22 Cheap Romantic Date Ideas
Romance doesn’t have to cost the world. Check out our list of the best cheap romantic date ideas for your partner, wife, husband, or even some friends! Whether you want to plan something special for Valentine’s Day, come up with a romantic anniversary idea, or show your partner you care without needing a secured loan, we’ve got you covered.
Overview:
- Stargazing at night
- Visit a local farm
- Picnic in the park
- Cooking together
- Scenic nature walk
- Bike ride
- DIY movie night
- Board game night
- Local art gallery or museum
- Thrift store shopping
- Beach Day
- Visit a farmer’s market
- Bookstore adventure
- Karaoke night at home
- Sunrise / Sunset watching
- Make some memories with an old film camera
- Visit a local brewery or winery
- Campfire and s’mores
- Free outdoor concert
- Art and craft night
- Visit a botanical garden
- Community events
Best cheap romantic date ideas to plan on a budget
1. Stargazing at night
A cheap date night doesn’t have to be boring, there are many ways to spend a romantic date night with your partner. Stargazing is a great cheap romantic date idea that allows you and your loved one to spend some quality time together away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Find a quiet spot away from city lights, lay out a blanket, and enjoy a romantic night under the stars.
2. Visit a local farm
From produce to flora to fauna, Australia has a lot of unique farm experiences on offer. Many will let you book a cute room for the night so you can wake up to that fresh country air and peace.
3. Picnic in the park
Feel like some fresh air on your date, why not have a picnic in the park? Pack a homemade meal, grab a blanket, and head to a local park for a cosy picnic together. This is a great idea especially in the spring time when the outside temperature is warm and the flowers are blooming.
4. Cooking together
You can easily make a night at home into a great romantic date night but cooking together. Choose a new recipe, grab some ingredients, and cook a delicious meal together.
For some cheap dinner ideas on your romantic night, check out our list of 31 Cheap Easy Dinners.
5. Scenic nature walk
Explore a nearby nature trail or park hand in hand while enjoying each other’s company and the beauty of nature. This date idea just proves that you don’t need to spend any money to go on a date with your loved one.
6. Bike ride
Similar to the date idea above, rent bikes or take a leisurely ride together. This way you can explore your neighbourhood or a nearby scenic route with your partner by your side. Or if you are a competitive couple you can also plan out a bike race from one end of the street to the other.
7. DIY Movie Night
Who doesn’t like an old fashioned movie night. Instead of going to the cinema for a date, why not have a movie night at home. Create a home theatre experience with homemade popcorn, your favourite movies, and some cosy blankets. Plus you can get all cozy in your pjs.
8. Board game night
Spend date night having fun with some competitive board games or card games. This is a great cheap date idea for a couple who have been together for a few years or a few weeks. It’s always fun to learn how your partner deals with a competitive atmosphere.
9. Local art gallery or museum
Australia has a lot of free galleries and museums with different events running throughout the year to make a cute but cheap date spot to revisit. You don’t have to know anything about art or history, just enjoy spending time together and do something different.
10. Thrift store shopping
Go on a treasure hunt at a thrift store and challenge each other to find the most unique or interesting item. This makes a super cute first-date idea too!
11. Beach day
Make the most of Australia’s fantastic beaches and spend the day relaxing together – bring a picnic, play in the water, and enjoy the sunshine.
12. Visit a farmer’s market
Wander through a local farmer’s market, sample fresh produce, and maybe pick up ingredients for a home-cooked meal. You can turn it into a cute weekly date and get some cheaper groceries while you’re at it.
13. Bookstore adventure
A cheap romantic date idea can be as simple as browsing a new store together. Spend an afternoon browsing books at a local bookstore, reading to each other, or finding books to exchange. If you and your partner are already bookworms, take a road trip to find a book store you haven’t visited before.
14. Karaoke night at home
Sing your hearts out with a karaoke night in the comfort of your own home. Find some free karaoke songs on YouTube and see who is the best singer. Or laugh your hearts out to each other’s bad vocal cords.
15. Sunrise / Sunset watching
Whether you are both early birds or night owls, one of the best cheap romantic date ideas is to find a beautiful natural spot to watch the sun rise or set over the horizon.
16. Make some memories with an old film camera
Want to make your date last forever, pick up an old film camera for cheap and spend a day taking whimsical photos of each other. Build up an album of aesthetic photos of you individually and as a couple.
17. Visit a local brewery or winery
Many places offer affordable tastings. Explore new flavours on a romantic day out and enjoy each other’s company.
18. Campfire and s’mores
If you have a backyard, set up a small campfire and enjoy roasting marshmallows for s’mores. You can do a budget version with a tealight candle and some romantic decorations inside if you’re short on space.
19. Free outdoor concert
Check local event listings for free outdoor concerts or performances in your area and have a night listening to great music.
20. Art and craft night
Get creative together by doing some arts and crafts. You don’t have to be experts – just have fun!
If you want to add some fun here is a fun arty idea to do together:
- Get two canvas – your choice in size
- Set a timer for 5 minutes and each of you paint what you want
- Once the time goes off, hand over the canvas to each other and set another 5 minute time.
- Keep swapping after 5 minutes until you have two creative, collaborative artworks.
21. Visit a botanical garden
Botanical gardens are too beautiful to not explore. Plan a cheap date and visit a botanical garden in your local area. Explore the beauty of nature and various plant species, plus you can bring a picnic along with you.
22. Community events
Keep an eye on community bulletin boards for free or low-cost events happening in your area, like outdoor movies, festivals, or markets.
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