Five Free/Cheap Date Night Ideas
Let's be honest, between a lack of time and money it's tough to have quality time with your love after you have a kid. But you don't have to go out to a fancy restaurant or break the bank to spend some quality time together. Here are a couple date night ideas that are cheap or completely free that will help keep the two of you connected.
The Well-Rounded Bucket List
We've all thought about the things we want to do before we die, maybe you already have a bucket list of things you'd like to do. But have you ever written one with your spouse? Do you know what she wants out of life? For this exercise you guys will work together to come up with a list of 100 Things to Have, Do, or Give before you die.
While the first 20 or 40 things will likely take no time at all to write down on paper, after that you might find this to be pretty challenging. Some of the things you'll find out are pretty easy to do an wonder why you haven't done them already. You'll also learn new things about your partner's hopes and dreams you never realized. And by thinking about things that you want to give you'll also be thinking about the greater good.
Fitness For Free
Nothing helps bring people together like releasing endorphins through exercise. Sometimes the same gym routine can get boring or you might feel like that's your own time to be alone. But trying a new class together can help level the playing field and keep you both excited about trying something new. So many specialty gyms offer your first class free. Some offer your first week or month free. The icing on the cake? Some of these gyms even have daycare while you workout so you won't have to worry about getting a sitter. If you do HAVE to get a sitter, at least the date is free.
Make a list of all the places in your neighborhood that offer free trial classes and start checking them off. You might even find one you both like and make it a regular habit.
DIY Couples Massage
If you're sore from all that working out, you're probably ready for a massage. Heck, even if you didn't do the workouts, we all know parenthood can make tension build up in those shoulders. Massages are expensive, but at home massages are not.
Go out by a few candles, some massage oils and maybe even a video on massage. Dim the lights, set the music and you're ready to go. Take turns giving each other massages when the kids go to bed. On top of feeling great yourself, you'll be making your partner feel great too.
You don't even have to worry about forcing conversation if that's not your thing.
At Home Wine Tasting
Grab a couple bottles from your local store and pour yourselves a few glasses after the kids go to bed. Put each bottle in a container so you can't identify the labels or bottles. Don't worry if you're not a wine aficionado, half the fun will be trying to figure out the vocabulary to describe the taste and feeling of each wine. Don't worry about everything else going on in life for a few minutes and just enjoy spending some time with each other learning about what wines you like. The next time you do go out for dinner you'll feel a little better about ordering from the wine list or at least you'll be able to describe your likes and dislikes to the waiter a little better than before.
Learn Something New
Once you've written your bucket list chances are you're going to have to develop a new skill to accomplish some of the things on that list. Learning those skills doesn't have to cost a fortune. Want to learn a new language? Try the Duolingo app for free. Looking to learn photography for a family portrait or future trip? Try Creative Live, they offer classes for about $20 bucks. Expanding your minds together while crossing something off the bucket list will help bring you both closer together without leaving home.
Have other ideas for great free or cheap dates? Please share them in the comments below.