A night out on the town can get pricey, but dating shouldn’t break the bank or derail your debt resolution plan. There are a ton of ways to have a memorable date without spending a lot of money. Here are some of my favorite free (or almost free) date ideas. You may find your new favorite activity to do together… you can thank me later!
BEACH it up!!
Pack a meal or some snacks in a cooler, grab your sand chairs, and hit your local beach. Have a sandcastle building contest, play frisbee, fly kites or relax listening to the waves crash on the shore. The beach has endless opportunities for free fun and moments of pure joy in the sunshine.
Re-discover Your Home
Search in Google for parks, nature trails, or ‘hidden gems’ in the town or city where you live! You’ll be surprised at what you find that you haven’t explored yet. I did this recently and found a beautiful nature preserve with outstanding views of the mountains and the most breath-taking sunset… all a mile from my home. We brought an iced coffee from home and just sat and talked while watching the sunset over the mountains. All.for.free! We may have had enough of staycations during the stay-at-home orders, but there has never been a better time to pay down debt by exploring closer to home.
Try Geocaching
Geo-what you say? It’s a modern-day treasure hunt using a GPS (or other tools like Google search or the Geocaching app) to find a specific set of coordinates that will lead you to the location of a treasure, usually hidden in an unlikely place. It’s a great way to spend some time outside while trying to navigate your way to the prize. Remember, it’s not the prize that matters. It’s the hunt!
Tour a local brewery
Who says a debt resolution plan can’t include beer? Many breweries offer free tours, and some even end with free samples! In addition to local craft beer, you’re likely to find local craft food, too. This can be a great way to try a new beer and see how the brew is made. Check out the Brewers Association to find lesser known breweries near your home.
Backyard campfire and stargazing
There is something magical about sitting around the fire. Maybe it’s the smell of the fire or the sound of the wood crackling or just being out in nature in the dark. Spend time telling stories or even singing campfire songs from your childhood. Look up at the stars and see if you can see a constellation or a shooting star.
Book-It To The Bookstore
Attending a book signing or wandering around your local bookstore can be a great way to spend a date. Meet a local author and learn about their new book. Spend some time in a section of the bookstore you’ve never perused. You may get ideas for a new topic you want to read about or dive deeper into your debt resolution journey with an excellent personal finance book.
Trivia night
Local restaurants and bars host weekly or monthly trivia nights. While going may not be entirely free if you are ordering food/drink, you can mimic these nights at home if you don’t want to go out. Google trivia topics or pull out Trivial Pursuit and make a night of it.
Recipe Wars
Have you ever watched the cooking challenges on TV? Set up your own at home for a fun night with some (potentially?) yummy treats. Maybe you have to come up with a recipe with only the ingredients you have on hand, or perhaps you plan a theme night and cook recipes based on that theme. Recently we did this at home, and it ended up being a very delicious Italian feast.
At-Home Spa Date
This can be a really fun and relaxing at-home date. Google ideas to make homemade face masks (oatmeal ones are great!), soak your feet in warm water, and put some cucumbers over your eyes. Tell Alexa to play relaxing spa music and take turns giving each other a massage.
I like to try free date ideas at least monthly with my partner. We’d love to hear if you have had a free date night and what you thought about it! Everyone can use more cash, more fun, and more cheap date nights in their lives, especially while working through a debt resolution plan.
Happy dating!
