Whether we like it or not, we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic. I know it might not feel like it because you’re vaxxed, boosted, and are itching to travel again, but one look at the news will tell you otherwise! If you’re like me, then the subtle, not-so-subtle resurgence of COVID cases has your red flag rising. Plus, after all of that quarantine shopping I did and all the excess holiday shopping, the bank account isn’t quite ready for any extravagant dates at the moment!

I’m in a weird limbo where I feel like I could be going out on cool dates with Arjuna at some of the coolest spots in LA, but I also feel like we should stay inside and load up on Vitamin C and turmeric shots. Don’t get me wrong, if and when I go out (usually to Disneyland or Universal), I try to be as outside as possible, and I stay masked up with hand sanitizer in every purse and backpack I own!

However, since one of our New Year’s Resolutions is to save more and spend less, Arjuna and I have found ourselves reverting to my old (2020) list of quarantine date night ideas that I made back when the pandemic first hit!

Essentially, it’s a list of fun, cheap, date ideas that you can do at home or in an outdoor setting, away from crowds. Upon revisiting and creating this list, I’ve also come to notice that many of these activities also happen to be budget-friendly dates! Meaning, if you’re not trying to break the bank on romantic nights or special occasions with your significant other, these inexpensive date ideas might just be perfect for you too! It’s one of those rare instances where you can have your cake and eat it too! Except, for this scenario, you can have your fun without getting COVID and without breaking the bank too! It’s a win-win!

If this list of cheap (and safe) dates can keep you from catching COVID and save you a few bucks, then I’ll be one happy gal! So, get your vaccine or booster, grab your boo thang, and get ready for a romantic date like you might not have ever had before!

Fort Night (not to be confused with Fortnite)

Build a fort together out of pillows, couch cushions, and sheets like you used to do when you were kids! Then, once your fort is built, grab a blanket and laptop and stream a new movie as you share a yummy dessert together!

Indoor Camp Night

For this date, you’ll need a bit of room! Start by clearing out the living room and setting up a two-person tent! Building the tent together is enough to bond over, but when it’s finished is when the real date begins. Cozy up inside and take turns reading fireside stories, and try out this recipe for s’mores in the oven! Spend the night inside the tent watching camp-related movies, like The Parent Trap, Camp Rock, or The Blair Witch Project if you’re feeling spooky!

Paint Night

Rather than going to a paint and sip class, opt for a paint and sip class at home! Choose a fun paint night tutorial on YouTube like this DIY Paint & Sip video and have a paint night together. You can buy your paint supplies from Target (order ahead for drive-up or delivery) or The Dollar Tree. If you want to make your paint night a little more personalized, make use of a paint-by-numbers service that turns your photos into canvases ready to be painted! I surprised Arjuna with a custom paint by numbers canvas from Color + Calm for our anniversary in 2020!

Quarantine Grill

Establishing a “Quarantine Grill” is a date that can occur over two different nights. For this date night idea, you and your partner will each choose a day where you will design a menu, cook dinner, and serve the other a romantic meal. Much like this guy did for his wife. If you want to make this a little more special, perhaps as a cheap Valentine’s Day idea, you can give your partner a required dress code, and get all dressed up at home with some flirty Valentine’s decor!

Lost Picnic

Everyone’s been on a regular picnic in the park or at the beach before, and those are all fine and dandy! However, if you want something a little more unique, you might like this creative picnic date idea! 

First, start by preparing your picnic supplies the night before your picnic date! Pack up your sandwiches, champagne, fruits, blankets, polaroid, and whatever else you like to bring to your picnics! Then, go to sleep and make sure you get a good night’s rest!

Set your alarm for the morning, wake up, and get going! Establish one person as the driver, and the other is the navigator. It’s the navigator’s job to randomly guide the driver in various directions. You can drive as short as a half-hour or as long as you want!  Stop and pull over when you see a spot that catches your eye! Congratulations, you’ve now found an awesome, unexpected picnic spot in a nice, pretty, and completely random location!

Let’s Build

Who said you have to be a child to enjoy building a Lego set? I actually never built a Lego Set as a child, so getting to build my first one with my boyfriend in my 20s was super fun! Plus, there are some amazing Lego sets now, like this Lego Bird of Paradise Building Set or this Adidas Building Set! 

Cooking Together

This cheap date idea is exactly as it sounds; cook together! My boyfriend and I typically choose a yummy-looking recipe from the Antoni in the Kitchen cookbook or another and make dinner together. Grab one of your under-used cookbooks or re-visit one of your old recipes that you’ve been meaning to try from Pinterest and get to the kitchen!

Mystery Cooking Challenge

Okay, so this cheap date night idea is very similar to cooking together, except this has a twist! Each partner will pick out random food items from the kitchen and give those items to the other. Once you’ve each received your items, you’ll now have to create a meal for the other using only the random ingredients you chose for each other! It’s a fun way to work with the food you already have in your kitchen. I even suggest using ingredients that are in the back of the cabinet, so you can use the food you haven’t used in a while!

Random Game Night

During the pandemic, I might have overdone it a bit on buying board games, card games, and puzzles. This left me with an entire credenza full of games! Many of which we haven’t even unwrapped or opened! If you can relate, then you’ll enjoy this date idea! You can do this in two different ways. 

First, if you already have a bunch of games (like me), head to your game closet, close your eyes and reach for a random one! Whichever you or your partner grab, you’ll have to play!

Or, if you don’t have a ton of games already, head to Target and pick out a completely random and fun-looking game to play together!

Romantic Spa Night

Nothing says “romantic date night” like a trip to the spa! Or, a trip to your bathroom that has been transformed into a spa!

This at-home spa night is basically a heightened version of your normal nightly routine, except this one is filled with face masks, body scrubs, scented candles, mood lighting, couples massages, and lots of essential oils! You can use the skincare products you have at home, or find some affordable, sample-size products at Target or Walmart!

Stargazing

What better way to avoid grimy, unvaxxed people than to go out in the middle of the night with your S.O.? Get in the car and take a drive to the middle of nowhere and stargaze. You can even lookup some historical tales of constellations or play a mythical, constellation podcast while trying to find the Big Dipper. To set the mood even further, listen to this Spotify playlist on your drive and while under the stars!

Blind Taste-Testing

It’s time to break out that blindfold you impulsively bought after reading a naughty Buzzfeed article! For this at-home taste-testing date, one of you will be blindfolded while the other pulls random items from the kitchen and “feeds” them to the other. The person doing the tasting will then guess what it was they tried! You can keep score if you want and set a wager for the person who guesses the most incorrectly. Here are some fun bet ideas for the winner!

Make a Movie

Not that kind of movie...unless that’s your thing...hahaha but, no! 

This could be a fun date with your partner to get your creative juices flowing! Work together to develop your own short script, and either act it out yourselves or use some props around the house to act like the characters from your script. You don’t need to have a fancy camera, an iPhone will do just fine. Quickly edit your short film with iMovie and watch it together with some popcorn and candy!

Virtual Tours

Desperate for a vacation but don’t have that vacation money, time, or energy? Or, are you just trying to be safe during the pandemic? If you said yes to either of the aforementioned questions, this virtual date idea is perfect for you!

During the pandemic, so many museums, attractions, and even theme parks have posted virtual tours of their facilities. Select a place you and your partner have been wanting to visit, or a place that means something special to you both, and take a virtual tour!

Planning for Our Future

There’s no time like the present to plan for your future! Order some takeout and eat a yummy meal while you develop the proposals and plans for your future endeavors. Whether that’s the restaurant you plan to open together, a business you’d like to start, dream houses, or epic trips, planning the future is a good distraction from the restrictions of the present.

SURPRISE!

This date is simple. One partner at a time will surprise the other with a super fun date, completely at the planner’s discretion! Go nuts and make this date whatever you want it to be!