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101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime!

12 Months of Pre-Planned Date Nights: Creative Gift Idea with FREE Printable from thinkingcloset.comI have been truly amazed by the overwhelming response to my 12 Months of Pre-Planned Date Nights Gift.  Since that post went live last Tuesday, the FREE printable has been downloaded a whopping 1393 50,000 times!  That’s a lot of date nights.  Which is super duper exciting.

And it got me thinking…for those of you plotting out your 12 months of date nights, I’d love to offer some inspiration for you.

Because I believe in dating for always.  I believe in carving out intentional time with your significant other, no matter how busy life gets.  And I don’t believe you have to spend a fortune on a fancy dinner to have a worthwhile date night.  In fact, I think that some of the most meaningful date nights (or date days) are the ones that don’t even cost a dime!

So, here’s my list of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime!

The stars are placed next to the date nights I included in my 12 Months…and the rest are a combination of dates that Mark and I have done or ones that I hope we do get to try out someday.  May this list open up your mind to the wealth of possibilities when it comes to dating your sweetheart.

101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com

  1. Plan a trilogy movie marathon.  Lord of the Rings, The Godfather, Mighty Ducks…some of the greats.
  2. Create a playlist of some of your favorite music, and dance to it under the stars.
  3. Draw each other’s portraits…wait for it…with your non-dominant hand!  Laugh at the results.  Then frame ’em!
  4. Sit down together and write postcards to some of your favorite people.
  5. Go kayaking together.  For extra fun working on teamwork, double-kayak!  (Pssst!  N.Y.C. has FREE kayaking.)Kayaking! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  6. Visit a pet store and play with the puppies and kittens!  (Beware, you might bring one home.)
  7. *Food Crawl: enjoy an appetizer at one place, the main course at another, and the dessert at a third place!
  8. Don your favorite 80s outfits, and hit the roller rink!
  9. Write a list of 101 things you two are thankful for.
  10. YouTube video marathon; share some of your favorites with each other.
  11. Hit up the bowling alley…lowest score wins! Bowling...oh how I wish I could still use bumpers.
  12. Create a marriage bucket list together, and set a date for your first item.
  13. *DIY Duo: scour Pinterest for a project you’re both excited to work on.  Then, execute!
  14. Go to a local orchard or farm and load up some bushels of fruit to bring home!
  15. Visit a coffee shop together for some conversation over hot drinks.  (One of my favorite things in the world!)
  16. Visit a “paint-your-own-pottery” place and create something for each other.
  17. *Enjoy some wine and cheese together as you watch the sunset. Watch the Sunset! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com
  18. Get up early to watch the sunrise; then, make a hot breakfast together and eat it in bed.
  19. Attend a poetry or book reading together.  (Check what your local Barnes & Noble has to offer.)
  20. *Take a trip to the park and draw up blueprints of your dream home together!
  21. Go to a Karaoke bar.  Be brave and sing a duet together.
  22. Make homemade pizzas with wild toppings.
  23. *Build a fire in the firepit (or fireplace), and roast s’mores. S'more s'mores, please! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  24. *Read aloud to each other from one of your favorite books.
  25. Take a free factory tour.
  26. Put on your bathing suits and have a water balloon fight.  Why not?
  27. *Prepare and enjoy a special fondue dinner together…followed by fondue dessert!
  28. Tackle a volunteer project together through your local church, community center, or an organization like Habitat for Humanity.
  29. *Game Night!  Enjoy a tourney with some of your favorite board games. Game Night! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  30. Create an audio recording of you each interviewing each other, a la Story Corps.
  31. Take a fitness or exercise class together.
  32. Bust out a deck of cards and play a game!  Poker, Go Fish…you get the picture.
  33. Go Geo-Caching!  (What’s Geo-Caching?  Find out HERE.)
  34. Sign up for a walk, run, or bike race together.  Enjoy several “date days” preparing for the big day! Biking! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  35. In the autumn, carve pumpkins together!  Save the seeds to salt and bake.
  36. Journey through a corn-maze together.
  37. Create a couples Halloween costume together!
  38. Fresh snowfall?  Go sledding; then, sip hot cocoa together by the fire.
  39. Another fun “snow date” is to build a snowman and snow-woman.
  40. Pick out a live tree and decorate it for Christmas. Pick out a tree together! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  41. Around the holidays, drive around and look at lights while playing Christmas music in the car.
  42. Visit the dollar store together, and put together two shoeboxes full of goodies for Operation Christmas Child.
  43. *Start the day off right with a bike ride and brunch.  Research your local bike trails HERE.
  44. Play the Game “Two Truths and a Lie!” to get to know each other better…no matter how long you’ve been together.
  45. Go camping!  Borrow equipment from a friend if you don’t have your own, roast hot dogs over a fire for dinner, and completely unplug from technology.  Even if it just for a night.  Even if in your own backyard!
  46. *Hop in the car together and hit the open road for a memorable day trip.   Road Trip! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  47. Visit your local frozen yogurt spot, and go topping crazy.
  48. Childhood movie night!  Watch each of your favorite childhood movies while snacking on popcorn.
  49. Mini-golf never gets old.  Especially Glow-Golf.
  50. Recreate a memorable meal together from a special event or past anniversary.
  51. *Go to a thrift store together, set a budget, and choose outfits for each other!
  52. Get up early on a Saturday and hit the garage sales together early for some new finds! Hunt for deals! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com
  53. Create your own slip n’ slide in the backyard.
  54. Take an evening stroll together around your neighborhood and dream about your future.
  55. *Choose a new TV series to dive into together!  Watch way more episodes in a row than you probably should.
  56. Create a mall scavenger hunt for yourselves.
  57. Create an ice cream sundae bar at home for kicks.
  58. Go to the nearest jungle-gym and swing on the swings like you did in days of old.  It’ll keep you young.  Swinging! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com
  59. Spa Night!  Give each other massages and exfoliate with face masques.
  60. Research and then visit some of your town’s historic sites!
  61. Play “Remember when…” as you recollect some of your favorite memories together.  Jot them down, so you remember them for always.
  62. Create a map of all the places you’ve been together.  And then write a wish list of all the places you still want to visit.
  63. *Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy an outdoor movie…even if it’s on a laptop in your backyard! Outdoor Movie! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com
  64. Make a time capsule, and bury it with plans to dig it up in 10 years.
  65. Watch the first movie you saw together for nostalgia’s sake.
  66. Choose a meal you’ve never made before, go on a grocery run, and then cook dinner together back at home.
  67. Ask a friend to do a special photo shoot of the two of you!  Capture a moment in time.
  68. Create a timeline for the next 10 years….and sketch out what you guess it will look like!
  69. Visit your local library or bookstore together, find some good books, and then cozy up in a corner reading side by side.
  70. Have a cookie bake-off!
  71. Dye eggs together.  (This is one of Mark’s favorite dates, actually.) Dye eggs! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  72. Go paddle-boating.
  73. Go for an evening swim at your local pool or gym pool.
  74. Browse Craigslist together for some amazing local deals.
  75. Pick up some water-guns at your local toy store, and have a water-gun fight!  You can even invite neighborhood friends in on the date.
  76. Toss around a frisbee in the backyard.
  77. Research inexpensive ways to enjoy your city.  For any Orlando-ians out there, we’ve got Disney Boardwalk, Harry P. Leu Gardens, and The Lake Eola fountain show to name a few. Inexpensive attractions in your town! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com.
  78. *Support the arts!  Get dolled up for a night of live theatre.  (You can often get discounts to see dress rehearsals, matinees, or rush tickets the day of!)
  79. 10 Things I Love About You: set a timer for 10 minutes and each write a list of 10 things you love about the other person…then read them to each other.  Prepare for plenty of “Awwww” moments.
  80. Attend a local sports game.
  81. *Explore a state park by car, by foot, or by canoe.  Explore a state park by canoe! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com
  82. Stroll through a farmer’s market together.  Buy fresh ingredients for your next few meals.
  83. Visit the zoo, petting farm, or aquarium on discount / free days!
  84. Fun in the sun: hang out at the beach or the harbor or the lake together for the day.
  85. Teach each other a new hobby.
  86. Watch old home movies together.
  87. Create your own photobooth and take goofy photos together! Photobooth Fun! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com
  88. Build a fort out of blankets in the living room, and cuddle up to watch a romantic movie together.
  89. *Learn a new sport together!  Croquet, badminton, tennis…heck, you can event invent a sport together.
  90. Take a class together: dancing, painting, cooking….
  91. Go to an arcade!
  92. Get a Groupon for a special night out on the town together.  You can usually nab some pretty sweet deals!
  93. Visit your local science center, planetarium, conservatory, or botanical gardens.
  94. Go to a community hall and play BINGO.
  95. On a windy day, fly a kite together at the park.  Fly a Kite! 1 of 101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime via thinkingcloset.com
  96. Get in the car and just drive to get lost.  It’ll be an adventure!  (Just make sure you have plenty of gas, so it doesn’t turn into a misadventure.)
  97. Plan out a dream trip for one of your upcoming anniversaries.
  98. Visit a local festival together.  Many of them are free!  Just check out your town’s website for their calendar of events.
  99. Bring your own lawn chairs for an evening of outdoor theatre or music.
  100. *Spend a night looking through old memorabilia: love letters, photographs….
  101. *Write letters to each other that you’ll open 20 years from now.

101 Creative Date Nights on a Dime! via thinkingcloset.com

Dear reader, what are your favorite kind of dates nights?  Let’s keep this list growing!

Shout Out to these awesome date night idea lists for helping to give me ideas for my own list: We & SerendipityWife-Mom-SuperwomanMLTip JunkieSix Sisters’ StuffStill Being MollyRaining Hot Coupons, & Savor His Goodness.  {Definitely check those out for even more possibilities.}

Extra, extra!  I’ve got two exciting UPDATES for ya!

Free Printable Pack

Be sure to nab the NEW-AND-IMPROVED Printable Pack for the 12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Gift that inspired this post, a free gift for all email subscribers.  It includes templates for Parent-Kid Date mini-books, Friend Date mini-books, wedding gift versions, and a whole lot more.

To subscribe, click HERE.

To see the new printable pack in action, click HERE.

12 Months of Pre-Planned Dates Mini-Book | Such a creative and meaningful gift idea for the loved ones in your life. The FREE Printable Pack also comes with everything you need to create mini-books for Parent-Kid Dates, Friend Dates, and wedding gifts! So many gifts in one!

Hungry for More Meaningful Gift Ideas?

Thinking Outside the Gift Box eBook by Lauren from ThinkingCloset.com - Chock FULL of frugal yet meaningful gift ideas to get your creative juices flowing!If this post has whet your appetite for more gifts “on a dime” that come straight from the heart, guess what?  I wrote a 143-page eBook to help my comrades come up with money-saving yet meaningful gifts.

The book includes:

  • 21 gift ideas
  • 78 actionable-examples (most costing $10 or less)
  • 20 pages of printables.

Oh, and several of the gift ideas can be completed in 5 minutes or less.  Truth.  So, what are you waiting for, friend?  Click HERE so you can read the sample chapters before nabbing your copy of Thinking Outside the Gift Box.

Join the revolution as we rediscover the joy of giving.

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33 Comments

  1. I love idea number 25! We have actually been doing that over the last year and I guess because we actually started looking for them, we discovered there are many free factory tours. Our favorite? Chocolate and / or ice cream factory tours. Yes! They do exist!!! Yummy free samples too!!

  2. Thank you for helping me to realize just how truly blessed I am. My husband and I are fortunate to be able to do many of these things on a regular basis, but you’ve given me some great activities to add to our list!

  3. Starting a new board about Dating and this will be the first pin!

    SOME of them are also great ideas for youth groups, families, and friends to do together.
    This is a keeper!

    I’ll have to remember about the free kayaking in NYC this spring/summer/fall!

    1. Yay! I feel like the fact that you started a board just dedicated to dating is such a good sign. I probably should do the same!

      And you’re right – – a lot of these would be great for anyone to do with a friend or group. Except maybe the love letter one. Tee hee.

      Yes, you and Dad should totally make a date of the free kayaking in NYC! I was so excited to see that they still offer it. That is one of our favorite dates EVER!

  4. These are great date night ideas! Pinning this! I love that you put your own pictures and stories with them too! It looks like you and your hubby have a lot of fun together! Thanks for sharing this!

  5. These are great date night ideas! Pinning this! I love that you put your own pictures and stories with them too! It looks like you and your hubby have a lot of fun together! Thanks for sharing this!

  6. This is a fantastic list!

    You ROCK for linking up this week to Tip Me Tuesday. {high fives} Just a heads up, Tip Junkie can help you index your blog more effectively if you upload at least 2 images, 2 steps, and blog post URL into your Tip Junkie craft room! Simply login and click “add a project” on your profile page to get started. {yep I’ve got your back!} ~ Laurie {a.k.a. the Tip Junkie}
    Link ~ http://www.tipjunkie.com/how-to-add-a-craft-room-project-on-tip-junkie

    1. Aw, thanks, Denise! Back atcha, lady. And thanks so much for the share and pin, my friend. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day week!

  7. I would’ve never thought of some of these. This is awesome!!! Please come share this on DIY Sunday Showcase, a party I cohost. It’s open now!! Hope to see ya there!

    Shelly
    minettesmaze.blogspot.com

  8. Love this!
    I love having date nites but sometimes its hard to come up with different things to do & try to do it on a dime…I already write letters to my hubby but love the idea of writing letters for him to open in the years ahead!

    1. Yay! I’m so glad to know it might prove helpful for you, Brenna! You’ll have to let me know if you try any of these….

      1. well, i used the perler bead earring directions, and i had a great party, i can tell you that!
        (: (: (: (: (: (:

  9. Awesome list! Have to ask – what game is that in the photo? My husband and I do a version of #101. Starting with our first anniversry, every year on our anniversary we each write a letter to ourselves about our hopes and dreams for the coming year and for our long-term future. We are going to start reading them, one per year, on our 20th anniversary.

    1. I should add it in as a caption because I believe the whole world needs to know this game: it’s called Small World, and I got it for my husband last year for Christmas after my BIL and SIL recommended it…and we’ve seriously been obsessed with it for an entire year. It’s a land grabbing game like Risk, but moves MUCH more quickly, and can change more quickly. No two games are ever the same because of the race and special power combinations (they’re similar to characters from Lord of the Rings), and we can’t sing its praises enough! I hope you try it out!

      Also, I LOVE the tradition you and your hubby have started with the letter you write to yourselves that you’ll read consecutively year after year starting on your 20th anniversary. How fun! We might have to do the same!

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