With how the media plays up the dating game, you might think the best date night ideas mean coughing up a lot of cash. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Whether you’re in the getting-to-know-you stage or a long-time couple keeping the flame alive, dating should never have you worrying about how you’ll pay for a fun night out.
Once you’ve decided you want a future together, you’ll probably be working on saving up for that future. So don’t make the mistake of thinking cheap date night ideas mean “cheaping” out on your relationship.
Every couple deserves sweet, fun-filled date nights to energise their relationship. You don’t have to choose between being financially responsible and romance – you can have both. This list proves it, with budget-friendly options for introverted homebodies and energetic extroverts alike.
Date night ideas for homebodies
Try these at-home date night ideas to save on cash, petrol, and the hassle of dealing with crowds.
1. Stream the latest episode of your favourite TV show.
Binge-watching may be the norm for TV lovers, but there’s something magical about weekly viewings of your favourite show. Make it a regular date with your partner. Dedicate an hour or two every week to bonding over crazy plot twists and sharing theories about the next episode.
Treat it like a movie night at the cinema, but you get to enjoy yourselves in pyjamas. Pop the popcorn, indulge in sweet treats, and cosy up on the couch (or bed – whichever’s comfier). Maybe it’s time to uncork the good wine, too. You might need it if you’re tuning in to a nail-biter.
2. Bring out the board games and cheeseboard.
Tabletop gaming isn’t limited to big groups. Two-player games exist to stoke healthy competition in couples. The world of modern analogue games is expansive, so you’re bound to find something fun that you’ll both enjoy. The best part is you get to take a break from screens – a welcome change if you work on the computer all day.
Don’t forget the snacks. Prepare a simple cheese board with cheeses, crackers, fruit, and other mess-free finger food. Have toothpicks or forks ready so you and your partner can dig in without getting your hands dirty. No one wants greasy fingers while handling playing cards!
3. Cook a delicious meal together.
Some prefer to share their daily cooking responsibilities, while others like taking them on alone. They work their magic on the hob while their partner helps with clean-up. Whichever camp you’re in, putting a meal together can be an opportunity for romance and collaboration.
Head to the shops, select seasonal ingredients to keep your food extra fresh and yummy, and get cooking. If you’re the designated culinarian in your relationship, let your significant other take the reins this time – they might surprise you! Otherwise, if you’re not normally the cook, here’s your chance to brush up on your skills and learn how your partner makes such delicious food.
4. Build a pillow fort.
Did you enjoy sleepovers with your mates from school when you were younger? Bring that sense of fun and nostalgia to your relationship with this at-home date night idea – especially in winter. Use furniture, pillows, blankets, and duvets to keep things extra cosy. For added romance, you can use string lights for ambience. Go for a lazy date and order in pizza or your favourite takeaway.
Once in your pillow fort, you chat and cuddle, watch movies, plot out a couples’ vacation agenda, or have deep conversations about your feelings and future. And if you’re a couple with kids, this is also a family-friendly date night idea.
5. At-home spa date.
So often, dating comes with the pressure to impress the other person. But if you’ve already been together for a while, it can also be about relaxing together. Take turns giving each other a massage. Studies show that massage therapy can improve relationships.
According to the Victoria State Government’s Better Health Channel, “One of the immediate benefits of massage is a feeling of deep relaxation and calm. This occurs because massage prompts the release of endorphins – the brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that produce feelings of wellbeing.”
And if you subscribe to Gary Chapman’s idea of love languages, platonic or not-so-platonic physical touches tell your partner that you love them. Apart from massages, you can give each other facials, hand and foot spas, and other self-care treatments.
Date night ideas for outdoorsy couples
Are you and your partner nature lovers? Or maybe you’re just getting to know someone and aren’t at the stage where you’re comfortable inviting them into your home – it could even be your first date.
An outdoor date gives you the benefit of Mother Nature providing the ambiance for your date, the option of having it in the daytime, and an easy way out in case it doesn’t work out for those in the early stages of dating.
1. Plan a picnic.
How intimate you get with picnic planning is entirely on you. You can go full-out lovey-dovey with a blanket in a secluded area, with finger foods to feed into your lover’s mouth and wine to add that extra oomph to your arvo or evening out.
Or you can keep things casual by setting up a picnic blanket or table at your favourite park with sandwiches, chips, and soda. You could even turn this into a group date with meat on the barbie (but more on group dates later).
2. Stargaze.
Be humbled by the vastness and glory of the universe by going stargazing. Bring a star chart and maybe even a telescope. If you and your partner share a real love of the stars and beyond, you can also attend astronomy events together. The Astronomical Society of Australia (ASA) events page, for example, lists various amateur meetings like local star parties and astrofests.
3. Roast treats over a fire.
Marshmallows for s’mores are the top menu choice for a bonfire date. But if you’re trying to stick to a healthy diet, vegetable or meat skewers, and more are other options. There are also low-sugar marshmallow and chocolate options if you want to go the traditional route.
Remember, a bonfire date night idea isn’t necessarily about the food you roast over the fire. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy an intimate night under the stars, talking about everything and nothing and maybe even cuddling for warmth once the embers start to cool.
4. Take a garden tour.
Don’t think you and your S.O. are ready for a full-on trek or camping date? No worries. You can take a stroll through lush greens and beautiful flowers at a nearby botanical garden. Even a small park or community garden can turn into a wonderful walking date with the right company. Some gardens may even have sunset or evening walks perfect for couples looking for a cosier atmosphere.
If it’s early in your relationship, you can arrange to stop for a cuppa or casual picnic. And if it goes well, you can come prepared with a few date night dinner ideas by researching nearby cafes, maybe with al fresco dining in keeping with your outdoorsy date.
5. Toast to a gorgeous sunset.
Let Mother Nature paint the perfect backdrop to a romantic outdoor date by scheduling it at sunset. The best part? It’s a cheap date night idea that is ultra romantic. Of course, you can jazz it up with a bottle of wine or by picking a cafe with outdoor dining, but if you’re on a budget, you can enjoy the sunset at home, with a simple picnic at a public beach, or just about anywhere.
Date night ideas for social butterflies
Do you like being out and about but don’t want to overdo it? Let these ideas help you enjoy being a social animal without spending too much.
1. Sign up for a fun yet challenging class.
Are you curious about ceramic wheel throwing? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to try woodworking. Is there a language you want to master? Whatever it is, there’s bound to be a class for it. You and your partner should take it together to double the fun.
You can go online to search for instructors, but there are also perks to in-person classes. For example, if you’re studying a craft, it helps to have someone guiding your hands. Most packages also provide the materials, so you won’t need to source your own. That’s a major perk if you’re unsure about committing to a hobby yet. Once you and your significant other become invested, you can keep practising, maybe even add it to your list of date night ideas at home. Now you’ll have even more in common!
2. Take advantage of happy hour.
Who says your date night dinner ideas need to wait until the sun’s down? Embrace a bottomless brunch or maximise the happy hour discounts at your go-to pub. Many establishments are empty between 4-6 p.m., so they try to draw patrons with unmissable deals on top-shelf items.
Plus, fewer customers around means feeling like you have the place to yourselves. Find a quiet corner and order a round of house specialities. Fill up on delicious appetisers and other pub food favourites while catching up on each other’s lives. Just remember to drink responsibly!
3. Go on a double date with your best friends.
Maybe you and your significant other are in a social mood but not quite extroverted enough for a big, boisterous party. What’s the happy medium? A double date with your closest friends, of course! That way, you can enjoy other people’s company without draining your social batteries.
Don’t settle for a traditional sit-down meal! You can be more creative than that. If your group loves the outdoors, you can picnic in a public park or go on a scenic nature walk. Are you into sports? Tennis, badminton, and bowling are all great for groups of four. And for an indoor activity that tests your detective skills (and your friendships), head to an escape room!
4. Get competitive for a game or sports night.
Whether you’re catching your local rugby or footy team on the telly or planning a pick-up game, you and your partner can invite friends and their significant others to turn game night into date night. Arrange a viewing party at the house with the biggest living room and telly or a pickup game at a local park, and have everyone pitch in for snacks and grog.
If sports aren’t your thing, you can also look into board game nights or arrange an afternoon for couple-on-couple laser tag or paintball.
5. Sing your heart out on karaoke night.
If your partner and friends love to belt out fave tunes, why not dial up the fun factor with a karaoke night? A study in the Royal Society Open Science journal showed singing actually fast-tracks social bonding. So, it’ll be great for your relationship with your significant other. as well as your mates. And if your partner’s still a bit awkward with your friends, this is a great way to break those walls down.
If you aren’t keen to hit a karaoke bar, you can turn this into an at-home date night idea. Perhaps someone in your friend group has a karaoke machine, or you can download an app or rely on good old YouTube (though you’ll need a premium account to avoid ads). You can queue up your go-to songs and fill a cooler and supply everyone with liquid courage to hit those high notes.
Want to make sure you’re always date-ready? The biggest asset you can have is a beaming, confident smile. And if you aren’t too eager to flash those pearly whites, you may want to ask your dentist about dental or orthodontic treatments at your next appointment.
One great investment if you’re straightening out your smile is ClearCorrect. The removable aligner moves teeth gently into a straighter position to improve your bite. And because of its groundbreaking tri-layer ClearQuartz material, it feels comfortable and looks discreet. Your partner won’t even notice you’re wearing an orthodontic device! Try the online smile assessment to determine if you’d be a good candidate for ClearCorrect. So, no matter which date night idea you go for, you’ll impress that special someone with little to no effort.
References:
Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government Department of Health. (n.d.). Massage. Betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Chapman, Gary. (1992). The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. Northfield Publishing.
Pearce, E., Launay, J., & Dunbar, R.I.M. (2015, October 28) The ice-breaker effect: singing mediates fast social bonding. Royal Society Open Science, 2(10):150221. doi: 10.1098/rsos.150221.i
