70 Cheap Date Ideas for Couples on a Budget

 

Fancy dinners and costly ticket prices add up, especially when you're trying to get to know somebody new. We would all love to be able to splash out big on every date, but unfortunately, that's just not the lifestyle most of us can afford to live. But you shouldn't have to choose between wooing the attractive human of your dreams (or even just the attractive human of the moment from Tinder) and paying rent. That's where affordable date planning comes into play. Or you can take things a step beyond "affordable" into "cheap"—or even hop two steps ahead into free date territory. (If you're looking for indoor-specific date ideas, we've got those too.)

Cheap dates (that don't feel cheap) aren't just for people in those early stages of relationships. Long-term couples still need a steady supply of good date night options, especially if they're sticking to a budget or just not into fancy schmancy expensive dinners. To help out literally anyone looking to have a fun date night on the cheap, we've put together the ultimate guide to dating on a real-person budget, from creative second date options to outdoorsy adventures that only require a little bit of spare cash and the right attitude. marieclaire.com

A lot of the culture around Valentine’s Day involves activities that don’t actually sound that fun. A fancy dinner can be really nice, of course, but jockeying for a reservation on the busiest date night of the year? Less so. Or the old-school tradition of receiving jewelry and chocolates: Both of those things are great, but most people want to pick out their own jewelry if they’re going to wear it every day, and since when do we need permission to eat whatever we want, whenever we feel like it? Intimacy shouldn’t feel like an obligation, and things that make you feel good shouldn’t be some rare indulgence. Maybe it’s time to rethink what V-Day really stands for and use this February holiday as an opportunity to focus on what’s important: Pleasure. Consider this a friendly reminder that Dame Products, the bestselling sexual health and wellness brand, wants to make sure that you come first this February. (And be sure to read to the end for a special discount for Marie Claire readers.)

Pleasure means more than just orgasms, of course. But while deepening your intimacy with a partner can be a priority for any day of the week, Valentine’s Day does offer the chance to talk about pleasure and sex in an open, honest way—something that, unfortunately, isn’t the case (yet) for much of the year. For the coupled-up among us, February 14th could be seen as a whole holiday dedicated to celebrating and strengthening your connection with another person. Sure, for some people, that might look like a swanky prix fixe dinner and an elaborate flower display. For others, building intimacy can be as low-key as trying out a new recipe to cook together, or playing a game that helps you better know your partner. (For a fun and free experience, check out Gottman Institute’s Relationship Quiz to test your knowledge of each other.)

 But pleasure can also mean orgasms. So when it’s time to slip into something more comfortable and retire to the bedroom, make sure pleasure is the priority. Dame’s beloved couples’ vibrator, Eva, focuses on clitoral stimulation to enhance pleasure during penetrative sex. This little cutie’s got three quiet but powerful speeds for customizable fun, and since it’s hands-free and was designed to stay in place, the focus can stay on you and the other person—no need to multitask, and no engineering degree required.