With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s easy to get lost in the season and lose sight of what’s important. This year, finances don’t have to get in the way of a great date — here are some low-cost, but still just as romantic options.
- Movie marathon
Cozying up to watch a movie (or a few) is a great way to connect with your significant other!
While movie dates are usually seen as theater trips where costs add up quickly, staying in and popping some microwave popcorn is much more romantic and much more budget-friendly.
So, choose a franchise you already like or try a new one, and sit down for a few hours with the one you love most for a good binge!
- Stargazing
While it might not be as conventional in the dead of February, there are so many clear nights with stars to be seen!
There are a few different free constellation apps available, including Night Sky, Sky Guide, Stellarium, and Star Tracker. I have only used Sky Guide, but the others have great reviews as well.
Making some hot chocolate or tea and bundling up to lie in the snow and see some stars could be the perfect romantic option for the outdoorsy couple.
- Thrifting
A thrift challenge can be such a fun, lower-cost date! See what you can find with $10 each, whether it’s a new outfit for each other or decor for a shared space.
Thrifting is a fun, sustainable way to show you understand each other’s style or redecorate a space to fit both tastes.
- Cook dinner together
While this sounds too simple to be a great date, it can be made into something fun!
Find a new recipe or pretend you’re on Food Network — there are so many ways to make a mundane task into a romantic date!
Some great options for working together are pastas and soups. It’s easy to delegate tasks like cutting vegetables, browning meat, and boiling pasta between two people, even in the smallest of kitchens.
- Game night
Games are an amazing way to connect! A game night can be as simple as Googling some games to play with a deck of cards, or as elaborate as a full-scale 8-hour Monopoly game.
If you don’t already have a deck of cards, they can be as cheap as $5 in the checkout aisle.
There are also some great games you can download on a smartphone. A favorite in my household is Wavelength, which is also available as a board game in the store.
Whether you stay in or go out this Valentine’s Day, there are tons of options for all budgets. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of what the holiday means and embrace love this year!
