ways you can fancy up your dinner. Now is the time to rummage around in that cabinet of long lost things and bust out the candles.
You can also both get dressed up to feel even fancier. Then cook up your favorite meal (even better if you cook together!)
Have a Free Movie Date
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Grab yourself a movie from Netflix and watch away. Or if you want to be extra thrifty and avoid the cost of Netflix, you can grab yourself a free trial of Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime has thousands of movies and shows that you can stream free for 30 days with this trial.
If you decide to keep Prime after the free trial, you will continue to have access to all their movies and shows in addition to free 2-day shipping and other bonuses like the convenience of Prime Pantry.
You can also sign up for a Redbox Perks account to get a free DVD rental upon sign up. Now, I periodically get text coupons for a free 1-night rental. That has been fun, because Redbox tends to have some of the newer movies available whereas Netflix doesn’t.
Have a bonfire
Having a backyard bonfire is a great free date idea that you can do right at home (depending on where you live). If you have a wooded yard or a state forest nearby, you’ll be able to snag some free (or super cheap) firewood too.
Just make sure you don’t transfer firewood. Don’t want to introduce any nasty bugs to your area on accident.
There is something really mesmerizing about watching the flames dance. It is also a great way to disconnect from technology and reconnect with your partner. I mean, who really wants to be starting at their phone while sitting by a bonfire.
Also did someone say s’mores? Sure you might have to buy s’more supplies for this, but let’s be real, s’mores should already be a regular part of the budget anyways. (Just kidding. Kind of… I just really enjoy s’mores and you probably do too!)
Free Indoor Date Ideas
If you would rather go out on the town or the weather isn’t so great, here are some free indoor date ideas to consider.
Free Museums
Many places from large cities to tiny towns have museums you can visit for free. It is the perfect date idea!
In addition, with museums centered around almost anything you can imagine, it is easy to find someone anyone can enjoy. While not all museums offer free admission, most have at least 1-2 days a month where they do.
So if you are just dying to go to a particular museum and want to avoid the cost of admission, see if you can check out their website to find out what day of the month you can get in free of charge. Then, plan your date based on that day!
Take a Trip to the Zoo
Again, not all Zoos are free, but there are some that are. For example, in Minnesota, you can visit the Como Zoo and Conservatory for free all year round!
Check out your own local zoo to see whether you can add this to your list of free date options.
And yes, I did put this one in the “free indoor date ideas” section. I know there are probably parts that are outside, but there are also inside parts and it had to go somewhere soo… here it is!
Window Shopping in the Arts District
I love browsing the arts districts nearby the different cities I have lived in. There were TONS of places to go to local studios in New Mexico and also a handful in Utah, nearby Park City especially.
Living in these areas over the past few years has allowed us to take advantage of seeing some AMAZING artists. Sometimes you can even catch them at work and chat about their projects which is always an extra special bonus.
Since I am not in a position to drop several hundred to several thousand dollars on art at this point in my life, I don’t have to worry too much about being tempted to turn this from a “free date” into a “super expensive date”.
Obviously, you will need to decide it this is a “safe” choice for you. But it can be almost like visiting a museum, and so I absolutely recommend it. If you are in the financial position to support local artist, even better!
Free Outdoor Date Ideas for the Summer
Summer is an amazing time of year for outdoor dates that cost no money at all! There are tons of options to date your partner without breaking the bank. Especially in the summer.
Go to the Beach
Hanging out at the beach is such an awesome summer activity. If you live in one of those states that require you to pay to go to the beach, I’m sorry. You should move to Minnesota instead.
All jokes aside, you can probably find somewhere to chill by the lake with your significant other. If you bring a volleyball or Frisbee, or my personal favorite, a slackline, you can have an entire day of free fun!
Free Concert
I feel like summer is synonymous with free concert series that seem to pop up all around town. Just because the performer might be less well-known doesn’t mean they aren’t still amazingly talented.
It is 100% worth it to look into free concerts in your area. You might even just find a new favorite artist! Getting out to a concert with your significant other is such a fun free date idea that you don’t want to miss during the summer months!
Have a Picnic
As I said before, you gotta eat, why not turn your meal into a special date with that special someone? All you need to do is pack up a bag or box of tasty food and a blanket that you don’t mind throwing on the ground and you are ready to roll!
You can add even more to your picnic by seeing who can find the coolest shaped cloud while you snuggle up together on that blanket.
Attend Free Summer Festivals
Just like summer concerts, it seems like when summer rolls around you can find some kind of festival that you can attend for free. From street fairs to art shows to chalk fests, you might just be surprised what you can find.
One of the best ways to learn about free festivals that are going on is in local facebook groups. You can also check on your city’s website as they often have a “calendar of events” that will include many of these perfect free date opportunities!
Go for a Walk
After a long winter and a wet and dreary spring, getting outside for something as simple as a walk can be a refreshing way to spend some time with your significant other!
Joel and I love going for walks. It is a great time to chat and catch up with each other. Sometimes life gets so busy that you can feel like you never get to spend time with your person. Going for a walk is the perfect free date idea to remediate that issue!
Go Stargazing
It doesn’t really get much more romantic than stargazing! Summer is the perfect time of year to get out and check out the amazingness that is the night sky!
Bring a blanket to lay down on and drive away from the city lights and prepare to have your breath taken away.
Free Outdoor Date Ideas for the Fall
As the weather starts to get cooler, that doesn’t mean you can’t still get outside and enjoy nature. Here are some ideas to keep you busy as the leaves begin to change.
Go for a Hike
Fall is seriously the best time of year for hiking!! There are so many BEAUTIFUL places to hike in the United States and the vast majority of them are absolutely free.
The temperatures in the fall are perfect for hiking. You won’t be too hot or too cold. On top of that, the fall leaves just really can’t be beat!
You can also find tons of places to camp for free if you want to extend your adventure beyond more than just a day.
Take a Scenic Drive to See the Changing Leaves
So maybe hiking isn’t your thing. That’s ok, you can still get out and enjoy the changing leaves with a scenic drive! Many places will even provide maps of the best times to see the fall colors at their peak.
With just the cost of gas which isn’t awful at the moment (knock on wood it stays that way), this is a totally affordable date!
Free Outdoor Date Ideas for the Winter
Sometimes it can be tough to think of winter date ideas. It is cold and it gets dark so early that sometimes all you want to do is go to bed early. (Which is totally acceptable if you ask me!)
But it is still fun to keep things light and enjoyable during the colder months. While there are things like skiing and snowmobiling that cost money (a lot of money!) there are also tons of free things you can do with your date.
Build a Snowman/Snow Sculpture
Would it really be winter without building at least one snow creation? I absolutely love making snow sculptures and to be honest, it has been a while since I’ve done it.
Working on a fun project like this together can be such a fun date idea. Plus you’ll get to admire your creation all winter long! If you build something neat enough, the neighbors will probably even stop by to have a look while they are driving by.
Just be prepared that a snowball fight may ensue. So arm yourself before your significant other gets the jump on you!
Go Sledding
Assuming you have a sled (and I mean if you live somewhere snowy, you really should have one) going sledding is an awesome free date idea!
You could race against each other or ride down together. Not only will you have a blast, but trudging back up the hill over and over can make for a pretty good workout!
Build a Fort
If snow sculptures aren’t really your thing or you’re not super creative/artistic, you can still have tons of fun outdoors in the winter. One way to do just that is to build a fort.
You and your partner can work together to create a frosty masterpiece and then snuggle up inside when you are all done! When he was in college, Joel and his roommates even camped out in a snow fort they had made.
I don’t know that I’m warm blooded enough for that, but it is definitely a possibility with the right gear!
Go for a Walk
Yes I know I have this in the “summer” section, but just because it is chilly outside doesn’t mean you can’t still get out and go for a walk.
One of my absolute favorite dates that Joel and I went on when we first started dating was a snowy winter walk! We put on our boots and snow pants and headed out.
It was really romantic walking through a snow-covered forest while snow softly drifted down from the sky. Seriously, guys, it’s like the date of every Christmas movie ever. Clearly, you should give it a try! I think you might be pleasantly surprised just how much fun you have!
Then when you get back you can cozy up by a fire or drink hot chocolate to beat the chill and keep the date going.
Free Outdoor Date Ideas for the Spring
Alright, full disclosure here. Spring is not my favorite season. Most of the place I have lived it is still snowy at this point. Only not the pretty, white, fluffy snow of winter. The nasty, grey, dirty snow that you are ready to have go away.
I don’t have quite as many brilliant free date ideas for spring for this reason. Normally I am just waiting for it to be over. But, there are still a few things you can do to get over the dreariness!
Look at Wildflowers
So I know I said I’m not a huge spring person, but the absolute best thing about this time of year if you ask me is all the flowers that are starting to sprout up and bloom.
Wherever you live I bet you can find some great walks/hikes to go on to see the wildflowers. Bonus points if you are near the mountains, because there is just something extra special about mountain wildflowers!
Fly a Kite
Spring is the perfect time of year to get outside and fly a kite. Because it is REALLY WINDY. Seriously think my house miiiight blow away as I write this.
Flying a kite brings back the childhood joy we all felt seeing it soar into the sky. If you don’t have the patience to untangle the tangliest ball of string ever though, flying a kite might be better left to your childhood memories. After all, your parents probably took care of that for you back in the day!
Which Free Date Idea Will You Pick?
Now that you are inspired by all these free date ideas, the only thing left to do is pick one (or a few!) and go out and give them a try.
Just because you are working on saving money or paying off debt doesn’t mean you can’t have an awesome time dating your partner. So do yourself a favor and embrace frugality and bring the spark back to your relationship!
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