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Dating, Relationships, Good Love

$20, $50, $100 Date Ideas

Holly_Johnston contributor

Cute dates are the perfect way to make a great first impression or add some novelty to an existing relationship. Even if they only last a few hours, they can create long-lasting memories.

Photo Credit: Pixabay Photo Credit: Pixabay

I remember all of my favorite dates: kayaking across a lake and ordering Dominoes on the water, curling up at the local drive-in movie theater, and drinking wine in a hot tub.

If you’re hesitating to ask that person out because rent is due next week, remember dates can be fun and cute without breaking your budget; it’s not about the money, it’s about the experience. The best dates are ones with character, not the ones with the biggest price tag.

Here are some of my favorite $20, $50, and $100 date ideas:

$20 Dates

  • Coffee Date- Try that new hipster coffee shop or take your date to your favorite local spot. If they live far away, meeting halfway at a Starbucks is a nice way to reduce travel time (this is how I met a guy who I ended up dating for two years).

  • Dive Bar- Dive bars have a relaxed atmosphere, they’re not as loud as clubs. You can hang out, chat, drink cheap beer and shoot pool. Just don’t ask the bartender for their finest IPA, you will receive an eye roll.

  • A Day on the Lake- Spending the day on the lake, floating in a tube, or picnicking on shore, is an adventurous yet frugal date. Bring a cooler full of water, and hard seltzers, and pack your favorite snacks and sandwiches.

For staying in:

  • Cook breakfast together- A fun idea with a significant other. Go to the grocery store together, grab ingredients, put on some Jack Johnson, and cook your favorite breakfast foods: omelets, waffles, french toast, whatever you’re into!

  • Movie night- Put on some comfy clothes, head to the local 7-11 together, and pick out your favorite candy or ice cream. Then, show your date your favorite movie or ask to watch theirs. Or, watch something entirely new that you’ll both be quoting nonstop.

$50 Dates

  • Craft cocktails- Dress to the nine and go out for fancy cocktails at that classy bar downtown. An elegant atmosphere, perfect for conversation and creating new experiences- try the lavender-infused tequila just because it sounds interesting.

  • Arcade- Arcades are a great first date or a fun double date with your significant other. Your date may be attractive, but are they willing to play Dance Dance Revolution in front of strangers? You’re about to find out. Plus you can pick out cute prizes to commemorate the night.

  • Thrift-Shopping- Thrift shopping is a super date- you can express yourself, learn your date’s style, and add to your wardrobe. Plus it’s a fun place to be silly- go ahead, put on the giant fur coat and cat-eye glasses and ask your date what they think. If they laugh, they’re a keeper.

For staying in:

  • Chinese Takeout & Chill: Order your favorite Chinese food and watch your favorite Netflix or Hulu series (subscriptions not included). Plus, you can read each other's fortune cookies to know if you guys have a future together.

  • Cook Dinner Together- Choose a new recipe you’ve always wanted to try and go to the grocery store together to gather the ingredients. If you're in a serious relationship, cooking a different dish from around the world each week is a fun way to spice things up– literally!

$100 Dates:

  • Rent paddle boards- Renting a board can cost anywhere from $50-70 for a few hours, but it’s a great way to get some exercise, get some sun and go on an adventure with your date. Plus, we finally get to see what he looks like without a shirt on.

  • Hibachi Grill- Also great for a double or triple date. Get a little dressed up, order a scorpion bowl, have a nice meal, and feel the sparks- is it love, or is it that flaming tower of onions? A fun dining experience.

  • Aquarium- An aquarium is a fun place for a first date, an anniversary, or anything in between. Discover cool creatures, take cute pictures- and don’t forget to drop hints about how cool it’d be to go snorkeling together in Cancun.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to dates: simple movie nights, elaborate dining experiences, or full-day adventures. Whichever you end up choosing, it’s sure to be an experience.