Let’s face it: Just about every adult experiences periods of what is commonly known as “economic anxiety.” When you’re feeling economically anxious, it’s normal to start cutting back on non-essential expenditures—and if you’re in a relationship, date nights are often among the first things to go. It’s easy to assume that date nights will be costly, given the expense of fine dining restaurants and movie tickets. However, date nights are important for keeping your relationship healthy and active, and they can be comforting for both you and your partner. Having a weekly date night on a budget isn’t impossible—here are a few fun ways to make it work:
Check out free or low-cost events in your area.
In most major metropolitan regions, it’s not hard to find free events every day of the week. Whether it’s free concerts in your local park, street fairs or night markets, or museums and galleries that offer free or discounted admission, there are many creative ways to enjoy a night out.
Turn your living room into the ideal date night destination.
Having an at-home date night immediately cuts out several additional costs, such as gas for your car (or a rideshare/metro ticket if you’re not driving), tips for servers, childcare, and so on. Making your home a destination for date night will save you money, and you can get fun and creative with it. Once the kids are in bed (if you have them), you have all kinds of options: watching a movie on Netflix, cooking a meal together, or even having a living room picnic with a bottle of wine and a cheese plate.
Enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer.
Northern California, and especially the Bay Area, is a treasure trove for fans of the outdoors. Why not take a night with your partner to experience it? Whether it’s the beaches of Santa Cruz or a late-night hike with city lights sparkling above, you have an inexpensive date night at your fingertips with the great outdoors.