15 Date Ideas Under $30

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Keeping date night alive is an important part of keeping your relationship alive. Setting aside just one night a week that is all about you and your partner, and is spent away from laundry or bills to be paid, is crucial for keeping your bond tight. If you don’t make time just to have fun, then you can quickly become roommates. But traditional date nights, with cocktails and dinner (and maybe a movie), plus the cabs or parking, can easily run you $100. If you’re doing that every week, then you’re spending $400 a month on date night. Yikes! You know what else is important for a relationship? Saving money for your future. So do that, by trying some of these innovative and old school date ideas for under $30.

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Watch a high school sports game

The entrance will most likely be free. The snacks will be cheap. And the beer you packed for yourself will be super cheap.

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Wine or beer tasting w/ picnic

Most wine or beer tasting rooms allow you to bring in your own food since they don’t serve any. You can grab some fruit and cheese, and share the cheapest wine or beer flight.

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Trivia night

When bars host trivia nights they usually have drink specials, and the entry fee to play is zero or, like $5. You get a game night, people watching, and cheap drinks all in one.

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Check out a college calendar

Colleges and universities constantly have incredible speakers and performers appear on their campus, for a fee far reduced from their other venues.

Go to an author reading

Look at the calendar of readings at your local bookstores. You might find that an author you love is coming to read! You might also find that an author of a book that both you and your partner find pretty silly is coming to read. Both make a good date night.

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Visit your firsts

The first place you met, the first place you kissed, the first place you told each other you loved each other. Pack some snacks and bike around to these places.

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Exercise outdoors

Whatever that thing is that you both keep saying you wish you did–like kayaking or hiking or paddle boarding–do it already.

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Stargazing

Drive to a high point in your town–somewhere where you can see the whole city–and stargaze from the hood of your car. You’ll feel like teens in some indie film.

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Walk dogs

Go to your local shelter and volunteer to walk dogs. The dogs will love it and so will you. You’ll probably go home with a dog but…charge it to the game right?

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House sit

If any of your friends need a house or pet sitter, offer to do it for free! Staying in a home that isn’t yours is like a free staycation.

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Camp in your backyard

Forget the campground fees and the ice for the cooler. Use your kitchen and bathroom, but sleep in a tent in your backyard.

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Go to a free comedy show

You don’t have to pay the entrance fee and two drink minimum bill at the major comedy club. Most cities have free comedy shows at restaurants, bars and coffee shops, produced by up-and-coming comedians.

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Go to a free music show

If comedy isn’t your thing, call local artsy coffee shops and restaurants and see if they have music open mics.

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Have a DIY food night

Fondue or S’mores are great interactive foods that let you feed each other, and are pretty affordable.

Give and buy from a thrift store

You could both probably do some closet-cleaning. Have a day where you go through things you need to give away (you’ll probably get a good laugh out of this part–I see those pantaloons). Then, donate your items to a thrift store, and shop for new ones together.