Our guest post this week comes from Elizabeth Syptak who is currently tackling her first year of marriage and motherhood. Enjoy!
One of the most common pieces of marriage advice I have been given has been in relation to the importance of taking time for date nights. Regular time spent with your spouse (or fiancé or sigO [significant other] as my family calls them) is so important to maintaining a healthy relationship. However, this healthy time together can sometimes be overshadowed by the thought of spending (too much) money!
Before we get started, consider these two foundational principles of a date night:
FIRST - Planning ahead. The most expensive dates can often be the “spur of the moment” dates. If you plan ahead you can keep an eye out for deals, coupons or free events. There is nothing wrong with using a BOGO on a date (maybe not the first date though). If it suits you, keep an eye on your local community events calendar. Outdoor festivals or activities are a great way to get out of the house and see something new!
SECOND - Leaving your phone at home... or in the car or in your purse or in your pocket. Be with the one you are with. Want to take a picture? Great! But #latergram that thing because there is no greater gift you can give your loved ones than your TIME.
If the thought of cost effective courtship resonates with you, here a few ideas for how to go for a date without going for broke.
Go For a Walk. When was the last time you actually did this? (If PokémonGo just came to mind, tune in to next week's blog!) Find yourself a walking path, a pretty neighbourhood or a nearby park. You can always back a few homemade snacks (keep it simple with water and granola bars) or plan to end up near your favourite ice cream stop.
Go For Coffee/Dessert. Time to check out that cute little café you've had your eye on. Order something you've never tried before or ask the employee to make you their favourite drink. If reading is your thing, bring along your favourite book.
Make Dinner. 9/10 times it will cost less if you make it yourself than if you dine out. If you're feeling adventurous, pick a Pinterest recipe and then work together to make the meal. If it turns out terribly, laugh it off and order a pizza.
Cheap Tuesday Movies. This a great alternative for date night on a budget. Buy your tickets online so you can skip the long lines. And remember, you're saving on the movie so you can feel a little less guilty for spending $8 on popcorn.
Throw Something. Find a Frisbee, football, basketball, baseball or whatever you are physically coordinated enough to exchange with someone in a sport context and go do it! An hour spent whipping a Frisbee around feels so much better than watching another episode of Whatever Show You're Binging On Lately. Take advantage of the good weather and your good health and go have fun!
And there you have it - five easy, relatively inexpensive date night ideas. For those of you with kids, consider turning one of those into a family activity. Stay tuned for a family fun bucket list in the weeks to come!
How About You - Do you have a cheap budget-friendly date night suggestion? Post it in the comments below!
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