Dating can be expensive, and finding low- to no-cost things to do on a date can be challenging. However, we have found some interesting, free things to do if you and your sweetheart are short on cash.
Penny Date
The premise of a penny date is to flip a coin to determine where you’ll spend your date. Start by standing at a street corner in the closest downtown area. Then flip a penny. If it lands heads up, you turn right at the corner. If it’s tails up, you turn left. After a predetermined number of flips, you’ve arrived at the destination for your date. Hopefully, you end up somewhere interesting! And if not, it’s okay. It’s more about the journey than the destination.
Attend an Event at Your Local College or University
Many colleges offer free events to the community. Check out their events calendar online. Chances are, you’ll be able to find a lecture, an author book signing, or a student performance or play for no cost.
Browse a Bookstore or Library
At your local bookstore, each of you will look for a book that you enjoyed reading or that is meaningful to you. Find that book and sit down to tell each other the story behind the book’s meaning.
Attend an Open House
It doesn’t matter if you’re not in the market to buy. Open houses can be a great chance to get to learn about each other’s style, find cool home decor tips, and possibly get some free snacks or home-baked cookies to boot!
Take a Free Tour of a Winery or Brewery
If you’re over 21, you can score free drink samples while touring your local winery or brewery. In addition, you can learn the history of the establishment and, if you’re really lucky, discover how your favorite drinks are made.
Make Your Own Conversation Cards
A pen and some index cards are all you need. Create questions you always wanted to ask but never found the right time to do so. You can learn all kinds of random things, and if you need help or suggestions for your cards, consult the internet. Websites like Hip2Save and Childhood 101 offer free downloads of conversation cards. (See the links for these sites below.)
Creating Backstories
Find a great spot with a bunch of foot traffic and spend time observing those that walk by. As you people-watch, take turns creating interesting backstories for those who walk by. Again, it’s a great way to learn more about your date.
Take Advantage of the Season
Each season offers its own list of fun, free things to do on a date. Summer barbecues or sitting around a fire in the fall cost little to no money. Baking cookies together in the winter can always be fun, especially if each of you brings a different recipe. (Most of the ingredients for simpler cookie recipes can be found around your house, so there’s usually no need to do additional shopping.) In the summer, you can plant vegetables together for free, as many local public libraries and community gardens offer free seeds.
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Sites For Free Conversation Cards:
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