A lighter wallet is no excuse to turn date night into a luxury. Get out of your sweatpants, put down the cold pizza, and check out these budget-friendly date ideas that will get you off the couch and into each other's pants.


1. Get on thin ice. Depending on the weather, head to an indoor or outdoor ice-skating rink - it's the perfect excuse to hold hands, "accidentally" fall on top of each other, and grab a cup of hot chocolate and cozy up to each other to keep warm.

2. Grab a cup of coffee and check out a local coffee shop's open mic night. You might luck out with a great show, or you may find a mixed bag of angsty guitar solos and bad poetry - either way, you'll have something to talk (or laugh) about on the way home.

3. Check the play and musical schedules at local colleges and high schools. Schools usually have a spring and a fall show, and it’s a great way to see a version of your favorite plays and musicals for a fraction of the cost.

4. Look into the future. Go together for a psychic reading - practice your poker faces and spend the rest of the night talking about how funny - or eerily accurate - the reading was.

5. Play house - dress up in your most serious grownup outfit, and leave your tiny apartment to visit some open houses. Spend the day arguing over where you would put the love seat, debating the differences between eggshell and ecru paint, and giggling to each other about strangers' hideous decorating choices.

6. Dying to see a musical or play, but can’t afford the tickets? Call around to see if you can buy tickets to the dress rehearsal instead—you’ll pay a fraction of the price for the same experience.

7. One man's junk is another couple's treasure. Grab your guy and see what you can dig up at local garage sales. Up your chances of scoring something great by going to the ritziest neighborhood in your area.

Cheap dates

1 Generic Benadryl
2 Nyquil

the dollar menu at Mickey-D's

Number 6. A lot of places actually do the Final Dress Rehersal as a free show. It isn't advertised. You just have to check their websites so you know when it will be happening. Then you get to go to a 20 show for free. It's a great thing.

8. Go thrift store shopping.

Number 6 was my favorite idea. I might have to try that. Thanks!

I have always wanted to do this, but afraid of what they'll tell me.

Cheap bastard. Na just kiddin. Good ideas.

Could also head to your local flea or farmers market.

Museums are also pretty inexpensive. And to boot, you get some culture in. Makes it easy to talk about things.

The zoo. Even in the winter, the pavilions are open if you're feeling a little cold. Lots to see at your local zoo.

Board games. As long as your not the over competitive type, these usually go a long way.

And heya whisper

I'd say a good portion of those are much more expensive than I could afford except the whole coffee house thing., I always dig open mics, chess, and conversations as well as neat artwork, and whatever else they got in there...

I dig walking through forests and on the lakes and finding some neat spots.

I dig camping it's cheap if you already have the gear cozy too :).

stargazing is really cool drive out somewhere put the top down...

Parks are awesome. Bring a frisbee and uh the dog and go mingle with other people or be alone and make a snack out of it.

the zoo oh yes the zoo is great times. Not only do you walk a lot but seeing animals will usually always bring a smile :). *dog park is better than the zoo*

Create a new game. You know like tag but like you know invent your own game.

Mystery house hide something and play hot and cold or just give a clue. This is fun! :) Such a tease too! I prefer not to play hot and cold... I just give tips on where it is and I always put it in a place where they won't find it no matter how hard they look during the day, however the next day they always find it. That's the clue by the way. Hah.

Make fun of people day... This is probably my favorite activity ever! You go out to like a crowded place and get out your yelling voice *it's better if the place echoes*... This always creates good laughs oh wait you still don't know what I mean oh well.

Make a collage from art or something paint the walls and paint eachother... cheap if you do a drawing or coloring thinger majigger instead of the actual wall... Markers are always fun!

wrestle!!! Wrestling is fun plus full on body contact=win everytime.

Pillow fights are cool but you could really hurt her so you gotta be gentle with the pillow.

that's a few more and they just came from the top of my head with being single, not having a girl who might enjoy these activities and thought of oh I don't know in maybe 7 minutes or less.

Perhaps for the frugal date rape enthusiast?