On the nights that I have a date, I have high hopes that we will be able to do whatever we want and not have to think about money. There has been the chance occasion where credit card rewards have worked out well, but the trend seems to be that by the time we find an affordable event or agree on a restaurant, it’s usually booked and we’re searching for last-minute options. Rather than settle for another night of Netflix and popcorn, I searched websites for some cheap, and fun, date ideas. Here’s what I found:

Go out for $30 or less

ThirtyDollarDateNight has thousands of date ideas that are all under $30. The site features a crowdsourced date that visitors can rate and there’s even a section for free dates. The fact that you can explore the website at no charge makes this an ideal solution for dates on a budget. With so many possibilities, you’re sure to find something that appeals to you and your date. If you sign up for a free account, you can store your favorite date ideas for future reference. My favorite ideas: a dessert date at an upscale restaurant and flying kites at a windy park.

A Date for the Mood

Nifty Date Ideas tailors your date down to the kind of date — from first dates to a romantic escape with your sweetie. Many of the ideas are inexpensive or even free, and there’s an entire section devoted to cheap date ideas. The site is free to use and easy to navigate. You’ll find articles about dating and tips, too. Nifty Date Ideas has a lot of offbeat suggestions that you probably won’t find anywhere else — ideas like setting up a water balloon fight or planting a tree together.

Keep it local

Sometimes the best way to find an affordable date idea is to think locally. You would be amazed how many websites have ideas for inexpensive dates in cities like Los Angeles, New York City, Indianapolis and Miami. These sites showcase the best parks, museums, restaurants, concerts and other attractions all of which are either free or very reasonably priced. If you can’t find a specific site for your area, you might still get some ideas from checking the dating sites of other cities. Even if you live nowhere near Central Park, reading about the free concerts there could remind you to look for a schedule of free concerts at your local park.

Pin Your Date

You can find just about anything on Pinterest, where you’ll also discover a vast collection of sweet and affordable date ideas, too. If you scroll around you’ll find something that inspires you — from lists of 50 cheap date ideas to dates for a penny. I found a relationship bucket list with some wonderful date ideas. And then there was the picture of a hallway filled entirely with balloons. I’m not exactly sure what that date was about, but I admit that I was intrigued.

Since discovering these websites for inexpensive ideas, planning dates that don’t cost a fortune is a lot more fun and not as stressful as it used to be. What I enjoy most about my cheaper dates isn’t the thriftiness, though — it’s rediscovering the simple things, like holding hands as we watch the sunset on a warm Sunday evening. Sure, I wish I could afford hip and upscale restaurants more often, but these cheap dating websites remind me that with the right person, any date can be a memorable experience.

Posted on 7/21/14

Writer bio: Alexandra Rice is a writer who loves talking about all things education. After living in the Mid-Atlantic, South and Midwest, she has finally settled down out West in San Francisco. When not thinking about education, Alexandra can be found at the beach, playing with one of the many dogs at her office, or searching for the perfect cup of coffee. Catch her on Twitter day or night at @Alexandra_Rice.

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