Oh yeah girl, we get it. Weddings can find you reaching into your pockets and wondering where that $5 went? Date night once a week, for 3 months means 12 cheap date ideas to keep the extra bucks ya got flowing. We hope this helps you get creative and start spending some serious quality time together!
1. Thrift Shopping!
This sounds weird but trust me. My boyfriend and I will go to a Goodwill and just search for the funniest things! We especially like to go to the book section and try to match up two book titles to make one long funny title. I'm telling you, you could spend hours doing this! There is no pressure to purchase anything but ya never know what you might find. Hello, $6 new black and white lamp!
2. Go hiking!
This is one of my favorite things because I freaking love nature! It is free, besides gas and maybe parking, and just so fun!! Pick a trail and a park that sounds interesting to you. Charlotte has such great trails even within the city! For a local spot, check out The White Water Center or Crowder's Mountain. You won't be disappointed with either!
3. Check out a new brewery!
This costs a bit of money, but normally for $20 you can get two beers each with tip! Take a weeknight and check out one of my fav spots Lenny Boy Brewing Company in Charlotte. On Wednesdays they have a Kombucha special that will make you want to go every week!
4. Ikea Trip!
Get in the car and head to your closest Ikea! It can be really fun to take your time to walk around and look at all of their cool pieces and gadgets. Brainstorm together all about what your dream place is going to look like someday! Are you going to have white subway tiles in your kitchen or a colorful mosaic? The possibilities are endless!
5. Organize Together!
You're probably like "Megan... seriously?" YES! Go binge watch Marie Kondo's Netflix show and you will understand why organizing and de-cluttering feels so dang good. You should take some time to go through all of the possessions you currently have! It will probably double after all of the wedding gifts and it will be 10x worse to organize when you still have your t-shirt from band camp in 5th grade laying around.
6. Go for a run!
Some people probably read that and x'ed out of their browser!! Seriously y'all, exercising with your partner is proven to make your relationship better. Hello endorphins + spending time with your fav person. What could be better?!
7. Turn off the lights!
You know what's completely free? Sex! Just saying! Rachel Hollis, author of "Girl, wash your face." Talks about the idea of "Sexy September" in her book. Her and her husband had sex everyday for a month straight. Can you believe that?! But it was done for a very specific reason, to get back in the rhythm and get creative! We can all get so caught up in our routines and it's the same way in the bedroom. Consider implementing your own 30 day sex challenge!
8. Dollar Store Art!
This is SO fun!! I did this kind of project with some friends for a Secret Santa one year and it was a blast! Set a budget, let's say $10. The rules are that you can not go over that $10, everything you use has to be from the Dollar Store or found around your house, it has to be crafted (aka, you can't just buy candy and call it a day) and it has to be for your partner! Get creative!!
9. Play a board game!
Monopoly didn't seem like fun 5 years but hey, throw in some whiskey or tequila and now we're talking! Invite some friends over for a board game night and you'll remember why you loved playing them so much when you were young! Our personal fav is Dinosaur Island. I know it sounds like the nerdiest thing you've heard all day but you won't be saying that when you're building up that Dinosaur theme park!!
10. Take time to connect!
My boyfriend and I love this couples card game! It is 199 questions to ask your partner. You're not just playing a card game together but you're connecting on a deeper level! You will seriously be surprised where these one line prompts leads your conversation.
11. Take a long walk!
Walks can be seriously therapeutic. Taking a long walk together is a great time to reconnect with each other and talk! Walk around your neighborhood or drive to a local park. Leave your phones at home and just focus on chatting! You'll be surprised by how many new things you can learn about someone on a walk.
12. Get some cheap wine!
And my last piece of advice is to just grab a cheap bottle of wine and sit down and watch a movie. I think we forget sometimes how fun it is to dive into a new TV show with your partner or be able to chat the next day about how crazy it was for that character to do that one thing! What a cool way to connect!
Now go out there and spend some quality time with your lovey!
XOXO
Megan
