101 Really Cheap or Free Date Ideas

Whether you are just getting to know someone new or you have been married for 40 years, it can be hard work coming up with new and fun date ideas on a small budget. Keeping the spark alive is essential to any relationship, old or new, and it will be a whole lot easier with these budget date ideas that are either free or really really cheap!

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SEE ALSO:

• Valentine’s Day gifts you can make
• Valentine’s Day gifts to give your kids
• Why you should go on a babymoon
• School holidays bucket list + free checklist

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The Importance of Dating Your Partner

Setting aside time together as a couple is essential to a healthy relationship. It means time to focus on just the two of you, regardless of work, kids, and other responsibilities if you have them.

If you are a couple that has been together for many years, it can become easy to let things like date nights slide. Especially if you have kids. So many married couples stop dating each other and this can have a negative impact on your intimacy, closeness and communication.

Going on dates is great for stress management, for helping us to feel connected and valued. Plus who doesn’t want a little extra fun and adventure in their life!!!

Staying home? Check out 15 ways to make at home date night more fun, even if it means waiting until the kids are in bed first!

Planning Budget Date Ideas

I’ve put together a mega list for you and your partner to find loads of inspiration for affordable date ideas and things to do together. You could do a few of these in one day or pick one a week.

This means 2 years of date ideas together! After all, the most important part is spending time together!! Don’t save all the romance for Valentine’s Day!

Making time to enjoy each others company as a couple is so important, even when you don’t have the funds to make it happen!

101 FREE (OR REALLY CHEAP) DATE IDEAS

1. Walk on the beach
2. Picnic in the park
3. Movie night at home
4. Cook dinner together
5. Go for a hike/bushwalk
6. Eat breakfast together watching the sunrise
7. Play a board game – check out these must-have classic board games
8. Horse riding
9. Get active with a sport like a tennis
10. Go on a road trip to somewhere new
11. Volunteer together
12. Bake cookies
13. Give each other a relaxing massage
14. Feed the ducks at a park
15. Visit a museum that has free entry
16. Play a computer game together
17. Go to the markets
18. Attend a free festival or local event
19. Fish and chips by the water
20. Have a moonlight picnic in your backyard
21. Watch the sunset
22. Go swimming at the beach or a lake
23. Head to the art gallery
24. Have a binge-watching marathon of a favourite TV series
25. Teach them your favourite hobby
26. Go out just for dessert
27. Look through family photos and memorabilia
28. Play a 20 questions game to get to know each other better
29. Throw a frisbee at the park
30. Share your favourite music and listen together
31. Borrow a boat and head out on the water
32. Watch a local team sport match
33. Take a free class together
34. Set up a scavenger hunt for your date
35. Fly a kite
36. Karaoke at a local bar
37. Play card games
38. Go geocaching in your local areas
39. Create a meal together using only ingredients already in the house – here are some recipe ideas
40. Take your laptop or portable DVD player and create an outdoor cinema
41. Have fun babysitting a family or friend’s child/children
42. Dress up and do your own photoshoot
43. Go somewhere public and pretend to ‘pick up’ for the first time
44. Have a super long make-out session to feel ‘young’ again
45. Explore a nearby town or city together
46. Build sandcastles at the beach
47. Attend a free concert
48. Camp in your backyard
49. Test drive your dream car
50. Try free samples at a foodie festival or market
51. Attend a trivia night at a local venue
52. Go stargazing
53. Make your favourite food for each other
54. Head out for a bike ride
55. Catch a movie at the drive-in
56. Do some people watching at the airport or shopping centre and create amusing stories about strangers
57. Learn a new skill from a book or online tutorial
58. If you’re lucky enough to live near somewhere that snows have a snowball fight
59. Create a combined bucket list
60. Go fishing
61. Head to your nearest skating rink
62. Have a game of ten pin bowling
63. Or try barefoot lawn bowls
64. Watch street performers in your city
65. Go fruit picking at a farm
66. Plant a veggie patch together
67. Join a dance class
68. Help each other do crosswords or puzzles
69. Toast marshmallows with a bonfire
70. Have a backyard BBQ
71. Get soaked with a water pistol fight
72. Grab an ice cream and enjoy each others company
73. Head to the zoo – there are lots of free or cheap smaller animal reserves to visit
74. Spend time planning a holiday or weekend away
75. Watch favourite movies from your childhood
76. Verse each other at a game of Just Dance or similar to see who has the best moves
77. Give each other a pedicure and foot massage
78. Have a candlelit dinner at home
79. Explore your own city like tourists
80. Write a song or poem together
81. Complete a DIY project
82. Go out dancing
83. Check out a local comedy act
84. Head to a winery for some free wine tasting
85. Birdwatching
86. Play truth or dare
87. Take a factory or behind the scenes tour
88. Make a mini scrapbook of your relationship so far
89. Play darts or pool at the local pub
90. Write a list of your favourite things about one another
91. Play out a scene in a romantic book or movie
92. Ride on public transport and get off somewhere interesting
93. Race each other at the go-kart track
94. Play mini-golf
95. Make up exotic backstories and try and stay in character for a night
96. Go to the planetarium
97. Watch fireworks at a local event
98. Walk your dogs together
99. Do a fun run
100. Take a photography class
101. Have a fondue night and feed each other yummy food

There you have it, 101 free date ideas (or at least really affordable date ideas) so you can keep the passion going without worrying about the expensive costs associated with extravagant dates.

And of course, if it happens to be a special occasion, make sure you check out these DIY Valentine’s Day gifts. These simple handmade gifts can be for any special occasion… no not just Valentine’s!

Want more thrifty tips to save money? Check these out

• How to save money when dining out
• Ways to save money on home expenses
• Create your dream bedroom style on a budget

What are your favourite free date ideas you enjoy with your partner?