All the different ways you can turn up the romance without draining your wallet

Looking for a few romantic date ideas on a budget? We’ve got you covered! There’s no doubt about it: dating can get expensive. However, if you don’t have a lot of money to spare or want to cut back on your spending, you can still go on fun, fulfilling, and memorable outings with your significant other. Keep reading for a handy list of free date activities, from easy things you can do at home to exciting ways you can get out of the house and have an adventure together.

1

Host an indoor picnic.

  1. Enjoy the benefits of a romantic picnic (without the loud park-goers). Want to have a whimsical meal with your significant other? Set up a blanket on your living room floor, grab some snacks, and cozy up from the comfort of your home! Watch a movie, read books, or just hang out and talk. If you have a bottle of wine on hand, or enough supplies to mix cocktails, add that to the mix, too.[1]
    • Since the goal is a totally free date, focus on making your picnic out of foods you already have in the cupboard or things you’d normally buy as part of your usual grocery shopping.
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7

Go on a geocaching adventure.

  1. Geocaching is a popular treasure-hunting game played around the world. Best of all, it’s totally free to play! Simply download the Geocaching app on your phone and use it to find treasure spots in your area. Then, follow the clues provided by the app until you find the location of the treasure. When you do, swap out that box with another small treasure of your choice, and leave it for someone else to find.
    • Be sure to pack when you go geocaching, especially if the cache is out on a hiking trail or somewhere more remote. Bring water, snacks, and the treasure you plan to leave there.
    • Don’t forget to bring a pen to sign the logbook at each geocaching box, too.
    • If you enjoy it enough, make it a recurring date activity to see how many geocaches you can find together in your area.
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14

Do some people-watching.

  1. Spend an afternoon in a public area, talking and watching people pass by. You could visit a busy shopping mall, a park, a town square, or any other public area close to you. Then, find a place to sit and watch people with your date. You could even turn it into a scavenger hunt to compete and spot different types of people as you observe the crowd.[9]
    • For example, maybe you need to look for a guy in a grey hoodie, or your date needs to try and spot someone with earbuds in. Get creative with your people-watching scavenger hunt!
18

Do a cooking challenge.

  1. Create your own home version of the show Chopped with your partner. If you’re both fans of the show already, you’ll definitely recognize this game! The challenge is to make a tasty meal out of a random assortment of ingredients and see whose is better. Instead of buying new groceries to cook with, you and your partner can challenge yourselves further and use the food already in your kitchen.
    • A cooking challenge is a great way to clear out your pantry and fridge a bit if either is getting cluttered. Plus, the results are (hopefully) delicious!
21

Have a photoshoot.

  1. Skip the professional photographer and do a photoshoot at home. Dress up in stylish clothes, do your hair (and makeup, if you like), and pretend to be models for a day. Find some modeling poses online to try out, and create backdrops using bed sheets or other materials around the house. Then, do a photoshoot for one another using your phone cameras.
    • If one of you has Photoshop, you could even adjust the lighting after the fact or change the backgrounds to make it seem like you traveled to a far-off country.
    • If you have any kids or pets, don’t forget to dress them up and include them in the photoshoot too!
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    What should I do on a first date with a girl in the winter?
    John Keegan
    John Keegan
    Dating Coach
    John Keegan is a dating coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. He runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.
    John Keegan
    Dating Coach
    Expert Answer
    Get some warm drinks together, like a hot chocolate or some hot green tea. You could also visit a cute dessert place where you can have a sweet treat and a hot drink. If you live in the city, you might visit a museum and then go for a nice lunch or dinner afterwards. If you'd like to spend some time outdoors, think about taking her to a park and going ice skating.
  • Question
    How do you date on a low budget?
    John Keegan
    John Keegan
    Dating Coach
    John Keegan is a dating coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. He runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.
    John Keegan
    Dating Coach
    Expert Answer
    Just meeting for coffee or tea is a great low-pressure date—you can always go for a walk after and get to know each other that way. Going to museums, seeing a movie, heading to a ping-pong place, or going to a yoga/workout class together are some other great cheap date ideas.
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About This Article

John Keegan
Co-authored by:
Dating Coach
This article was co-authored by John Keegan and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. John Keegan is a dating coach and motivational speaker based in New York City. He runs The Awakened Lifestyle, where he uses his expertise in dating, attraction, and social dynamics to help people find love. He teaches and holds dating workshops internationally, from Los Angeles to London and from Rio de Janeiro to Prague. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Humans of New York, and Men's Health.
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Co-authors: 3
Updated: March 24, 2023
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Categories: Dating
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