In case you weren’t aware, Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching. It’s a day intended to show off your love, but it can quickly turn into a stressful evening of planning expensive dates. But who says that’s what the holiday has to be about? You can have a great Valentine’s Day with minimal planning and little to no spending.
If you’re trying to spend less time stressing and save more money, here are a few date ideas that won’t set you back a dime and will still make memories.
1. Car-less drive-in
As drive-in theaters become less common, a piece of Americana slips into oblivion. Recreate the fun Mom and Dad encountered by hauling a DVD player and a projector out to the backyard on a starry night with a blanket and some bug spray. The neighbors might think it strange, but you’ll have a blast.
2. Have a romantic meal — wherever you want!
Eat dinner at home. Later, go out for Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts. Stop at the ice cream shop. Just get a snack together, which is definitely cheaper than a whole meal. Or instead of going out late, get up before sunrise and go out for breakfast. The point is that you’re sharing a delicious meal with someone you really care about.
3. Spend an evening at the library
Incredibly enough, the United States is full of huge buildings full of books that are absolutely free for you to peruse and enjoy at your leisure. Usually, heading to the library is a solitary adventure, but there’s no reason it has to be. For most people, books are a huge part of their lives and development. Take your partner to a library and peruse books from your formative years together. Find passages from copies of books like A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia and Kindred that moved you and read them to each other. Or go back even further, to books like Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight, Moon. The only thing better than a walk down memory lane is a date on memory lane.
4. Get wild
The admission fee at your local zoological park is probably less expensive than you may think. You can spend the whole day watching the monkeys pick lice out of each other’s heads, or you can just walk around and enjoy the landscaping. The wild animals can lead to some pretty interesting conversations, and conversation can help you get to know each other better—which is why you are dating, right?
5. Stargazing
Need we say more?
6. Coffeeshop it
Live music and poetry readings, with a three-dollar cover and a two-dollar cappuccino, is quite romantic. You can sit there all night. Just drink slowly. It’s a great atmosphere: calm and laid back, and perfect for conversation. If they have an open mic night, write a silly love song or poem and surprise your date with a performance. Even if you have no talent, the sentiment of making a fool out of yourself to say, “I love you,” is very romantic.
7. Look at old stuff
Go to a museum. They are inexpensive or free. Spend some time walking through the exhibits, and talk about it. Talk quietly, though, or they will kick you out. History has a very romantic appeal to it. While the dinosaur bones may not be that romantic, spend some time in the medieval section and talk about chivalry. Or look at the World War 2 section and find some pictures of love-hungry sailors, and then take turns making love-hungry faces at each other (but seriously, don’t do this—you will be mocked, and deservedly so).
