Are you trying to save money, or just not have much but still want to show your valentine a fun night? We have ideas for you that cost very little or nothing.
Don’t miss our guide to Denver’s free museums and attractions and Essential Denver: Discovery and Exploration Guide (many attractions are free!) Also, don’t miss this guide to Valentine’s Day in Denver.
1. Go to the Library. The Library is maybe one of my most favorite inexpensive locations! (Shout out to Douglas County Libraries). There is a treasure trove of fun in nearly every library. Discover a new book. Read poems to each other. Play a game. My library even lets you check out an Oculus, Telescope, Cricut crafting machine or do a virtual online crafting class (all free with your free library card). There can be quite a waiting list for several of these items, so we suggest you get on their holds now.
2. Plan your dream trip. For us, planning and looking forward to the trip is nearly as exciting as actually going on it. Planning your dream trip can be a really romantic event and also teaches you a lot about each other. What do you want to see? What is on the top of your bucket list? Why? You can each plan a “day” of the trip – or the plan a trip for each other. Have discussions about what you’d do there. And to make it a date night, even prepare a meal (at home so it’s less expensive) from that location.
3. Coffee walk. At Christmastime, my family likes to get hot chocolate and drive around to look at the lights on the houses in the neighborhood. There is no reason why you can’t grab a coffee and take a walk. Walk in a different neighborhood. Discover different coffee shops/ice cream stores that are close to you.
4. Play games together or do a puzzle. I have a closet full of games. I love games. But they often stay in the closet until we have a larger group of people hanging out. Most of them can be played with just two people. Or grab a new game! Even a deck of cards (which can be really inexpensive) is hundreds of games!
5. Celebrate a special year. Do you have a year that is special to you? When did you meet? When did you get married? When you had your first child? When does that first child leave? Consider making a full night themed with that year. What was the top show on TV? Have that on TV. Listen to the top songs of that year (and sing together). Do you still have the pair of UGGs you wore that year?
6. Volunteer together. There are all kinds of great mental benefits to volunteering. Even better when you do it together. Walk dogs together or visit a senior center – and show them the love that may be gone for them. Offer to run an errand for a neighbor.
7. Go out to breakfast (or lunch). Dinner is one of the most expensive meals to eat out. So think about switching it up this year. Go out to breakfast or even lunch at a fraction of the cost. (Even less expensive, serve breakfast in bed…go all out with heart-shaped pancakes or waffles).
8. Cook together. Watch a show on Food Network, Cooking Channel or pick up a new recipe in a magazine or book. Pick a celebrity chef you like. Head to the store together to grab all the ingredients to create that meal.
9. Celebrate your five senses. Consider all five senses during the evening: See, Smell, Taste, Touch and Hear. Explain how you have pulled them all together. Do a taste test of foods (chocolates, cheeses, wines, etc) – blind taste tests can be even more fun. Make things that are delightful for the smell – baked bread or cookies. Be careful to plate the meal or decorations with small touches of what the other likes. And maybe finish off with a massage (touch). Figure out how much your senses need each other – the way you “need” each other.
10. Try a Groupon There are all kinds of dinners, events, and deals on Groupon. Most of them are at a fairly big discount.
And one of the most expensive pieces of going out for the night is the cost of babysitting. See if you can trade with a friend, neighbor or just send the kids away on sleepovers (they don’t have to stay together for you to have a nice night out).
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