Inexpensive Date Nights
Anyone have any great ideas on how to spend a great evening just you and hubby without spending a ton of money. As if paying a babysitter isn't enough, then dinner and a movie could make anyone need a second job. With money as tight as it is for everyone, I thought that this would be a good place to bounce ideas off each other!! =)
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Vanessa on -
My husband & I are pretty crazy when it comes to creating "dates". One of our favorites, that we can't do too often, is a simple picnic, no sitter required! After the kids go to bed, dim the lights and set up a blanket on the living room floor - told you we're crazy! Seriously, have a picnic in the living room, but act as if it's your first date. We talk about our kids (of course they're the same kids), our jobs, friends, and hobbies... Get to know one another all over again.
-
Permalink Reply by Lisa Survillas on -
Sounds fun!! =)
Vanessa said:My husband & I are pretty crazy when it comes to creating "dates". One of our favorites, that we can't do too often, is a simple picnic, no sitter required! After the kids go to bed, dim the lights and set up a blanket on the living room floor - told you we're crazy! Seriously, have a picnic in the living room, but act as if it's your first date. We talk about our kids (of course they're the same kids), our jobs, friends, and hobbies... Get to know one another all over again.
-
Permalink Reply by Dana Neal on -
I'm so exhausted at the end of the day, date night is almost out of the question! :(
But we just did something today that I have been complaining about for months. I took off of work and we went out to breakfast at IHOP.
One son had off of school (so he was sleeping) and the other was dropped at school...and we were off...it was great time! GREAT time....
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Some other ideas...night drives by the lake...( I know gas is high) but if you only do this once a month in the early parts of fall or some times in the summer, $10 extra on gas isn't so bad :)
Sit in the car in the driveway like kids....when your kids are sleep (summer months are good for this)....
-
Permalink Reply by Vanessa on
-
I really like that lake idea. Simplicity is best!
Dana Neal said:I'm so exhausted at the end of the day, date night is almost out of the question! :(
But we just did something today that I have been complaining about for months. I took off of work and we went out to breakfast at IHOP.
One son had off of school (so he was sleeping) and the other was dropped at school...and we were off...it was great time! GREAT time....
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Some other ideas...night drives by the lake...( I know gas is high) but if you only do this once a month in the early parts of fall or some times in the summer, $10 extra on gas isn't so bad :)
Sit in the car in the driveway like kids....when your kids are sleep (summer months are good for this)....
-
Permalink Reply by Li on -
We tend to keep it simple due to the time that he gets home from work (usually just after 8pm) and money being tight. The good thing about him getting home so late is that I can have my daughter in bed, and everything set up ready for him walking through the door.
The norm for me is to make dinner. Nothing more fancy that usual, but I make sure the table and room is filled with candles, and that there's some wine on hand. I play soft music, and after dinner we have a bit of a slow dance while we talk about our days at work. It's romantic, doesn't cost much, and will usually end with one of us suggesting a film to watch or something so we can curl up on the sofa.
The other thing we quite like to do sometimes when my daughter stays with her biological father is to take a walk around the local park. We just hold hands, walk slowly and talk. It's relaxing, it's free, and it's all about connecting with each other.
When we go out for a meal, we never enjoy it as much as when we make an effort at home!!!
Li x
-
Permalink Reply by Vanessa on
-
That's so true, it is all about connecting with one another. It shouldn't matter where you are, or whom you're with, just appreciate the time you have with him!
Li said:We tend to keep it simple due to the time that he gets home from work (usually just after 8pm) and money being tight. The good thing about him getting home so late is that I can have my daughter in bed, and everything set up ready for him walking through the door.
The norm for me is to make dinner. Nothing more fancy that usual, but I make sure the table and room is filled with candles, and that there's some wine on hand. I play soft music, and after dinner we have a bit of a slow dance while we talk about our days at work. It's romantic, doesn't cost much, and will usually end with one of us suggesting a film to watch or something so we can curl up on the sofa.
The other thing we quite like to do sometimes when my daughter stays with her biological father is to take a walk around the local park. We just hold hands, walk slowly and talk. It's relaxing, it's free, and it's all about connecting with each other.
When we go out for a meal, we never enjoy it as much as when we make an effort at home!!!
Li x
-
Permalink Reply by Cindy McGee on -
I liked the IHOP idea, I think I will have to schedule a lunch date with my hubby soon. We have a hard time finding "just us" time. Do you plan it, like schedule a date or do you try and do something on the fly? We really need to start working on spending time together it just seems like life gets so crazy and we end up putting it off.
-
Permalink Reply by MomFaves on -
I agree with Vanessa, my husband an I have really redefined our date night lately. It is no longer so important that we go to the fancy dinner and movie and coffee and dessert... we just like to get out of the house and connect with each other, which has usually excluded the movie, so that we can just talk (and it is cheaper). I am not sure about everywhere, but it seems that there are a lot more coupons out there for restaurants (since they have noticed that we are not eating out as much), buy on get one free.
Talking time is sometimes hard to come by when we are both done with our long days and we each want to go to our "cave." :) Lately we have been renting movies (RedBox is only $1/per night) for after the kids go to bed - At Home Date Night. We still get our brain dead tune out time ;) but we are cuddled up on the couch together!
-
Permalink Reply by Sarah~90210 Organics on -
We have this kit called "Simply Romantic Nights" that you pick a card from and plan a date for your spouse. There are specific dates for "him" and "her". It's really fun! They cost little or no money to plan and they are very creative.
-
Permalink Reply by Mary on -
We live in a Caribbean island so we usually go to the beach when the kids are in school and have fun there. We also go to El Yunque, which is by the way the only tropical rainforest in the US, and get out of the trails for some "scientist exploration" and I have to credit my SIL for this, because she gave me the advice!!! We have done it twice and although I'm scared of geckos and in the forest are tons of them...I couldn't see them!!! hehehehhe
-
Permalink Reply by Dee Calderon on -
I love date night! My husband and I try to have a special date a couple times a month. Between work, the kids and everything else...we need it. Since I work from home on Fridays, we like to take the kids to school and run to the a Barnes and Noble together, grab a coffee, bagel and a couple of interesting books or magazines.....it is great. We sit together, have coffee, chat, tell eachother about what we are reading....or simply just chat softly. It is inexpensive and we sometimes need quite time...and time together. It is just peaceful and away from all the craziness. I think we chat more than we read though....haha....from there....he runs off to work....and I head home to work....relaxed. After we spend the day texting one another.
-
Permalink Reply by HIRH on -
We LOVE our date nights. We've taken to curling up at Borders or Barnes and Noble with a good book. We can even catch a snack and a coffee, tea or hot chocolate. Boy does time seem to fly in the relaxation of their comfy chairs and a good book. At home we never get to spend time reading anymore... atleast not interrupted. It's special time.
Another free thing to do is get invited to parties! Sometimes all it costs is a $10 bottle of wine and you're eating, conversing with adults and having a great time.
CHEERS!
Announce yourself!
© 2010 Created by Megan Calhoun
