The Best Budget Friendly Dates for 2017

Dating can be expensive; but it doesn't have to be. Long distance relationships can really run a large tab. Either you're paying gas and tolls or plane tickets and hotel rooms, in addition to whatever meals or activities you have planned. Married couples say it's worth it; I know my husband doesn't regret one penny he spent while we were in a long distance relationship. However, you don't need to have an inflated budget in order to successfully date.

If you find yourself falling into the money pit mentality of dating, here are a few ideas we came up with to keep the expense low, while still getting to know each other and having a ton of fun. Many of these ideas were created with married couples in mind since they save you the expense of a babysitter, but most can be done in any relationship.

Strategize:

Play Jenga—add a personal twist and tape on labels with "tasks" or "rewards" or use your favorite Bible quotes and discuss how they speak to you.

Play speed round Scrabble. Give yourself only 20 seconds to think of the next word.

Play Would You Rather?

Play a cooperative game like Forbidden Island or Forbidden Desert or Pandemic

"All about us" Charades—make up topics like first date, first kiss, favorite band, favorite book, etc

Play the "Newlywed Game"

Read:

Read to each other—Bible, marriage enrichment books, fun book series

Write poems/songs—silly or serious

Learn a new language together (find Rosetta Stone or similar programs at a library)

Create your own code to write private love notes, exchange and decipher.

Create your "love" lists—how you want to be shown love in specific ways at different times ("When I'm angry, I need you to do this, when I'm sick I need you to do that, on a daily basis, I would love for you to do this" etc). Exchange them and make an effort to do at least three of those a day on purpose.

Mad Libs (we love this for sick days)

Don't starve:

Create new cocktails and watch the sunset

Coldstone ice cream date at home—make your own (ice cream and creations!)

Cook off champions—take turns making appetizers/dinner/dessert

Special dinner & dessert—buy the pre-made specialty items so that you just heat and serve (or thaw and serve!)

"Spend a night" in Italy, Mexico, France, China, India, Thailand, etc. Plan cuisine, movie, wardrobe for theme of the night

Chocolate and wine tasting night

Beer, pretzels, cheese and meats (cold cuts, varied wings flavors, etc) tasting night

S'mores tasting night—add variety with Reese's cups, snickers, dark, milk, white chocolate, flavored marshmallows

Electricity required:

Video games/guitar hero

Virtual museum/national parks date (offered on their websites)

Make a music video

Video tape interviewing each other about how you met, how you fell in love, etc. Make your questions ahead of time. Your grandkids will love it some day!