Free & Cheap Date Ideas
by Gloria Liven
Money isn't the point of dating-- having fun and spending time together is! Whether you've been married forever, or just getting to know her, free dates can be a great way to have fun and strengthen your relationship!

Visit a museum/art gallery
Some museums are pricey, but many are cheap or free. Or take your date to a local art shop or gallery, where you can browse artwork for free.

Stargazing / Meteor showers!

What's more romantic than a clear night, alone, with your date? If it's chilly out, that's even better for cuddling!
Looking at the stars is great anytime, but if you want it to be extra special, plan to take her out during the yearly meteor showers so you can watch falling stars:
The large meteor shower known as the Perseids can be seen from mid-July to August, but it peaks around August 11-12th, but there are many others; see the list of yearly meteor showers.

Go Camping
I love the outdoors, and if your girl does, find a nice remote spot to take her camping! Of course this depends on how far along your relationship is-- camping alone with someone you barely know might not be a great idea, so if you don't know her that well, invite friends.
It's great to cuddle by a fire and share smores and stories.

Go look at stuff
It's actually really fun to wander around and look at stuff-- funky little shops, street performers, or even people-watching. If your town doesn't have much going on, consider going for a drive to a nearby town for something different.

Volunteer somewhere
Walk dogs at a pound, or help clean up the beach. You don't even have to volunteer-- you can pick up garbage at your local park. If she's into saving the environment, it'll be a good way to impress her.

Playgrounds & Parks
Believe it or not, some of the most fun dates with my guy happened at local park playgrounds! It's great to be a kid once in awhile. We'd swing together, or he'd spin me fast on those carousel thingies until I was dizzy. And it's fun to watch the kids and ducks and dogs in the park!

Walk a dog
Even if it isn't your dog, most girls like animals, and spending some time in the fresh air with a frisky pooch is sure to be fun.

Go for a bike ride
It's free and great for a change if she doesn't ride bikes often. I hadn't ridden a bike since I was a kid, and when I was invited to go for a ride, I had an awesome time!

Teach her something
Teaching her to do something new will make you seem interesting and she'll be sure to remember that day forever! You probably know how to do something-- whether it's putting a computer together or sculpting or rock climbing or identifying birds or plants or skipping rocks on a lake. Even if it's not something she'd normally do or have an interest in, she'll still appreciate you taking the time to show her something new!

Go fishing or crabbing
If she's the outdoorsey type, she'll love to spend an afternoon on the docks or by a lake. I love fishing and crabbing with my boyfriend, even if we don't catch anything, we still get to experience the sunshine and outdoors.

Local Factory Tours
Many places give free tours, find out if there's one near you. It will make for a different experience!

Walk on the beach
It may sound cliche, but it really does make for a fun time. If it's a remote beach where you can find shells and pebbles, even better! One thing I love about the beaches is how they always change; You might find a cool rock one day, and a dead shark the next, there's always something new to look at.
If the weather's bad, pick up some fast-food and park where you can watch the stormy sea is exciting.

Go Swimming
Not only will you both be wearing less clothing, it can make for a great time. If the weather's nice, why not head to a lake or river? And if it isn't, then find a public pool-- or sneak into a hotel's pool!

Play games!
If it's a rainy day outside, playing board games can be fun! Or go someplace to play racket ball, frisbee, or just catch! Or challenge her to a sandcastle building contest, or a rock-skipping contest!

Take her dancing
I didn't even know about it at first , but even in my small town, every saturday night there was a free dance lesson and dancing put on by a local dance studio! Call a local studio or college and find out if there are free lessons or dances. If you know how to dance, great-- and if not, you may be able to find free lessons!

Go For A Night Walk
If you're lucky enough to live near a beach, you're set! If not, just walking around your neighborhood in the dark can be a fun experience. The night makes everything look different.

Go for a photoshoot
Grab a camera, and go take pictures of each other all around town-- in front of statues or buildings or signs, or trying on funny hats at Wal-Mart. It's fun to take pictures!

Go on a picnic
You can each bring something to snack on and find a nice place outdoors!

Keep an eye out for free/cheap local events
Maybe there's a local fair, or a comedy show in the area. Keeping up with what's going on in your area will give you a ton of opportunities for a fun, free date.

Rent Movies or a TV Series
Rent her favorite show, or invite her over for one you think she'll like; or get a good funny movie and a few snacks.

Go House Shopping
Even if you aren't looking to buy a house, it's still a lot of fun to drive around and look!

Play Video games
Invite her to try out a video game or Wii, even if she's not the video game type she'll probably have fun!

Learn About Something Together
Maybe you want to learn about a particular time in history; visit a museum and rent a movie set in that time! Or take a class at a local college; Or buy yourself a book and learn together-- maybe it's identifying plants, or building a bird feeder.

Create Artwork
There are craft places you can go to to make or paint pottery; or buy some crayons and paper or clay and have a fun time creating!

Visit historical sites
There may be free local places to visit. Many parks and monuments are free or cheap and include self-guided tours.

Cook Together - Or for her
Plan to make a dinner together, or make one for her. Or make a yummy snack to enjoy on a picnic or country drive.

Learn another Language
Buy or rent some language tapes or books and practice together!

Visit a Zoo / Aquarium / Wildlife Preserve

Go Fly a Kite
Most people haven't done that since they were kids; it's sure to be fun!

Go for a drive & get lost
Go for a drive without any particular destination in mind; or decide you'll turn on the first street that starts with "R", or visit garage sales, or drive around to see Christmas lights. Or look at the map, pick a close town with a funny name that you know nothing about, and plan a day to visit it.

Go Wine tasting
Or take a tour of a pub or brewery.

Play in the Snow
If you've got snow, make a snowman and go have fun in it!

Visit the Library
Check out books you are interested in, then go find a pretty place in the park or cuddle in bed and read together.

Wash the car
It may not seem romantic, but it can be fun-- and the car gets clean.

Do a Jigsaw Puzzle

Treasure Hunt- Take up Geocaching!
If you have GPS, you can join in the worldwide game of geocaching; people hide 'treasure' various places, and you can look up the GPS coordinates and go on a treasure hunt!

Go "Camping" Inside
Rent movies about the outdoors; Cuddle together in a blanket; Make Smores on the microwave and hotdogs for dinner.

I hope you enjoyed these free & cheap date ideas. If you have an idea you'd like to contribute that is free or inexpensive, let us know about your date idea: Email us!

Related Links on Dating:

How to Ask a Girl Out for a Date
Things to Avoid in Conversation
Get Him to Ask You Out
25 Questions to Ask A Date
Tips for Good Conversation when on a Date

New funny picture site: StuffOnMyRack.com