Cheap Dates - Ideas?

Kim · **Cheap Dates - Ideas?**

Heidi Burns, of the Hip Mom Rules column right here on Mommysavers has a great idea for a cheap date:

"We created "Burnsie Cafe" which only opened after the children went to bed. I lit tea lights, incense, turned on some hip jazz music, and brewed strong coffee. Then we sat down at our kitchen table and recreated many of our conversations from coffeehouses past. We bought a second jogging stroller and began rollerblading and running together again. Perhaps it wasn't quite the same as a carefree run along the lake, but the children were occupied and we were again doing the things that we loved to do together." (to read the whole article, click here)

Does anyone else have a creative idea for dating on the cheap?

Happymom · 02-04-2007, 04:42 PM

Our favorite thing is to get dd to watch the boys and we go shopping, just the 2 of us!! Usually it is to the grocery store, Lowe's or Target. Nothing fancy! But it is so nice with just the 2 of us!!! Sometimes we even stop at Wendy's for spicy chicken sandwiches!

lgraves9696 · 02-04-2007, 06:42 PM

Here in Arizona we have Frys and Bashas supermarkets that have a free childcare area to use while you shop. DH and I will let the kids play in the childcare area and we get our grocery shopping done. Both stores even have an area where you can purchase food from the deli, then go sit and eat. So, during when our finances are too low for a date night and a babysitter... we will go do our shopping and get a bite to eat - all while the kids are having a great time, too!

lvr4jbns · 02-04-2007, 06:50 PM

We will have dinner at home as a family. Then, dh and I will go to this quaint and quiet coffee house just for dessert and coffee. We split the dessert, it ends up costing under $10.00. On summer nights we will just take a walk or get ice cream. A heck of a lot less than dinner, movie, etc. We used to go out to dinner or dinner and a movie once a week, we would easily drop $50. to $75., we still have date night every week but have found a cheaper way to do it.

KathrynHannah · 02-04-2007, 08:03 PM

We are incredibly blessed to have family nearby that give us a date night every Friday night with free baby-sitting (at their house). Some of the things we do for cheap dates...

* hiking
* mountain biking
* cross country skiing
* coffee shop for 'regular' coffee - not the fancy $5 drinks
* we find free events / concerts / plays in town and attend them
* used book store browsing (more fun for dh as he collects out of print books)
* canoeing
* movie at the 2nd run / alternative movie theater at $5 a movie
* sometimes when we've had a busy week we just make a nice supper and sit around and read.

2littleonesmommy · 02-05-2007, 05:58 AM

We use the Entertainment Book. We look for places that are B1G1F for meals and with drinks, appetizers or desserts we can have a nice dinner for the price of one. If we want to go to a movie after the book also has coupons for that.

Adda15 · 02-05-2007, 07:17 AM

Our cheap date would be to go to a movie, but one that is earlier in the day. You can get great discounts if you go before dinner.
We then would go out for a glass of wine and appetizer, leaving the rest of the evening at home, and cooking the balance of the meal.
Doing this really extends the time of the date as well.

Bucsnpats · 02-05-2007, 07:22 AM

We usually sit out on the back porch, with some candles lit and a bottle of wine, and just talk. Also, we are very fortunate with having the "big kids" here to watch the baby, so once a week, we put the baby to bed and hand over the monitor, and go out to dinner (very close to home). Sometimes, we will just sit on the couch and order a "pay-per-view" movie if it is something we really want to see!! Only $4-5!!