Spring has sprung! 🌼

The snow has finally melted, the sun is shining, and love is in the air! 

I can not think of a better way to enjoy the warmer weather, than with your better half. 

Me and my Fiancé Andrew enjoy going on hikes nearly every weekend, and usually finish the day off with an ice cream in hand. We are eager to explore new places, and try new restaurants now that nearly all Covid restrictions have lifted in our area.

I curated a list of fun, easy-to-plan, spring date ideas for you and your date (on a budget of course!). 

 

The following budget- friendly dates will keep you and your better half busy this spring. 

 

💕 Keep in mind, one of the most intimate, and valued things you can do to make your dates special is to really engage. Be present in the moment, that means turn off those phones, get rid of other distractions, such as work and even the kids. The time with your loved one should be one of quality.

 

 

 

 

Get Out Of The House Dates

 

Now that the weather is finally warming up, it is time to get out of the house. Explore the great outdoors or visit a gallery, the following are low cost ways to spend time with your date this spring. 

 

Go on a Hike

Head to your nearest National Park or Conservation area, bird watch, have a mini picnic or just explore.

I really enjoy getting out in nature, to reflect and reconnect with Andrew.

Many of these parks have free admission. Occasionally you have to pay for parking, or admittance, check the websites of the parks nearest you for more information.

Have a Picnic

Gather some of your hunny’s favourite snacks, a blanket to sit on, and enjoy the great weather.  Watch the clouds go by as you cuddle. 

 

Midnight Walk

Take your walk after sunset, and check out what the area has to offer after-dark. 

 

Plant Some Flowers or Vegetables

Checkout your local garden centres and pick up some plants. Decide together what you both like, and where to plant them.

Don’t have a garden of your own?

Help out at a community garden, or use large planters on your patio or window sill.

We recently planted a few bean plants in a larger planter by our window (hope they grow🤞)

 

Museum

Peruse a museum near you. General admission is usually under $30.

 

Art Museum

Depending on where you live, they sometimes offer free admission, or accept donations for entry. Check out what your area has to offer, and go explore. 

 

Go-Karting

Adding some friendly comeptition with a race around the track. This can add up, depending on the amount of laps or time you want to race.

Put money aside ahead of time if this is something you both really want to do.

 

Road Trip

 

With current gas prices, this date idea may be more on the pricy side.

If you can afford it, fill the tank, grab some snacks and hit the road. Take the scenic route, listen to some music and enjoy the day spent together. 

You may have to set money aside ahead of time in your budget if you are going a long distance.

 

Mini-Golf

Always a great time. 

 

Backyard Camping

Pitch the tent in the backyard, bring snacks and a laptop to watch a movie on. Wish I had a backyard, or even a tent. 

 

Wildlife Sanctuary Or Zoo

Visit a local zoo or wildlife sanctuary, and see all the lovely animals.

Depending on the area, some exhibits may be free, and some may cost admission – Budget accordingly.

 

Drive In

Another fun low cost date idea, that is on my personal list to try. Most are only a few dollars for entry.

Pro tip: Pack your own snacks to avoid over priced concession stands.

 

Watch the Sunrise 

Wake up early, find a nice spot to enjoy breakfast, while the sun rises. 

 

Watch the Sunset 

Romance your date with a beautiful view of the sunset. Add food and drinks for bonus points.

 

Concert

Check your local area for free-events. There is usually live music to enjoy. 

 

 Watch a Game

In person or at home. Make some snacks and cheer for your favourite team. 

Bike Ride

Head out for a nice bike ride. Bring some snacks and a blanket to have a mini picnic when you need a break. 

 

Go to a Greenhouse

Explore the beautiful flora at a local greenhouse or botanical garden. Many are free or have a low cost for admission.

 

Arcade

Head to an arcade, set a budget for yourself so you don’t get carried away. 

 

Enjoy The Rain

Picture this you’ve planned a wonderful day with your date and its starts to rain.

Instead of letting it ruin your day, get out there and enjoy the rain. Leave the umbrella inside, go jump in some puddles or dance in the rain together. 

You can always dry off and cuddle to get warm. 😉

 

Try Geocaching

An outdoor treasure hunt where you use GPS coordinates to track down hidden boxes.  We have done this a few times, and each time has definetly been an adventure, wheter we find the location or not. 

 

Star Gaze

How romantic– really it is. Add good food and beverages, and you will be sure to have a night to remember. 

Ice Cream Date

Go for ice cream. This is a weekly date night in my household (we may love ice cream too much).

 

🍦 You can get adventurous and look up a recipe and attempt to make some fresh ice cream at home. 

 

 

 

 

Get Crafty Dates

Work together and get your creative juices flowing. These low cost activities are great to add fun to any date night.

 

Paint Night

Find a local studio that hosts paint nights, and sharpen your skills while having a great time. 

Or have a paint night at home, pick up the canvas, brushes, and paint from the dollar store to save some big bucks. 

 

Have a Photo Shoot

Capture your date’s smile, and memories with a photo shoot. 

 

Tie Dye

Grab some clothes, and clothing dye to create a fun design.

To save money use what you have on hand. Such as old clothes, and bleach, or food scraps to dye your fabric.

 

Love Letters

Write each other love letters, then read them together. This is one of my favourite anniversary date ideas

Andrew and I do this every anniversary. I always feel like I never know what to write, but it comes to me eventually, I also absolutely tear up after reading his love letters.

 

Learn a New Skill Together

Sharpen or learn new skills together, by taking advantage of free classes or courses. There is also many free instructional videos online that you can take advantage of and add to your date night.

 

 

 

Playful Dates

If you can’t be silly and have fun with your love, are they really the one? 

Here are a few low cost date ideas that are more on the playful side. 

 

Game Night

Who doesn’t love a good-ol’-game-night?

Dust off the old board games, or pull out a pack of cards, and let your competitive nature shine through.

🥂 Add adult beverages to kick it up a notch. 

 

Game Night Ideas:

• Board Games
• Card Games 
• Dice Games
• Video Games
• Ask your partner to show you how to play their favourite game. 
• Try a new game together 
• Charades

 

Make a Time Capsule

Remember how fun these were to do as kids? Create one with your love. Round up items that remind you of them or momentos from past dates and add them to a box. Seal and bury the box.

You don’t even need to bury the time capsule. You can create a time capsule in a shoe box and hide it in a safe space in your home instead.

 

Quiz ‘Em

Look up some ‘Get to Know You’ questions and share your answers.

You can also ask a series of ‘Would you Rather’ questions. This is a fun way to get to know your date.

 

Scavenger Hunt

Hide and seek items around the house for your partner to find.

🌶 Spice it up by leaving love notes or clues that lead to you waiting somewhere special (or wearing something special 😉)

 

Escape Room

Work together on a series of puzzles and clues to escape a locked room before the timer runs out. Great for double dates as well. You can usually get a deal on local escape rooms on Groupon. 

 

 

 

Stay at Home Date Ideas

Just stay inside and cuddle up with your better half, with these low cost date ideas. At home date ideas are great for those cold rainy spring days.

Combine two or more of the following ideas to have a wonderful date night in.

 

 

Romantic Candle lit Dinner

Candles just have a romantic glow to them. Pair them with a delicious homemade dinner, or food from your date’s favourite restaurant. 

💕 Feel free to dress up as if you were going out.

 

Spa Day

Break out the massage oil, and treat your loved one to a nice relaxing massage.  

 

Bubble Bath

Run a nice bubble bath to enjoy together.

Take off your clothes, throw on a face mask, and then squeeze into the tub together.

 

Breakfast in Bed

A classic, and for good reason, who wouldn’t love waking up to breakfast already being made.

 

Dessert in Bed

If you aren’t the breakfast-in-bed type, try dessert in bed! Dessert anywhere is great really. 

  

Pyjama Day

Stay in your pajamas all day, while eating snacks and cuddling. 

 

Movie Night In A Fort

Great to combine with the above pajama day.

Grab those couch cushions, or a mattress, some sheets and make a fort to watch movies in. 

 

Do A Puzzle

Get a big one that you can come back to, great for those rainy days.

 

Memory Lane

Take a stroll (or scroll) down memory lane, review your time spent together leading up to this day. 

 

 

 

Cooking Date Ideas

Enrich your date with the power of tasty food. Also a great way to find out if you can work together well, and share roles in the kitchen. 

 

 

Make Breakfast Together

Start the day off on a delicious note. Work together to make your favourite breakfast items.  

🌶 If you want to turn up the heat, try only wearing an apron.

 

Bake a Treat 

There are about a million and one cookie recipes on the internet, pick one to try to make it together.

 

Try a New Recipe

Add the ingredients into your weekly grocery budget, and set some time aside, to attempt a new recipe. 

Flip through a recipe book (or scroll through Pinterest) and pick something new to try.

 

Mixed Drinks

Create your favourite cocktails (or mocktails) together.  

 

 

Share The Love Date Ideas

More fun low cost date ideas, to add to your day to make it better.

 

 Make it a Double, or Triple

Invite other couples.

Host a potluck, play games or enjoy any of the above date ideas, together with friends.  

 

Volunteer 

Check out local food banks, or shelters and see how you and your partner can help out.

 

Participate in a Park Cleanup

Make your neighbourhood even more beautiful, by signing up for a park cleanup in your area.

 

Recreate a Date

Have a past date that you both really enjoyed?

Recreate it as best you can. Wear the same outfits, go to the same restaurants, and reminisce. 

Me and Andrew enjoy doing this on anniversaries. We start the date going for sushi, head home to build a fort and cuddle the night away watching movies. 

 

 

 

There you have it!

A list of low cost date ideas to check off the  list this spring.

I hope this list inspires you and your date to try something new and enjoy a day full of good food, laughs and lots of love.

 

 

Leave your favorite low cost date ideas in the comments below!

 

 

Stay Frugal,

 

 

Connie xoxo