52 Nearly Free Dates

As it's mid-June, I was thinking about some wedding and anniversary gift ideas. Whether you plan on going to a wedding, have an anniversary party to attend, or you and your spouse are stuck in a rut; here are a year's worth (52) weekly date night ideas, grouped into the four seasons with 13 weeks (dates) per season. (This post is 100% family-friendly, so feel free to read around your children.)

I've included free Seasonal envelope templates and a Year of Dates gift tag you can tie onto a gift bag or a wrapped copy of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover (our idea of the perfect way to starting every marriage off with fewer money fights, which also leads to better communication). The only cost from these dates would be the cost of making meals/snacks, gas money, and any movies you decide to purchase instead of borrowing from the library.

The printables are located in Eco-Friendly Saver resource library, free to all email subscribers. See the form at the bottom to join the Eco-Friendly Savers weekly email newsletter and get access to the printables, and other goodies. To maximize your savings, look ahead and reserve any movies you need to borrow from the library, find free events in advance, and gather any supplies/ingredients so that you are prepared and don't feel tempted to blow your budget on eating out, etc.

Winter Dates

• Take a free DIY class together at Home Depot or Lowe's.


• Go sledding and make some homemade healthy hot cocoa (I substituted carob powder for a caffeine-free cocoa powder substitute- Use cardboard boxes if you don't have sleds or try ice blocking instead if you don't get snow in Winter (How to make an ice block.)


• Try a new exercise together like yoga or Zumba. You can borrow videos from the library or watch on YouTube. An awesome variation on this would be to try workouts that are over 15 years old (I highly recommend Richard Simmons!)


• Look in your local newspaper or city's website for local art shows or photography exhibitions that are free to visit. Some even offer free snacks too.


• Have a cheesy evening in with cheese fondue & a cheesy movie (We love "The Princess Bride").- An hour and a half before you plan to eat the fondue: Put 1 3/4 Cups shredded cheese, 1 TB+ 3/4 Tsp whole wheat flour, 5/8 Cup+ 1 1/2 Tsp chicken or beef broth, 1/2 Tsp apple cider vinegar, 1 1/2 Tsp minced garlic, and 1/2 Tsp black pepper into a crockpot, turn the heat on high, and cover for an hour and a half. Stir every fifteen minutes. The last several minutes should be uncovered to allow any excess moisture to escape.


• Try baking bread together. This recipe is gut-friendlier, cheaper, and simpler than your average recipe. Plus it uses up a waste product from making kombucha. (I make our kombucha with loose leaf-nettle leaf, red raspberry leaf, hibiscus, or maté, not green or black tea. Start making kombucha on the cheap.) (Check a week ahead for preparation steps)


• Do an easy crossword puzzle together.


• Make easy buffalo wings or hot dogs and watch a game or sports movie (Miracle-hockey, "The Pride of the Yankees":1942-story of Lou Gehrig, featuring Babe Ruth!, "Rocky"-boxing, etc.)


• Have dinner by candlelight. Set the table, bring out the air-purifying beeswax candles, and have a nice meal, just the two of you.


• Set a budget and plan your next big vacation (even if it’s many years away).


• Get in touch with your inner children and try all-natural finger painting together. Make the paint in advance, or make it together. Put on some aprons, and then finger paint on the blank side of old documents.


• Share memories from your childhoods. Watch home movies together or look at scrapbooks from your childhoods. Be sure to ask questions and make it a fun way to get to know each other better.


• Play HORSE with a small ball and trash can.

Spring Dates

• Try cloud watching together. Lie in the grass and watch the clouds go by. Compete to see who can find the most unusual things in the cloud formations.


• Zoo Free Day-Most zoos offer a few free days throughout the year. This is a great time to take advantage of the awesome exhibits without having to pay for entrance.


• Plant an herb garden with free seeds. Use cans with holes in the bottom (Laura Ingalls-style), old shoes, or whatever else you have laying around as containers. As long as it drains, you can use it.


• Watch a documentary together. Reserve a one from the library at least a week in advance. Public libraries also buy based on suggestions, you can request a few items they don't have. It usually takes several months for them to purchase though, so be prepared. Some ideas to get you thinking: "The Lightbulb Conspiracy", "The Clean Bin Project", "Addicted to Plastic".  You can also follow up by critiquing the faults of the documentary, which is usually our response to documentaries.


• Have a picnic inside your home or just outside. Grab a blanket, bring out the plates, sandwiches, salads, etc.


• Play a board game by candlelight. Bring out a board game and set it up with candles close enough to see what you're doing.


• Research your family histories together online. You can learn so much about a person by delving into their past. Create a free account and start by adding your information, then your parents', grandparents', and keep going until you get to a deceased relative. Then you can see what you can find! Have your spouse do the same, and create their own account. Be sure to add each other's family information as well.


• Make a homemade pizza together (use the starter recipe from baking bread above), homemade gelato with no cane sugar, and "Roman Holiday" or another movie set in Italy. To make it easy, either make the super simple gelato ahead in the morning. Start the date by making the pizza, then start the movie. Enjoy the pizza and snuggling together while you savor the gelato.


• Make a blanket fort. Try not to laugh too much as you relax and have fun getting in touch with your inner child.


• Take YouTube "dancing lessons" together in your own living room, use rhythm/Latin dances (like Cha-Cha) for smaller living rooms and Smooth/Slow dancing (like Waltz) for larger ones.


• Chinese egg drop soup and watch "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" or "The Bruce Lee Story"


• Cook a copycat restaurant meal together. Eating out can really blow your budget out of the park, it's usually not very good for you, and you miss out on the time you could have spent together cooking. Try searching for your restaurant favorite by typing in copycat (Name of a restaurant) (favorite dish) recipe. You'll save money, spend more time together, and enjoy a healthier meal.


• All About Us Charades  – Get to know each other better with this variation of charades. Includes all the free printables you need to play the game!

Summer Dates

• Have a picnic in the park. Grab a backpack, basket, insulated bag, or other container, dishes, silverware, and pack your favorite foods. You can go with traditional sandwiches, salads, and chopped fruit, just pack leftovers, or pack a quick and easy meal.


• Go on a beach, river, or lake day trip. Many beaches, river areas, and lakes are free to visit, which makes them romantically affordable. Look for free areas near you that you could try. Pack sunscreen, an insulated bag of food, towels, swimming suits, sandals, etc.


• Window shop at the Farmer's Market. Many cities now host farmers markets on the weekends. The food on offer is usually healthier and fresher than store-bought versions, and it's always interesting to check out the work of local artisans! Try lots of free samples. Free as long as you don't buy anything!


• Take a hike together for free. Find an easy trail if you two don't hike all of the time. Pack lots of water, sunscreen, and your favorite healthy snacks. Dress in layers so you're prepared for sudden weather changes. This is a great way to enjoy nature and each other's company.


• Watch the sunrise or the sunset! The sun is definitely free, so find out what time the sun goes up or down and get cozy.


• Try running through the sprinklers or soak in the kiddie pool—without the kids. Get your swimwear and sunscreen on and head outdoors to play. Feel free to splash, but not in the face!


• Try free outdoor concerts/plays/movies in the park. Look for free outdoor concerts, Shakespeare in the Park, or free movies in the park. This is a great date or family activity. I grew up going to "Shakespeare in the Park" and it was tons of fun. Be sure to bring shade, sunscreen, and maybe even dinner by bringing a picnic!


• Try dining out on the porch, patio, or in the backyard. This can be a nice change of pace and a great way to embrace the warmth of Summer.


• Make sushi and watch a martial arts movie, like the classic Ugetsu Monogatari. If you make sushi at home, you'll save a small fortune. It's easy once you get the hang of it, and feel free to laugh at your mistakes along the way. This is a nice cool meal that won't heat up the whole house by using the oven.


• Give each other DIY facials. Prepare the facial scrub and face mask. Start off with a pineapple facial, steam the face, use a gentle scrub,  followed by a soothing face mask, rub jojoba oil lightly all over the face, and finish by steaming the face again and wipe off with a warm washcloth. Switch places and have the other person give a facial.


• Have one spouse teach and one spouse learn a skill from the other.


• Read a book out loud or poetry, if you're daring. Find a book that you are both interested in and take turns reading. If you don't know where to start, try seeing if one of your favorite movies was adapted from a book.


• Have a 50's night and watch "Singin' in the Rain". (Check a week ahead for preparation steps). Either make old-fashioned soda fountain specials (shakes, malts, sundaes, sodas, etc.) or make a healthier all-natural soda to share (sasparilla/root beer, grapefruit soda, Finnish Fermented Lemonade, or Elderberry Soda (Immunity Booster!)

Autumn Dates

• Go to a park or in the backyard and jump in the leaves.


• Tour a farm. Prepare a crockpot meal or a picnic for after your tour. Some farms offer free tours or visiting hours. Visit the animals and learn about how a farm actually operates. You can then head home and eat a crockpot soup or have a  picnic out.


• Visit a national park on one of their free days. Pack water, food, and sunscreen.


• Serve with Your Spouse. Find a service project in your community that you and your spouse can help with. Don't leave it to the last minute, if you can. Connect the agency, group, or church at least a week in advance to make sure you have lots of options to chose from.


• Pretzel tasting with homemade pretzels and different mustards. Make the pretzels together, then enjoy sampling different mustards.


• Make healthier chocolate fondue with fruit. You can watch Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with your fondue.


• Spend the evening just giving each other back rubs or foot massages.


• Find out your spouse's love language and find out ways to show them love throughout the next week.


• Recreate your first date at with an at-home version. Take a trip down memory lane by not only doing the same activities but talking about how that first date felt. If you went out for sushi, had crappy service, and felt horribly awkward= make sushi at home (see Summer Dates above), glare at each other as you serve the food, wear similar clothing (if you don't still have that outfit), and talk about that date. Or you had a very sweet first date with your best friend like I did, then try to recreate those experiences.


• Binge watch episodes of your favorite TV show. You can borrow seasons from the library or look up episodes on YouTube.


• Play a word association game where one of you say a word and the second person say the first thing that comes to mind. This is a great way to reconnect and get to know the person your spouse is now, versus the person you married.


• Take a virtual tour of a museum online together. Try out the Louvre in Paris, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, or the National Gallery of Art.


• Record the story of how you met to show to your kids and family, just like in this series of clips from When Harry Met Sally.

Get Free Seasonal envelope templates and a Year of Dates Gift Tag 

Subscribe (free!) to my newsletter with updates and tips plus get instant access to my resource library with all my free files, printables, and patterns! Once subscribed, I will send you a newsletter with details about my new free files each week.

Email Address

[social_warfare]

Shared at:
Share Your Style Link Party, Dream Create Inspire Party, Bloggers Dreamteam Linky, Diy Crafts More Link Party, Bloggers Spotlight, Aprons & Pearl Linkup, One Project At A Time, Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party, Home And Garden Thursday, Friday At The Fire Station Linkup Party, Motivational Monday Linkup, Party In Your Pjs,

Handmade Hangout Party, allmumsaid.com.au, Sundays Best Linkup, Funtastic Friday, KCACOLS, anallievent.com, Dishing It & Digging It, Anna Nuttall Bloggers Linksup, Link your stuff, Pretty Pintastic Party, BFF Open House Link Party, Busy Monday,

The Hearth And Soul Link Party, Turn It Up Tuesday, Encouraging Hearts Home Blog Hop, Artsyfartsy Link Party,  Inspire Me Tuesday, Bouquet of Talent Party,  Inspiration Galore Party Project, Nifty Thrifty Party, Inspiration Monday,

Makers Make Party, Mix It Up Monday, Creative Corner, Over The Moon Link Party, Friday Favorites, Share the Wealth, Girl Chat Linkup, Traffic Jam, Happiness is Homemade, Simple Saturdays Bloghop, New Beginnings and Breakthrough Linkup, 

The Scoop, The Homemaking Party, Pretty Pintastic Party, Share It Tuesday, What to Do Weekends Party, Friendship Friday, Creative Corner Link Up Party, Dear Creatives Linkup, Wine’d Down Wednesdays,

Creative Muster Party, Wow Me Wednesday, Wonderful Wednesday Blop Hop, A Round Tuit, Totally Terrific Tuesday Link Party, Home Matters Party, Bouquet of Talent Party, Lou Lou Girls’ Fabulous Party, Creative Gallery, Love Learn Bloghop,

Nifty Thrifty Sunday, Simple Homestead Bloghop, Friday Feature Linky Party, This is How We Roll Thursday, Dare to Share Linkup, Home Away From Home Party, Think Tank Thursday Link Up, Wow Us Wednesdays, Sew It, Cook It, Craft It Link Party,

Homestead Blog Hop, Waste Less Wednesday, Saturday Sharefest, Bloggers Pit Stop, Urban Naturale Blog Hop, The Scoop Link Party, Share One More Time Party, Project Inspire, Tuesdays with a Twist, #For the Love of Blog,Celebrate Your Story Link Party, Sundays at Home

The links in the post below may be affiliate links that support the cost of building this business and help end slavery at no additional cost to you!  Read the full disclosure to learn more and find out what your purchases are supporting.