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    Home » Finances » 101 Free or Cheap Dates Ideas for 2021!

    Last updated: Feb 17, 2021 by Melissa Riker · 26 Comments

    101 Free or Cheap Dates Ideas for 2021!

    couple sitting on ground together

    Spending time with your special someone doesn't have to break the bank. We gathered up a whopping 100 cheap date ideas to help keep the romance alive without busting your budget!

    Free & Inexpensive Date Ideas

    If you've been around here a while you know that I'm all about saving money and living debt-free. When we were working to get out of debt we had to get creative with our date night ideas. We learned that with a little creativity you can have a blast without spending a fortune (or spending anything at all in many cases!)

    I've compiled a great list of 100, yes 100, fun and cheap dates night ideas, (and some are totally free date ideas!) most should be under $20 (depending on where you live.) So no excuses this weekend-go out with your honey and have some fun!!

    couple sitting on ground together
    Outdoor Dates
    At Home
    Under $20
    Around Town

    Outdoor Dates

    1. Hiking-Find your nearest state or county park and spend some time outdoors together. Hiking is the perfect activity to be active and still be able to have great conversations!
    2. Pick seasonal fruit or berries-Summer is perfect for picking blueberries or strawberries, while fall offers pumpkin patches and apple picking!
    3. Rock Climbing-Get adventurous and find a local rock climbing area or indoor climbing facility. You'll challenge yourselves and make great memories in the process.
    4. Fly Kites-Flying kites is cheap and surprisingly fun, you'll feel like kids again! It makes for guaranteed laughter, I promise!
    5. Camping-Pack your tent and find the nearest local campground. Make s'mores around the campfire and sleep under the starts for a date night to remember.
    6. Visit a Farmer's Market 
    7. Go Stargazing does it get more romantic?
    8. Watch the Sunset together grab a blanket, pack some wine and cheese and choose a great spot to watch the colors of the sunset
    9. Have a picnic pack your favorite foods and pick a picturesque spot
    10. Have a bonfire and make S'mores
    11. Rent a tandem bike and go for a ride
    12. Go Canoeing or Kayaking rentals are very affordable
    13. Play Frisbee
    14. Take a day trip to a lake, beach, state park, or mountains enjoy the beauty of nature near where you live
    15. Go sledding
    16. Go fishing
    17. Try geocaching
    18. Build a snowman
    19. Take a slow walk around your neighborhood holding hands just enjoy each other's conversation and maybe take a walk down memory lane
    20. Visit a local park or playground and play like you're 8 again!
    21. Go snorkeling if you are near a beach or lake
    22. Have a water gunfight
    23. Feed ducks at a lake
    24. Take a run together

    At Home

    1. Board Game Night-Gather up your games and make a night of it, better yet make it a double date and invite friends to join in.
    2. Exercise together
    3. Have a Netflix TV Series Marathon
    4. Poker Night
    5. Cook a new, exotic recipe together
    6. Work on a Puzzle together
    7. DIY Fondue at home
    8. Have a Shrimp Boil
    9. Have a Redbox movie marathon
    10. Bake cookies together
    11. Have a candlelit dinner at home
    12. Write a Bucket List together dream up adventures you'd like to share
    13. Have a themed cuisine night at home-Italian, Mexican, etc
    14. Have an at-home romantic spa night-bubble bath, lotions, you get the picture!

    Under $20

    1. Rollerskating - indoors or out!
    2. Bowling - look for discount nights!
    3. Minor League Baseball- less expensive than the major leagues but still so much fun!
    4. Paint your own pottery
    5. Attend a Wine Tasting (or have one with friends-everyone bring one bottle to share!)
    6. Happy Hour move date night earlier and get a discount on your cocktails!
    7. Go out for Ice Cream
    8. Attend a showing at a Dollar Theater check your theater for discounted showings
    9. Go to the Arcade and play video games there's nothing like some old school pac-man!
    10. Play miniature golf Putt-putt or mini golf is fun and inexpensive
    11. Ride Go-Karts
    12. Play at the Batting Cages
    13. Play Laser Tag we did this recently and I had side stitches from laughing so hard, it was a blast!
    14. Go to a Fair
    15. Attend a Matinee Movie another case of how moving the time of your date can help you save cash!
    16. Visit a Winery take a tour and try the wine flights after, they are usually quite affordable and a great way to taste test the wine
    17. Play pool (billiards)
    18. Take a Ballroom Dance Class, many studios offer your first class free
    19. Attend a High School Football game cheer for your local team!
    20. Go to the circus
    21. Play tennis you can often find very inexpensive rackets on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace if you don't already have them
    22. Go horseback riding
    23. Play bingo at a Bingo Hall
    24. Attend a show at a comedy club earlier shows are often less expensive than late night shows
    25. Go to a drive-in movie
    26. Visit an aquarium
    27. Take a class at a community center and learn a new skill
    28. Go to the Zoo
    29. Tour a brewery. Like the wineries, they often have inexpensive flights to taste their different brews
    30. Go to a carnival
    31. Take a cooking class together
    32. Go out for breakfast at a local diner breakfast is less expensive than a dinner date most of the time!
    33. Enjoy a cup of coffee at a coffeehouse and people watch
    34. Have your palms read
    35. Go to a driving range

    Around Town

    1. Volunteer together
    2. Tour Open Houses in your area - for the House Hunters lovers!
    3. Browse Art Galleries
    4. Attend a local Community Concert
    5. Go Thrift Store Shopping spend some time finding treasures together! Flea markets are another fun place to explore.
    6. Find a local Historic Tour
    7. Attend a Community Theater Performance
    8. Swim at a community pool
    9. Attend a "Free Day" at a museum most museums have monthly or quarterly discounted or free admission days, take advantage!
    10. Take a walking tour of a nearby town or city
    11. Sing Karaoke fun and free!
    12. Visit a local farm or petting zoo
    13. Visit a Botanical Gardens
    14. Visit the library and browse books/read together
    15. Take a Scenic Drive together make sure you stop to explore anything interesting you come across!
    16. Go garage sale hopping
    17. Test Drive your Dream Car
    18. Tour a local factory
    19. Attend a local festival check your newspaper for things happening in your area
    20. Attend a poetry reading
    21. Look at travel books at the bookstore and plan a dream vacation
    22. Attend an Open Mike night at a local coffeehouse or bar
    23. Help out at a local animal shelter together
    24. Go window shopping at stores you can't afford
    25. Attend a lecture at a local university or college
    26. See a local band play you might just find the next big stars!
    27. Walk around town taking silly tourist-y pictures

    I hope you found some inspiration in this list of free and cheap date ideas...did I miss any fun dating ideas? Leave them in the comments! You can also look at my money-saving DIY Gift ideas as well!

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    Comments

    1. spliff says

      August 04, 2021 at 9:23 am

      spliff
      I couldn’t resist commenting.Your work is properly written !

      Reply
    2. abusive og says

      April 19, 2021 at 3:30 pm

      abusive og
      very informative post thanks for sharing this post. Absolutely composed written content, Really enjoyed looking at.

      Reply
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