20 Dates for $20 or Less

Dates are an essential part of a relationship - that's what I believe, anyway. This is the chance to gain some insight on what a person may be like. This could be an opportunity to get away from the kids and have a well-deserved night together and alone. This could be the moment when you realize that you can't live without the person staring at you with a wide grin. Or simply, a date is a way to spend time with each other and deepen the relationship that already exists. 

Going on a date can be more than dinner and the movies. Here's 20 date ideas for $20 or less to try with your significant other that doesn't break the bank and will be a memory worth looking back on. :)

1. Search for a nature center or an outdoor trail in your area. Go get lost in the woods! Literally. This would be a great way to soak up some Vitamin D while taking in the beauty of what God has created. They're typically free (some places may accept donations), so hike a couple of trails and share moments filled with words or silence. Don't forget to hold hands! ;) 

2. Go to a free art museum or exhibit. Hopefully your town is a lot more exciting than mine is and has at least one cool museum or exhibit to check out. Check their website and find out their hours of operation, as well as when they offer windows of free admission if they don't do so already. This is a great opportunity to walk around, talk about the things you see - some stuff can be totally weird and out of the ordinary - and find out your significant other's thoughts and opinions on an intellectual level with regards to art, science, history, etc. Practice your criticism and be open to interpretation and discussion. 

3. Have a picnic. Surprise your significant other with a lunchbox or cooler filled with their favorite snacks or goodies, along with a blanket to take with you to spread over a shaded grassy area at a nearby park. {Shortly after my husband and I went from dating to being "official," he took me for a drive without telling me where we were going and had planned a picnic for us. We wanted to re-live that moment so we went to a different park just a few weeks ago, packed sandwiches and fruit, and enjoyed 70 degree weather sprawled on our backs on a blanket in the shade. It was so relaxing that we could've taken a nap!}

4. Go to the driving range. This is the best way to relieve stress. Seriously. I mean, you get to whack a ball as hard as you can without being judged. You can also show off your impressive golf swing and wear khakis and a polo if you're feeling up to par (ha, no pun intended). Driving ranges vary in price depending on the bucket size you choose and if you bring your own clubs, but after having a rough week, you can't put a price on seeing how far you can try to make that ball fly. Plus, if you're like me and can't get the ball in the hole to save your life, this relieves the pressures of mini golfing. Just have fun, be silly and swing! {When hubby and I went to the driving range, we spent around $8 on a medium size bucket of balls - he has his own clubs - and we were there for a good hour and a half.}
5. Drive-in movies. Need I say more? If you haven't been, take your significant other soon! Though this date is typically seasonal, it's worth the wait. You get to watch a movie from the inside of your car with the windows down and you don't have to worry about sneaking in snacks like you would for the movies. Check online to find the drive-in nearest you for further information. {Last summer, hubby and I went to a drive-in that was 45 minutes away. We paid $7 each to watch two movies back-to-back and we brought dinner and our own candy. He had never gone before, so it was cool to share a new experience with him. We definitely plan on going again!}
6. Check out a cooking class. Put your cooking skills to the test or learn some new techniques. Look to see if your local grocery store offers cooking classes or similar activities. {Hubby and I discovered cooking classes at Hy-Vee, which we had no idea they had, and went to a sushi class last Friday. We had never done this before and we loved it! We're huge sushi fanatics. We attempted to make a few rolls once before but it was kind of a fail, so that's why the cooking class sparked our interest. We paid $10 per person for a cooking session that lasted 1 hour and 30 minutes, plus we got a 25 cent fuel saver credit. Not only did we get to make sushi, we got to eat at the end, too! It was delicious! We may have possibly went for thirds...}

7. Explore antique shops. You never know what you're going to find until you go to an antique shop. It sounds boring, but not when you've got an objective. See what each of you can buy with $1, $5, or $10. Make it a competition to see if you can find the most bizarre or ridiculous object. Who knows, you may actually find something you like that you want to hang or display that will forever be known as the time you went to an antique shop because a blogger told you to. ;) {On a side note, a married couple I know found a really cute rustic wood bench that they display in their walkway of their apartment. I want to steal it!}
8. Go to a sports event. Depending on how big your city/town/area is, you may or may not get away with going to a sports event for under $20 total. When hubby and I went to NYC for Spring Break, we got lucky and found tickets on Ebay to see the Knicks play at Madison Square Garden at $30 a piece for pretty darn good seats. However, going to a minor league baseball game in my town is $8 for lawn seats and if it's Thursday, we pay $1 for bratwursts. If the game is on a Friday, they always have a fireworks show after the game. Do some research for the sport events that are available in your area. You may have to budget a little more for this kind of date than you do for the rest and keep in mind the length of duration, too.
9. Volunteer together. Contribute to your community together. Find a kitchen or shelter where you can both volunteer. Find an organization that you or your significant other are passionate about and try to see what you can do to help out. It's crazy how fast you can fall in love with someone when you see them put their needs before others. That and you know you're going to feel awesome for doing a good deed that has impacted the life of someone else. :)
10. Play a board game. Remember those? You pull them out of a box, set up game pieces and accomplish a specific objective? No, I'm not talking about Words with Friends. I'm talking about the games you used to play as a kid, how you would entertain yourself before all of this technology existed. Board games are soooooo cheap. You can find Candy Land at Wally World for $5 along with others. Take a trip down memory lane, each of you buy a board game you had as a child and play them! Make your favorite beverage/snack and get ready to become overly competitive for no reason. Be silly but play fairly. ;) Reminisce about the memories you had playing board games as a kid with your family or create new ones with your significant other to look back on. 
11. Visit the Farmer's Market. These are so much fun because you get to discover local businesses and the products they have to offer. In many cases, they have free samples for you to try, so you get to try foods that are typically healthy, organic and delicious. Depending in the area you live, the farmer's market may only be available to the public on certain days/hours. Ask around or try to see if a website exists so you can find out more information.
12. Redbox it. You can never go wrong with a Redbox because one, it's cheap, two, if you're signed up to their email/text club, you get free codes all the time, and three, because you get to watch a movie in the comfort of your own home. If my parents can't get out of the house for some quality time together, they get a movie for themselves and a movie for my siblings so they're entertained in another room while my parents enjoy their movie downstairs. If you have more time on your hands (or don't have kids), rent two or three Redbox movies and have a marathon. Pop some popcorn, cuddle on the couch and enjoy each other's company while laughing, screaming or maybe crying (darn those chick-flicks).
13. Go to an arcade. Pac-Man, anyone? Grab the quarters you can find around your place, in the car, on the streets, whatever and head to the nearest arcade place. Show off your mad gaming skills at racing or skee ball. Let your inner-kid out for some air, man.
14. Try out an exercise class. Nowadays, you don't have to be a member at a gym to participate in the exercise classes they have available. If you already have a membership, they're typically free. If not, they're discounted at a low rate so that's it's only a couple of dollars per person. Sometimes, they offer free passes so you can try out the gym/classes to try to get you to become a member. For example, the YMCA has all sorts of exercise classes that are offered every day. From yoga, cardio core, zumba, cycling, etc. Pick one and try it out with your significant other. Sweat together and feel the burn!
15. Check out Groupon. There's tons of discounted deals on Groupon that you can find. It seems like they update daily and they offer discounts for activities that appeal to just about anyone. My husband and I have been on the lookout for a discounted deal to go ziplining. The moment we see one that fits our budget, we're going!
16. Have some coffeee. Some of the best conversations I've had with my husband have been over a cup of coffee. You don't necessarily need to go to a coffee shop, but if you want the excuse to get out of the house, go. Find a table in the corner, secluded. People watch, stare into each other's eyes, hold hands, smile, laugh, share a cup of something cold or warm to drink. Start a "Remember when..." conversation. If you haven't been together long, talk about the future, dreams, expectations. Be completely open. Forget about the world and focus on each other. You can stay in, too. Brew some coffee or make your favorite tea. Talk until you run out of things to say (which I hope never happens, by the way).

17. Find a DIY on Pinterest and complete it. Choose one you've had in mind (I know you probably already have a board dedicated to DIY's) or find a new one together. Be as creative as you guys want to be. Use it as an excuse to start on the home project you've always talked about doing or to create the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Create a DIY gift to give to someone (mother's day is coming up!) or create a scrapbook of you and your significant other's favorite memories together. The options are endless! 

18. Go to a local bookstore. Find a few books that spark you and your significant other's interest. Pick a comfy spot and start reading. Swap quotes, passages, paragraphs and words. This can be as serious or as comical as you guys make it to be. Share poetry, scripture, jokes, one-liners, whatever you want. Find a book title that best describes your significant other's life. Be open, be deep and most importantly, unleash your nerdy side and don't be ashamed. ;)

19. Check out city events/festivals. The town I live in has its own website with a schedule for all the events that are occurring for the upcoming month. For example, one of the major events that takes place every first Friday of the month is called The Art Walk where local artists have their work displayed downtown, so you can look at all the cool art creations and enjoy live music. I've heard it's really neat (and free!) but haven't had a chance to check it out yet. Check to see if your town/city/area has a website where you can look up the events coming up and pick one that seems the most interesting or fun.

20. Pick a random TV series on Netflix. Be daring but be warned: you may get sucked in and become addicted to said TV show you pick so proceed with caution. If you don't have a Netflix account, the first month is FREE and you can cancel before the month is up. You can also sign up for Hulu Plus, but I think you only get one week for free. This is another at-home date, so snuggle up! Build a fort. Make a pallet on the floor out of pillows and blankets. Get prepared to be invested in characters of the TV show, especially if you pick Prison Break, Revenge, Walking Dead or How I Met Your Mother (just sayin').

Make sure to find the time to go on dates, be silly, have fun and fall in love (or be reminded why you fell in love in the first place).