How to Go On a Date for Under $20

Bored with the same date night routine? It can get repetitive. Do you go out and spend ninety percent of your budget on the babysitter? Or do you stay in, rent a movie, and fall asleep halfway through because you’re so exhausted? Once in awhile you throw in a fun date, but most of the time Friday rolls around and you barely think twice about it. Listed below are a few unique date night ideas. Some ideas are for nights you just want to stay in, others are for nights you want to go out, and some are for those nights you just want to hang out with your friends. Any idea you choose will definitely help bust you out of that date night boredom rut.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. STAYING IN...
   
   1. Childhood Treats…
   
   Enjoy treats you used to eat as a child! Go to www.hometownfavorites.com. This website includes a grocery store, gift center, and candy store with hard to find nostalgic candy, groceries and gifts. Find treats from the 50’s all the way to the 90’s. Early on in the week, choose $20 worth of childhood favorites and have it delivered. On Friday night choose a favorite old movie you haven’t seen since you were a kid. Enjoy your treats and movie together after the kids go to bed and reminisce your childhood days.
   
   Total Cost: $20+shipping
   
   2. Make it Together…
   
   Make a fun, inexpensive meal together this week. Go to kraftfoods.com and choose a food theme like Mexican, Italian, Greek or Asian. Complete the dinner with candlelight and wine glasses. Wait until the kids go to bed to get started, or send your kids to a friends house and offer to swap babysitting with them another night.
   
   Total Cost: $20 or less for food and supplies
   
   3. Fondue Fun…
   
   Get dipping! Grab the crock pot and follow this easy fondue recipe. Stir 2 cups milk chocolate chips and 2/3 cup half and half together in crock pot. Cover and cook on low heat for one hour. Stir halfway through and again when fondue is finished. Dip fresh fruit, cake, and cookies in while chatting about your day.
   
   Total Cost: Under $20 for supplies
   
   4. Serendipity Sweets…
   
   In the mood for chocolate, but want to try something different? Log on to www.serendipity3.com and try a frozen hot chocolate mix. Rent a movie or play a board game while sipping this incredibly delicious chocolate drink. They also offer some fun bedroom items too!
   
   Total Cost: $14.99 for the Chocolate Lover’s Gift Set + shipping
   
   5. Mix it Up…
   
   Try some fun, new mixed drinks together. Log onto drinksmixer.com to get some new ideas. Don’t worry. Virgin variations are available too. Invite some friends over if desired. Try the local dollar store for cheap margarita glasses if needed.
   
   Total Cost: $20 or under for supplies
   
   6. TV Show Marathon Night…
   
   Too tired to go out but want a twist on the usual movie? Try renting something old but new. Fun TV shows like Saturday Night Live, A-Team, Saved by the Bell and MASH are now available on DVD. Pick one of your favorites, grab a drink and some treats and enjoy a marathon of your favorite old show for those nights you’re too tired to go out.
   
   Total Cost: $5 for DVD Rental
2. MORE STAYING IN IDEAS...
   
   7. Take Your Dream Trip…
   
   Are the kids driving you crazy and you just want to get away? Then do it! Log onto the internet together, research that special place you want to go, than book that imagination destination.
   
   Total Cost: FREE
   
   8. Memory Lane…
   
   Make a date on the couch for a cool trip down Memory Lane . Read old entries from journals; look at old photo albums and high school yearbooks. Early on in the week pick a theme for your Memory Lane night. It could be ‘worst haircuts’ or ‘ugliest date’ night. Find and share your pictures and the stories behind it. Get a good laugh as you share those hideously scary stories with each other.
   
   Total Cost: FREE
   
   9. Get Cheesy!
   
   Enjoy a delicious cheesecake delivered to your door from the Cheesecake Factory. Choose to have a cheesecake delivered monthly or every other month to your door. You can even choose the flavors you want. Grab some wine glasses, and enjoy a delicious dessert together.
   
   Total Cost: A little more than $20/cake + shipping. Log onto www.cheesecakefactory.com for more information.
   
   10. Go Gaming…
   
   Have fun playing the video games your kids never let you play with. Stage competitions between each other with “prizes” for the winners.
   Or, rent a new game you've never played before to make the competition even.
   
   Cost: Under $10 for rental
   
   11. It’s Great to Be a Kid…
   
   Grab the pillows and start a pillow fight! Afterwards, enjoy a game of Twister together. Afterwards, enjoy a drink, curl up under a blanket and laugh about how silly you looked.
   
   Total Cost: $14 for Twister Game at walmart.com
3. GOING OUT TOGETHER...
   
   1. Go Drive-In…
   
   Pack a blanket, pillows, and snacks, and enjoy a movie old school style. And, it’s even cool to take the minivan! (Provided you take out the backseat so you can snuggle in the back together). Can’t find a babysitter? Take the kids with you. Lot ’s of drive-in theatres offer a family movie first, followed by an adult movie. To save money, pop popcorn and buy snacks and drinks ahead of time. For a list of drive-in theatres near you log on to www.driveintheater.com.
   
   Total Cost: $6-8 per person+snacks
   
   2. Get Out and Game...
   
   go out to an arcade together and play $20 worth of games. Enjoy a treat after.
   
   Total Cost: $20 or under + babysitting if needed.
   
   3. Start Serving…
   
   Volunteer for a community event. You could assist with Special Olympics, walk for the Heart Association, or bike for the Diabetes Association.
   
   Total Cost: FREE + babysitting if necessary.
   
   4. Get Moving…
   
   Get out and enjoy some of your favorite activities with a twist. Stage a snowball fight against each other, enjoy dinner in the canyon, at the park, or along the beach. Lay in your hammock out under the stars.
   
   Total Cost: Under $20+babysitting if needed.
   
   5. Learn Something New…
   
   Check out your local university or community center for a class you can take together. It could be a cooking, massage, home improvement, or a dance class. Sign up and enjoy learning something new together.
   
   Total Cost: $20 + babysitting if needed.
   
   6. Enjoy Cheap Pampering…
   
   Who says you have to splurge for star treatment? Enjoy a massage at a local massage therapy school. Many schools offer 2 for 1 specials on massages or charge $15-20 for an hour long massage. See www.massageme.com for links to schools in your area.
   
   Total Cost: Up to $20 for a one hour massage + babysitting if needed.
4. GOING OUT WITH FRIENDS...
   
   1. Newlywed Night…
   
   See if you know each other as well as you think you do! Invite some couples over to test each others knowledge and enjoy a fun game night together! Buy a gift card ahead of time for the winning couple. Have each couple bring a treat and pitch in $5 for the gift card.
   
   Total Cost: $14.99 for the Newlywed Game: 2nd Edition available at amazon.com; $5 for gift card pool + babysitter if necessary
   
   2. Progressive Party…
   
   Have a progressive dinner party with your friends. Choose three friends to serve as hosts. Rotate houses. Appetizers at one house, main dish at another, and dessert at another. Have fun by creating a food theme night. The kids have fun too. Each house brings new toys. End with game night for parents and a movie for the kids.
   
   Total Cost: Under $20
   
   3. Get Moving…
   
   Get out and enjoy some of your favorite activities with a twist. You could play tag in the snow as couples. Afterwards serve hot chocolate and enjoy a meal like chili or soup. Or, play mud football together after a rainstorm. Bring a change of clothes, than enjoy a meal afterwards at one of your favorite hangouts. You may enjoy making a dinner in the canyon, at the park, or along the beach. Everyone bring your own meal then enjoy playing games afterward.
   
   Total Cost: Under $20+babysitting if needed.
   
   4. Greatest Chef Night:
   
   It's time to be a kid again with your friends! Stage a "Greatest Chef" dessert night. Allot one person to be the judge. Than have each couple start creating. It could be an ice cream creation night, or chocolate theme. It could be tallest ice cream sundae. Whatever you decide. Have each couple bring different items. The judge chooses the winning couples creation. Take pictures of each couple by their creation. Award a trophy to the winning couple.
   
   5. Here come the...
   
   The new hit ABC Show, "Here Come the Newlyweds" would be a great themed party for you and your friends. (If you've been married awhile, make it a "Here come the Oldyweds" theme night). In the show, couples competed through various events to finally reach a winner. Go to http://abc.go.com/primetime/herecomethenewlyweds/index?pn=index for ideas for planning various activities and competitions. Enjoy a night of laughs watching your couple friends navigate through competitions that promote communication and fun.