Sometimes life gets super busy. When you're stretched for time and money, having a sweet date night with your partner might fall lower on your priority list. Other times, this may be exactly what your relationship could benefit from: some TLC and intentional quality time. Whether it's rent week or that tighter budget period before you get your paycheck, there are still tons of thoughtful but cheap date ideas that will make you and your bae feel super recharged and valued.
Even though there can be a huge pressure to make a purchase in order to have fun, there are plenty of activities that you can do with your partner that are low-cost or, in some cases, even free. It's all about getting to spend time with each other, and sometimes, the stuff that costs more means that you'll actually get to catch up less. For example, heading out to the movies or seeing a musical can mean spending money, but not really catching each other up on your busy lives.
To save some money and spend more time with bae, consider the following low-cost date ideas. Remember: You don't have to flex your wallet in order to flex on a date.
Make dinner at home, then take a walk to the library. Libraries are absolutely underrated places to visit on a date. You can browse the books, read together in some comfy chairs, and then pick out a few books to take home.
One super freaking thoughtful date night idea is to pay attention to what books your partner likes to read. Then look up your local bookstore (my personal favorite is Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, New York), and see if any of your boo's fave authors are going to be reading there any time soon. Plan a date with your bae to go see them perform. You could even keep it a secret for a sweet surprise!
Set up a sweet picnic for your bae and invite them to meet you after work. You can make this a surprise, too. Pack enough wine and cheese to feed the masses!
If there's a cause that is super close to you or your partner's heart, find a way to volunteer for it in some capacity. For example, you could volunteer at your local animal shelter or homeless shelter. This can be a great way to spend some time together while doing something that feels meaningful to both of you.
One of my favorite things to do with someone I am dating someone is to check out their old haunts. I have moved around a lot, so I can't really drive my dates to my old high school in Indiana, but when I date someone who grew up in the town we're currently in, I love to see where they went to school. If you feel like going for a drive, you can show each other where you grew up and the different places that are important to you.
A good, old-fashioned room reorganization can feel super refreshing. Consider doing this as a date idea one night, because when it comes to moving furniture, two minds (and four hands) are better than one.
One way to spend time together this summer is to find local farms in your area that have self-pick crops. This is especially common for raspberries, strawberries, and peas. The cost of these is usually pretty low and you can plan to make a dessert with whatever you end up picking.
Overall, this might be a great way to catch up with your partner and still stay within the rigid boundaries of your budget. Quality time doesn't have to be super costly to be worth a lot.