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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! These cheap or free Valentine’s Day date ideas are perfect to try with your lover if you’re not so into the crazy costs of hiring a babysitter, eating at a crowded restaurant, and buying all the overpriced goodies this year!
One thing I’ve found is that building up my marriage and my relationship doesn’t require spending a lot of money. The thing that is essential is that we’re spending time together and that we’re connecting. All of these ideas will help you connect with your spouse on a deeper level without having to fork out tons of dough.
A quick tip, for all of these ideas leave your phones in another room and focus on each other!
Are you ready to spend some quality time with your partner and feed the flame of your love on a budget?
Enjoy these cheap or free Valentine’s Day date ideas!
14 At-Home Date Night Ideas
Save money on a babysitter by putting the kids to bed early and enjoying an evening of intentionality with your love!
1. Have an At-Home Movie Night!
Snag a free or cheap movie on Netflix, Amazon, or Redbox and make a fun dinner, snack, or dessert tray to eat together! Don’t forget to snuggle up in a cozy blanket.
2. Have a Chocolate Fondue Party!
Get some yummy things to dip (strawberries, fruit, animal crackers, marshmallows, pretzels, etc.) and melt some melting chocolate in the microwave 30 seconds at a time, mixing in the intervals. Dip your goodies and enjoy!
3. Have a Homemade “Chopped” Night
Find 4 random ingredients from your house and try to use them creatively to make dinner and cook together! Inspired by the popular TV show Chopped on Food Network.
4. Do a Puzzle Together!
Put on some music and keep your hands busy putting together a puzzle while you chat! Don’t forget the snacks and drinks!
5. Have an Italian Themed Night!
Make Italian Sodas together and watch an Italy-inspired movie like Roman Holiday, Only You, Eat Pray Love, Letters to Juliet, or Life is Beautiful (warning: that one is really sad, but amazing).
6. Have a Game Night Together!
Some fun two person games are Battleship, Codenames Duet, Bananagrams, Scrabble, Mancala, Chess, Checkers, Qwirkle, or card games! You still have time to snag them before Valentine’s Day, or use what you have in your game closet.
7. Play Video Games Together!
Make sure to agree on a prize for the winner! ????
8. Order Food in!
Save on babysitter costs while still enjoying food you don’t have to cook or clean up after! Put the kids to bed early and grab takeout at your favorite restaurant. Rent a movie and have some time together!
9. Have a Romantic Picnic in Your House!
Complete with picnic blanket, sitting on the floor, food of choice, and romantic candles!
10. Make a Romantic Dinner Together!
Light candles, listen to music, and have a good time creating and eating something new together!
11. Have a Couples Massage Night!
Pull up a free YouTube video like this one on how to give your partner a good massage and take turns giving each other a massage! You’ll learn a new skill here too, which is fun. To make it extra special, bust out your favorite oils and lotions from the cupboard!
12. Get to Know Each Other Better with Personality Quizzes!
It’s so important to learn about ourselves and to try to understand our spouse better, so make a night of it! I recommend starting with the 5 Love Languages Quiz, then maybe moving on to an Enneagram test, or the popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test! You and your partner will love feeling understood when you dive into each other’s deepest traits.
13. Home Spa Night!
Face masks, pedicures, the works! Use up what you have in your cupboard or pick up a few inexpensive spa scrubs before love day.
14. Play “Nailed It” at Home!
Find an epic recipe or baked creation on Pinterest and try to recreate it at home within a certain time limit! Then enjoy eating it together (if it’s edible). Don’t forget to take pics! Inspired by the popular Netflix show Nailed It.
4 Out and About Date Night Ideas
These date nights are perfect for people who have access to a cheap or free babysitter, or who have older kids who can be left alone for a little while!
15. Go for a Nature Walk or Neighborhood Walk
It feels really good to breathe in some fresh air together and walk side by side for a while!
16. Go to Late Night Coffee/Tea
Pretty inexpensive but oh so relaxing and interesting!
17. Go People Watching and Window Shopping at the Mall!
People watching? Say no more, I’m in. Leave your spending cards at home, and only bring enough cash to get a little ice cream or a beverage to sip on! Don’t forget to hold hands while you walk.
18. Split an Appetizer, Meal, or Dessert at a Restaurant!
If you still want to get out of the house and get something to eat, cut costs by splitting an appetizer, meal, or dessert at a restaurant. Bring some conversation starter cards if you need something to talk about!
I hope you are ready to spend a romantic or fun evening with your partner, connecting and enjoying each other’s company with one of these cheap or free Valentine’s Day date ideas!
Which idea are you thinking about trying? I’m going to do #5, an Italian themed night, with my man this year! Or maybe #12, the personality quizzes . . . I can’t decide!
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