Not too long ago, my companion and I entered a “season of financial savings,” as we’re prioritizing upcoming journey, future home-related furnishings, and so on. It’s no straightforward feat for 2 hard-working individuals who like to dine out, go to reveals, and lean into enjoyable. Date nights for us all the time really feel like an journey. So, moderately than make this time of reigning it in really feel restrictive or boring, we’ve made it right into a enjoyable problem. Each time we exit collectively, we will’t spend greater than $50. In the event you’ve tried not too long ago, it is a bit tougher than it sounds. That’s why we’ve gotten inventive with low-cost date evening concepts that hold the journey (and romance) alive—simply on a funds.
We’ve discovered that with a bit of out-of-the-box considering, after we’re tasked with planning a day we all know we’ll every love, it’s that rather more intentional and significant. To not point out, I like the thriller and shock of seeing what my companion selected for us.
Featured picture from our interview with Claire Zinnecker by Michelle Nash.

12 Low-cost Date Night time Concepts That Are Oh-So Particular
The record of choices is really infinite, and an important half is to have enjoyable with it! Keep in mind, it’s in the end the time you spend collectively that issues probably the most. Whether or not you’re in a season of financial savings too, or just up for the problem, uncover my favourite low-cost date evening concepts to get you began. What are you including to your under-$50 record?
Go to a Bookstore
If you get to the bookstore, every of you has to select a ebook that you simply suppose the opposite individual would love or that speaks to you. My companion is a voracious reader so not too long ago earlier than I left for a visit, I walked right into a bookstore with no agenda apart from discovering one thing I assumed he’d love. I got here throughout Uncooked Canine by comic Jamie Loftus. He LOVES hotdogs and comedy, so it was an ideal match.
Go to a Burlesque Present
Final January, Dita Von Teese was in Austin for a present on the Paramount Theater. It was spicy, horny, and such a blast. Likelihood is you probably have a theater scene in your metropolis, there’s a burlesque present you possibly can catch.
Hike with a Picnic
In the event you’re in Austin, I’d run over to Foxtrot Market on Burnet, seize a bottle of wine (or not!) and snacks, after which head to Mount Bonnell. Go round sundown time to hike up the steps and watch it from the highest. It’s gorgeous. In fact, you are able to do this with any nature space or strolling paths in your space.
Espresso, Stroll, Museum
Low-cost date evening concepts can all the time transition to the early hours. For many who favor mornings and one thing alcohol-free, seize a espresso and head out on a stroll to a close-by museum.
Bowling or Bingo
A real traditional. I you’re fortunate, both place often has cheaper bites and drinks letting you at the least get one good sport and a chunk to separate.
Volunteer
Discover a corporation you’re each into supporting, or higher but, every of you select one that you simply’d prefer to help. As a substitute of utilizing that $50 towards your date, donate it again to the group.
Night time in Cooking
I like the concept of choosing a recipe I do know my companion would devour, and placing him in control of the playlist whereas I cook dinner. We each get a bit of little bit of a shock and hopefully, he’ll add some romantic tune we will dance to within the kitchen.
Go Dancing/Two-Stepping
Two of my all-time favourite locations in Austin for dancing are The Damaged Spoke and Donn’s Depot. Donn’s is true down the road from me and for $50 we get: cowl price, a couple of drinks every, and a bit of further to tip the band taking part in. I like being on the dance ground with all ages and I swear you’ll not discover an individual NOT smiling on the dance ground. Plus, dancing is a ravishing approach to get nearer to your companion.
Tie-Dye Outdated T-Shirts + Film Night time
This one is a complete throwback. If I had been selecting the film it might in all probability be Teen Wolf or Troop Beverly Hills. With out pause, he’d decide Rad. However we’d in all probability each align on Heathers on the finish of the day. Anyway, seize an outdated t-shirt and make a night of it tie-dying, watching a film, and ordering in pizza. It’s chill, laid-back, and provides the ingredient of shock as you by no means understand how your shirt will prove.
Study a New Sport Collectively
This actually may very well be “be taught something new collectively.” I like the novelty that comes with making an attempt one thing new for the primary time and having that ingredient of discovery collectively. There are such a lot of video games I haven’t performed, however not too long ago, my companion and his children introduced their Nintendo Switches on a household trip, and low and behold, I caught myself taking part in till 2 a.m. virtually each evening. (And, to be clear, having the time of my life.)
Go to a Farmer’s Market
You’ve bought $50 and should give you one thing to make for dinner with out going over your funds. Whereas this may be irritating to some, for me, it’s thrilling to consider what my companion likes and the way I can get inventive for him.
Pay it Ahead
This might go so some ways. Spend the $50 cooking a meal or utilizing a meals supply service for a sick good friend or new mother. Put collectively care packages for youths within the hospital. My companion’s sister’s household not too long ago came upon their 6-year-old was recognized with Leukemia and I can’t think about how a lot it might mild the infant as much as have a shock drop-off of toys.

Extra Low-cost Date Night time Concepts We Love
On the subject of relationship on a funds, with solely a bit of to spend, you’re invited to get inventive—and have all of the extra enjoyable due to it. Forward, we’re sharing extra of our favourite low-cost date evening concepts that’ll have you ever counting down till Thursday (or Friday, or Saturday… ) each week.
- Discover a plant retailer. I can’t be the one one who can get misplaced in a plant retailer for hours! Decide up a bit of cutie and get some ideas from the plant whisperers that be.
- Exit to breakfast. It’s means cheaper than dinner, and actually, what’s higher than scorching espresso (or in my case, chilly brew) and pancakes shared with the one you’re keen on?
- Run errands collectively. In case your relationship with Goal is something like mine, simply how enjoyable this may be.
- Go apple or pumpkin choosing. Make one thing candy along with your pickings afterward.
- Do a dive bar crawl. Costs are sometimes so low-cost, you don’t have to discover a comfortable hour particular.
- Puzzle evening. You would take it one step additional and order a custom-made puzzle of your favourite pic collectively as a shock.
- Watch the sundown collectively. When was the final time you deliberately watched the dawn or sundown? Pack a bottle of wine, a mini cheese board, and a blanket. What may very well be extra romantic?
- Lease bikes. Some locations supply bike leases by the hour, making your $50 date doable and lively.
- Go to an artwork retailer. You possibly can have a lot enjoyable with this one. Purchase provides to create a chunk collectively or for each other.
- Thrift store. The aim: every of you takes $25 from the $50 pot you might have and has to place collectively an outfit. Have enjoyable with it.
- Play an intimate card sport. Relationship skilled and therapist Esther Perel’s sport, The place Ought to We Start is a good way to be taught extra about your companion.
- Theme evening at your house. This might go in so many instructions, however is usually impressed by a Christmas-themed bar in Austin known as Lala’s. There’s nothing like reworking your home to get you into the spirit, whether or not it’s a vacation or leaning into an 80s evening.
- Go mini-golfing. A tried-and-true staple for any couple. Plus, it makes an ideal first date.
- Go see stay music. Decide a venue you might have by no means been to and go see somebody new. There’s one thing so enjoyable about including novel parts to your relationship.
- Drive-in film. Seize a blanket and BYOP (convey your individual popcorn!).
- Trivia evening. I’ve bought popular culture coated and my companion has historical past and sports activities.
- Create a scavenger hunt for one another. You won’t even have to spend a dime on this one except you wish to put the funds into prizes.
- Go to a file retailer. Seize a vinyl you every like to play at house in your lazy Sundays.
- Go to a comedy present. On occasion, you possibly can rating tickets for 2 underneath $50. Who doesn’t love an evening of snickers along with your vital different?
- Host a potluck for a couple of {couples}. That is one of the best of all worlds: spending $50 or much less by having others convey over a dish AND you get time along with your buddies.
- Shock and delight. Take your $50 and spend it on pals or household to shock ’em. You’ll each really feel nice and much more linked.
- Swimming and ice cream. There is no such thing as a scarcity of swimming holes and motels that supply day passes to make use of their pool. Seize an old-fashioned delicate serve cone after and your day is ready.
- Strive a brand new bodily exercise. Mountain climbing, pickleball, tennis, and so on. It’s a enjoyable approach to get your coronary heart price up along with your coronary heart throb.
- Create a spa expertise. Making your individual therapeutic massage oil is tremendous straightforward and low-cost. In the event you and your honey love a therapeutic massage, it is a nice approach to create your individual expertise at house.
- Take a mini street journey. There are such a lot of small and cute cities throughout the nation that actually amp up the cheer in the course of the fall and winter months. Seize a couple of street journey snacks and take a drive, stroll round, and make a day trip of it.
- Discover the Kama Sutra. No disgrace in desirous to discover the artwork of lovemaking and sexual positions along with your companion. Have enjoyable with it.
- Recreate your first date. This one may be robust with $50 to spend pending the place you went, however possibly you might have the identical outfit on the prepared or can pull in parts which might be related.
- Binge watch a TV sequence and order in. There are such a lot of sequence my companion and I wish to begin. Yellowstone, anybody?
- Write out your targets. Possible received’t value you a single factor, but it surely’s a beautiful time to carve out an intentional second to set massive targets collectively and assist hold each other on monitor.
- Go rollerskating. A good friend of mine not too long ago hosted a birthday at a rink and it was such a throwback, to not point out lower than $50 for 2 individuals.
- Discover a park live performance sequence. Because the temps cool in Austin, a number of parks host “Jazz on the Inexperienced” or “Music within the Park” and so they’re often free!
- Host a ebook swap evening for 2. Select books out of your assortment that you simply haven’t learn but, swap them with one another, and spend the night studying and discussing your picks over tea or wine.
- Discover open homes or dream neighborhoods. Tour open homes for enjoyable and picture your future house collectively. Bonus factors should you pack snacks and make it a automotive picnic between stops.
- Avenue meals crawl. Skip formal eating and discover road distributors or meals vans. Share small bites and make it an journey to attempt one thing new at every cease.
- Go to a botanical backyard at evening. Some botanical gardens supply discounted night or low season passes. Stroll by way of the grounds and luxuriate in nature’s magnificence underneath the celebrities.
- Star gazing with a twist. Discover a quiet spot away from metropolis lights, convey alongside a constellation app, and see what number of constellations you possibly can determine collectively.
- Attend a neighborhood poetry or open mic evening. Assist native artists by attending a free or cheap poetry studying or open mic evening. It’s an intimate approach to join by way of shared experiences.
- Create a time capsule. Collect small objects, images, or handwritten notes representing your relationship. Seal them in a container, decide a future date to open it, and bury or retailer it someplace significant. It’s a romantic approach to replicate on the current whereas wanting ahead to the long run collectively.