Plan B looked like this: Put kids to bed early. Make yummy drinks for each other. Sit on the couch without electronics and talk.
Pretty simple, right? And, AMAZING. I don't know how we seem to miss each other so often - except we get distracted. Just taking some purposeful time to stay focused and engaged made a world of difference. It set the tone for our whole weekend. And, despite sick kiddos, we had a great time!
So -- this experience, plus the added stress of Valentine's Day coming up on FRIDAY, inspired the following list:
66 Inexpensive Date Ideas
(some alone with a sitter, some @ home without a sitter… a a few with tag alongs)
(AND, I did not think all these up alone. I am the compiler. Credit is given at the bottom of this post.)
1.
Make your own fondue. Use a fondue pot (or crock pot) and dip
fresh fruit, cake, cookies, marshmallows, and pretzels in melted chocolate.
2.
Challenge each other to a contest. Anything
works, and the sillier the better! Try sand castle building, hop scotch, name
that tune, marbles, or kite flying.
3.
Fly kites. You can usually find them at the dollar store!
4.
Try a new sport together. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing,
kayaking, hiking, soccer, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, Frisbee golf, etc.
5.
Have a game night. Pull out all of your board games for a
friendly night of competition. Make sure to add some treats to make this extra
special!
6.
Be a tourist in your own city. Find what tourist attractions are
in your city and spend the night acting like tourists, which includes taking
cheesy pictures!
7.
Go rollerblading or ice skating.
8.
Explore. Rent a four wheeler, snowmobile, scooter, waver runner
or something you can do a little exploring on. You can often find deals online
for cheap rentals!
9.
Go to a thrift store. Each person gets $5 to spend! See who ends
up with the best item(s)!
10.
Have a picnic. If the weather doesn't permit, lay out a blanket
on the floor and eat in the living room!
11.
Go see a play. Whether at your local community theater, high
school or a big production, there is plenty of entertainment available!
12.
Stargazing. Pack a blanket, pillows and food, and go somewhere to
see the stars. Do some research before and look for constellations.
13.
Go to a park. Swing on the swings, play frisbee, or feed the
ducks!
14.
Check out the local museum.
15.
Have a "crazy dinner." Each person gets $5 (or whatever
amount you decide) to spend on any food item at the grocery store for
dinner. Come home and prepare your meal! You might end up with some random
food!
16.
Make ice cream sundaes. Head to the store and buy some vanilla
ice cream and your favorite toppings. Relax and enjoy your tasty treat!
17.
Go to a local sporting event. Luckily, sports are going on year
around! Grab some snacks and head out to the ball game!
18.
Treasure hunting. Head to the ATM and get out $10-$20. Drive
around to some local yard sales and see what you end up with! There are tons on
the weekends!
19.
Go on a bike ride. If you don't have a bike, check the
classifieds for a great deal! You could even pack a lunch!
20.
Have a living room camp out. Make a tent out of blankets, watch a movie
and sleep out on an air mattress.
21.
Love Languages. Take The 5 Love Languages Test
to see how to improve your relationship.
22.
Go for a swim. Head to the YMCA and relax in the pool and hot
tub!
23.
Have a coupon date. Only eat or do activities you have coupons
for.
24.
Volunteer. Sign up to volunteer at a soup kitchen, retirement
home or somewhere that could use a helping hand!
25.
Have
an Ugly Date. Once again, visit a thrift store. This time, pick
clothing for each other to “dress up.” Then wear your new outfits for a quick
sub-sandwich or trip to the coffee shop.
26.
Evening
devotion. Sit on the couch with a beverage of choice and tell each
other one thing God’s been teaching you lately.
27.
Visit the buffalo pen.
28.
Take a drive. Get out of the house and take a drive. Take a few
turns you’ve never taken before and have fun exploring.
29.
Have a movie marathon. With a quick ISO on Facebook, you’ll have
a stash borrowed from friends in no time!
30.
Wii Game Night at home (or any other gaming system).
Grab some food and drinks and stay in for the night playing your favorite games!
31.
Go bowling. To make things a little more difficult, try different
styles like only using your opposite hand, "granny" style, eyes
closed, etc.
32.
Make indoor s'mores and read campfire stories. If you don't have
a gas stove, you could light candles to cook your marshmallows over!
33.
TV show marathon. Pick a TV show and get a whole season's worth
of DVDs (the library is a great place to find these, call on friends again for
some swapping or borrowing, or use Netflix) and watch it together!
34.
Theme night. Pick a theme for the night and center everything
around it. For example, Mexican night. You could eat Mexican food and go salsa
dancing!
35.
Let
him finally take you to the shooting range.
36.
Go
sledding!
37.
Restaurant hop. Go to a different restaurant for each course of
the meal. Make three stops for an appetizer, main course and dessert. Take
turns picking where to go!
38.
Have a spa night. Since your husband/significant other probably
isn't into manicures or pedicures, you could try massages, bubble baths, etc.
You can buy some white towels and robes to make it really official.
39.
20 questions. Write a list of 20 questions to ask each other or
find one on the internet. Go over your answers afterward.
40.
Make breakfast together and eat it in bed (you could do this
while the kids are still sleeping).
41.
Exercise together. Attend an exercise class at a local gym, take
a walk or jog together or do something active!
42.
Go for a test drive. Head to your nearest car dealership and test
drive your dream car!
43.
Take a hike.
44.
Breakin' records. Read through the Guinness Book of World Records
together, and find something the two of you could potentially achieve as a
couple and then do it together.
45.
Head downtown & pick out sweets for one another at the Chocolate
Tree.
46.
Cook a meal together. Find a recipe you've never tried and make
it together.
47.
Write a bucket list. Make a list of things you want to do before
you die and go do one to cross it off the list!
48.
House hunting. Tour some homes and plan out your dream home!
49.
Restaurant at home. Find recipes from some of your favorite
recipes online, create a menu and have a lovely meal at home!
50.
Plan
a trip. Spend time day dreaming together about a perfect vacation or
mission trip.
51.
Build something together. You’ve been meaning to assemble that
bookshelf for months, right?
52.
Invite friends over for dinner. It’s not one-on-one with your
sweetie, but you might just learn something new about him while listening to
him chat with friends.
53.
Take a class together. Check out the offerings over at the
college… pottery? photography? Or at the Y… cycling?
karate?
zumba?
54.
Walk a dog from the animal shelter.
55.
Pull out all your old photo albums and take some time to reminisce
together. Wedding album? High school year books? YOUR baby book?
56.
Find an open mic night.
57.
Reminisce. Tell each other stories about when you first met, had
your first date, found out you were pregnant for the first time, etc.
58.
Read a book together. Out loud. Seriously. It’s fun.
59.
Bake something together for him to take to work the next day.
It’s fun for you, and a blessing for his co-workers.
60.
Head out for appetizers during Happy Hour. Take advantage of the
price break!
61.
Have your own book club. Pick 2 books (you pick one, he picks
one), read them, then get together at a coffee shop to discuss them.
62.
Have a photo date. Take your camera along. Take a walk, have
lunch, be silly. Just remember to take pictures (or ask others to take pictures
of the two of you) all along the way. Then have fun posting them together – or
putting together a quick scrapbook.
63.
Learn a new dance. Look it up on youtube and dance the night
away.
64.
Watch a foreign movie. Without subtitles. Add any missing
narration between the two of you.
65.
Exchange massages.
66.
Take him on a scavenger hunt.
67.
Watch the sunrise or sunset.
Thanks to:
for their ideas & inspiration!
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