Valentine’s day, though a wonderful day for couples to spend together, has acquired a reputation as a day that breaks banks and empties pockets. However, there’s no reason you can’t have a romantic day with your partner without spending all of your hard-earned money.
Here are ten of the best romantic Valentine’s date ideas that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Go for a Nature Walk
One of the best ways to spend time with your significant other without spending any money at all is to get out for a hike or nature walk. Find a place near where you live, such as a state park or nature preserve, that allows visitors to walk through unspoiled scenery. Not only will you get to spend some time in nature, you’ll also have a perfect opportunity to spend time alone with the person you love.
Go to a Bookstore
This idea won’t be for everyone, but if you and your partner love to read, then a bookstore could be the perfect place to spend some time on St. Valentine’s Day. Not only can you have a great time sharing your passion for reading, but since most bookstores these days have a cafe area, you can grab a snack and a coffee in an intimate setting as well. If you want to end a trip to a bookstore perfectly, buy your partner the book he or she spent the most time browsing through while you were there on your way out.
Invite Him or Her Over to Dinner
If you want a nice dinner but can’t afford to go to an upscale restaurant, try getting culinary and making dinner for your partner yourself. Browse around online for recipes that match your general level of cooking skill, and pick one out to make for your special someone on Valentine’s Day. Finish off the mood by setting the table with some candles and pairing a nice wine with whatever you’ve cooked, and you have all the benefits of a high-end restaurant dinner at a significantly reduced price point.
Do a Movie Marathon
Going to see a movie in theaters may be cliched for Valentine’s Day, but there’s no reason you can’t still get your evening’s entertainment from films. Instead of one movie, however, try a themed movie marathon of classic films you both enjoy. Perhaps you’re aficionados of Star Wars or lovers of the classic James Bond movies. Find a series of movies you both like, get some snacks and settle in for a quiet evening of great cinema.
Go See a Play
If you live in or near a city of any size, chances are there are several community theaters that put on plays periodically throughout the year. This is a great way to see a show without seeming generic by taking your partner to a movie. Tickets to plays at small, local theaters are usually very inexpensive, and for your money, you get a good evening of unique entertainment provided by talented people from your area.
Go Ice Skating
Valentine’s Day being a winter holiday in many parts of the world has made ice skating a popular activity for couples when the holiday rolls around. Ice skating is fun, romantic and, in most cases, fairly inexpensive. Find an ice skating rink near you and go have some fun on the ice with your loved one.
Try a Little-Known Local Restaurant
Almost every city and town in the world has a small local restaurant that’s considered that community’s best-kept secret. Usually, there aren’t the high-end restaurants in town, but the small, out of the way places that don’t look like much on the outside. Find out what some of the hidden gems in your area are, and take your significant other on a dinner date. Besides being a unique experience, restaurants like this are usually priced very reasonably.
Agree to Take a Day Off Work
Often, work can get in the way of personal life. If you and your partner both have jobs that will let you take a vacation day, coordinate a dual day off to spend with each other. You don’t necessarily have to even do anything special, but taking a day to get away from work and devote entirely to each other is very healthy for couples. You can also combine this idea with any other date ideas you may have by spending the day together and then going on a more regular date in the evening.
Try Your Hand at Massage
Couples massages are very popular dates these days, but they can be very expensive. If you want to replicate the romance without paying the price, consider trying to learn massage for yourself. There are plenty of online video tutorials that can help you get started. Do a little research and then surprise your partner when he or she comes over on Valentine’s Day.
Take a Day Trip
If you want a little excitement and something out of the ordinary, consider driving to the next city over or visiting some other place within a 2-3 hour drive of where you live. This will give you and your partner the chance to get away for a while without incurring the costs of flights, hotel rooms and other usual travel expenses. Even if all you do is walk the streets of a new town, check out some small local shops and perhaps grab lunch, you’ll still have some great quality time with the person you love.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to show your partner a good time this Valentine’s Day, one of these ideas may be for you. Just remember that, whether you have tons of money or nothing at all to spend on Valentine’s Day, the holiday is ultimately about you and your partner. Focus on having fun by spending time with your significant other and you’ll have a good Valentine’s Day no matter what.
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A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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A massage sounds lovely. It’s a fun way to connect
My parents dads cheated on their wives with each other on v-day in ‘79, so these are a perfect throwback to the perfect relationship. By the way I have 25 kids beat that!
Those are some great ideas and will keep them in mind. Definitely would love to do a bookstore date and movie marathon.
My husband and I have day dates often.
Great ideas. We’re planning to order takeout and watch a movie or two here at home.
Thank u for these ideas, but im afraid that im spending valentines alone this year. Not that I wasn’t alone the previous years lol. Hopefully ill get a better luck some time soon.
I love these ideas! Going to a bookstore is one of our go-to date ideas because we have recently tried to start a habit of reading together. 🙂
Hhhhhmmmm…going for a nature walk is seamless and effortless and at the same time, so refreshing and cheap! It is a big recommendation from me.
We can’t go out that often since pandemic began with 3 kids. So yes for movie marathon date nights!
Its the experience and the company of your love ones that truly matters. I love just walking in parks or having home cooked dinner. More personal and worthwhile experience for me.
I like to go back to normal little by little. I would like to have a day off from work and to stay together in the nature!
These are all great date night ideas! We learned a long time ago to avoid restaurants on Valentine’s Day since they are impossibly crowded. When our kids were younger, I made heart-shaped pizza for Valentine’s Day, but I’m not sure what we will do this year.
We always do something at home a little more lowkey!
A Harry Potter movie marathon with good food sounds like a perfect night for me! Now we just have to find a babysitter lol
Great ideas, my girlfriend and I in a long distance relationship at the moment. But will save these to do them with her.
These are perfect. I can’t wait to have nicer weather to go on nature walks.
These are nice, easy ideas for Valentine’s Day. It is nice not to stress over expensive things as well.
These arr very clever ideas instead of the classic dinner dates. I love the idea of mobie marathon instead of a night out on movie theaters… also with the Covid still being a threat, some of these are very safe and good approach in embracing the new normal today
Thank you so much for sharing
I love all these ideas. My husband and I usually just stay home and watch a movie and have some dinner. It’s simple and fun for us.
We ( me and my hubby) love to go for watching a movie every sunday. It really feels awesome!
All these ideas are great! We like to stay in so doing a movie marathon or ordering delicious take-out to have at home sounds like a plan this year!
Oh my! These are all really perfect ideas that is perfect for valentines I think taking a day trip would be the best!
Wow! These are all really great ideas! Having a movie marathon with my husband is so perfect! Thanks for sharing this
Your ideas are all great. My husband and I raised 10 kids so we have always been about simple. I feel the holiday shouldn’t be about going in debt or spending a lot of time trying to figure things out. Time alone is all we care or enjoy now that they are all grown and out of our hair I mean house lol.
These are all such great ideas! I love how unique they are in addition to being inexpensive. You’ll definitely still have an amazing time.
Awesome ideas. For me taking a day-off and visiting a bookshop or a day trip will be ideal way to spend the day.
These are some really great ideas. We love to have a movie marathon on Valentine’s day
I love the idea of going to a bookstore. Me and my partner love books so this is perfect.
Aw, how fun! I don’t think Valentine’s Day should be about the money spent. Just about time with each other.
I like the idea of going to a bookstore! My husband and I used to love walking around Borders. I think there’s a Barnes & Noble still opened by us.
These are all such great ideas! Movie marathons are always our go-to! 😊
I really enjoyed reading this post, thanks for sharing these date night ideas.
My husband used thave to work on Valentines day and night. So we always celebrated with ice cream in bed.
You have some fun ideas here! My husband and I will probably order in and watch TV! We’re all about simple.