5 Inexpensive, Last Minute Date Night Ideas

This post contains affiliate links. I will be compensated for purchases made through those links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

​Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, which means it’s about 11 months too late to make a reservation at a restaurant for your date night. That doesn’t mean you can’t put together a romantic evening for you and your other half that both of you will enjoy and remember. And just because it’s not planned in advance doesn’t mean it needs to be expensive. Here are five last minute date night ideas that won’t break the bank.

At Home Paint Night
Paint nights have become all the rage recently, but don’t shell out all that money for something you can easily do at home. Buy some cheap paints, a couple canvases, and a bottle of your favorite drink. There is an abundance of painting tutorials on YouTube that you can follow. Throw one up on the big screen and do your best to follow along. At the end, gift your new masterpieces to each other. Alicia gave ideas for a watercolor paint night on this post! 

Sunset Hike With a Picnic
There are few things in this world more beautiful and romantic than a sunset. Take advantage of this free spectacle and create your own version of dinner and a show. Pack up a simple dinner, bring along a blanket or two, and find an easy hike near you. At the top, set up for the evening and enjoy the view with a delicious meal and the person you love.

Movie Marathon
Movie nights are a pretty normal date night idea, but there are a couple ways you can jazz it up to make it more special. Create a theater size spread for you and your love to munch on while you watch (popcorns, your favorite candies, fries, pretzels, etc). Bring out all the blankets and pillows you can find so it feels like you’re sitting on a cloud while you watch you favorite flix. And finally, figure out what you want your marathon to be. In one evening you can probably fit about 3 movies, so keep that in mind!

Learn How to Cook a New Meal Together
Again, YouTube is a great resource for this and it’s a great, inexpensive alternative to a professional class. Find a few dishes you’re both interested in, make sure you have the ingredients, and then follow the tutorials together to create your own romantic dinner. Not only will you then have a delicious dinner to eat, but you will have the skills to make these recipes again in the future!

Window Shopping in Old Towne
Most cities have an “ole towne” area, filled with cute little shops, restaurants, and entertainment that is all locally owned. Grab a couple smoothies or ice cream and walk around looking at the sights, window shopping, and just having good conversation. This is a great date idea for if you don’t want to actually do anything and just want to spend time together. And, as long as you don’t actually buy anything in the shops, it’s very cheap!

​These five date night ideas are so inexpensive, but also so fun and provide great quality time. They are also simple to adjust to fit your needs and interests. Try them out and let us know which one is your favorite!

If you enjoyed these ideas, you may want to check out others we've given in the past:

Date Ideas for Newlyweds and Oldlyweds
​
​Our Favorite Love Songs