Keep Date Night at Home and Save Money

When trying to save money, one of the first items to get scaled back is entertainment. When you break down entertainment dollars even further, any extra dollars tend to go towards activities and entertainment for the kids.

But what about you and your husband? You deserve some special time together too, right? Date night doesn’t have to be a debt-inducer. Do it at home, be creative and save your cash while still kindling that connection!

Pack the Kids up

If you are lucky enough to have family nearby, send your kids there overnight. Having the house all to yourselves is a rare circumstance. Without all of the distractions of taking care of kids, last minute to-do-items etc. you can actually catch your breath and enjoy each other’s company in relative silence.

If you don’t have family nearby, set up a reciprocal agreement with another couple- say once a month you take their kids overnight, and vice versa. This takes care of childcare, as well as committing you to a regular date night!

No Screens Allowed

Unless part of your evening includes cuddling on the couch to watch a movie, pack up all of your screens- laptops, tablets, smartphones- and TV- and concentrate on each other.

While having access to information constantly is very convenient it is also the great distractor! Focus the time that you have together on communicating with each other.

Music

Music is one of the great ambience creators- that can often get overlooked and forgotten in a house full of kids. When it is just the two of you, set on some romantic tunes- maybe some special songs back that were popular in the year that you were first dating- or some smooth jazz or instrumental grooves.

Or- crank it up and have a dance party- just the two of you. Who needs the club?

The Food

Ahhh.. the food. Of course!  The staple and anchor of any great, memorable DIY date night.

If you are foodies, plan to cook together. Plan special recipes packed with flavour- and even include the grocery shopping together, as the early part of your date.

If you are inclined to take the night off from cooking, order in from your fave establishment. Be proactively frugal by seeking out coupons for some of your favourite restaurants.

Save even more money by picking the food up yourself (lots of places charge extra for delivery- and don’t forget that you have to pay extra for a tip for the delivery person too).

Décor

Décor matters- especially when it comes to Date Night. It is the visual element that signals that “yes, this is a special occasion”.

Décor is also something that gets pushed aside as an unnecessary expense. It is necessary though-but it doesn’t have to be expensive!

Hit up your local dollar store for candles (go for the safer, LED flameless version). Cut flowers from your own garden (if the season allows) and make a pretty centrepiece. Printed napkins are inexpensive, and can completely change the look (and level of formality) of a set table.

When trying to save money, one of the first items to get scaled back is entertainment. When you break down entertainment dollars even further, any extra dollars tend to go towards activities and entertainment for the kids.

But what about you and your husband? You deserve some special time together too, right? Date night doesn’t have to be a debt-inducer. Do it at home, be creative and save your cash while still kindling that connection!

Pack the Kids up

If you are lucky enough to have family nearby, send your kids there overnight. Having the house all to yourselves is a rare circumstance. Without all of the distractions of taking care of kids, last minute to-do-items etc. you can actually catch your breath and enjoy each other’s company in relative silence.

If you don’t have family nearby, set up a reciprocal agreement with another couple- say once a month you take their kids overnight, and vice versa. This takes care of childcare, as well as committing you to a regular date night!

No Screens Allowed

Unless part of your evening includes cuddling on the couch to watch a movie, pack up all of your screens- laptops, tablets, smartphones- and TV- and concentrate on each other.

While having access to information constantly is very convenient it is also the great distractor! Focus the time that you have together on communicating with each other.

Music

Music is one of the great ambience creators- that can often get overlooked and forgotten in a house full of kids. When it is just the two of you, set on some romantic tunes- maybe some special songs back that were popular in the year that you were first dating- or some smooth jazz or instrumental grooves.

Or- crank it up and have a dance party- just the two of you. Who needs the club?

The Food

Ahhh.. the food. Of course!  The staple and anchor of any great, memorable DIY date night.

If you are foodies, plan to cook together. Plan special recipes packed with flavour- and even include the grocery shopping together, as the early part of your date.

If you are inclined to take the night off from cooking, order in from your fave establishment. Be proactively frugal by seeking out coupons for some of your favourite restaurants.

Save even more money by picking the food up yourself (lots of places charge extra for delivery- and don’t forget that you have to pay extra for a tip for the delivery person too).

Décor

Décor matters- especially when it comes to Date Night. It is the visual element that signals that “yes, this is a special occasion”.

Décor is also something that gets pushed aside as an unnecessary expense. It is necessary though-but it doesn’t have to be expensive!

Hit up your local dollar store for candles (go for the safer, LED flameless version). Cut flowers from your own garden (if the season allows) and make a pretty centrepiece. Printed napkins are inexpensive, and can completely change the look (and level of formality) of a set table.