If you’re anything like us, you find it difficult to get out of the house for a date. Maybe you just don’t have the money right now, or you have kids and can’t afford to get a sitter every time.
Having kids changes a lot of things, but it doesn’t have to mean you stop dating your spouse! Instead of going out, why not have an at-home date night? It’s a great cheap (or free) option, and you still get in that quality time you both desperately need.
Here are 9 simple ideas I’ve come up with that John and I have either done in the past or plan to add to our list soon.
Have a movie night- John and I are usually pretty boring and just lay in bed and watch a movie, but on a date night, you can really go all-out. Make some popcorn, get some dollar store boxes of candy, curl up on the couch with a blanket, and just enjoy!
Play board games- I was never a big fan of board games, but I can sit down every once in awhile and play one. We’ve played Monopoly and Clue, and we also like Uno, although not technically a board game.
Play video games (Wii, XBOX Kinect)- This is my kind of date night! Grab your favorite competitive video game and completely dominate. Any of the party games and sports games are really fun; a couple of my favorites are Wario Ware and Rhythm Heaven, but I usually settle for the party games because John’s just not a gamer. =)
Make fondue desserts- I got a fondue pot last year and we’ve only used it once, but there are so many great ideas. Melt a cheese sauce and pair it with your favorite crackers, soft pretzels, apples, etc. Or make it a dessert fondue and melt chocolate, and dip strawberries, marshmallows, pineapple, graham crackers, or whatever you can think of.
Bake cookies- If you both love cooking together, this would be a great way to bond. Better yet, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor afterwards!
Color- This would have sounded childish a few years ago before those adult coloring books came out, but they’re becoming really popular! I’ve got a few different ones, not all of them girly, so I can see us sitting down one night with dessert and hot chocolate and just color away. It’s amazing how something as simple as coloring can be so calming.
Camp out in the living room- Lay out blankets and pillows, get some snacks, and get creative! It’d be a good place for your coloring, or watching a movie.
Do a puzzle together- I find a lot of satisfaction doing puzzles with Allison and really want a big puzzle that John and I could work on. It’d be a great evening activity!
Dice roll- We’ve done something similar before where we create our own dice and put something different on each side. It could be “Jaime’s favorite movie”, or “Something on Netflix”. Or you could add a combination of any of the above to make it a surprise date night! These can end up being pretty fun depending on what you put on the dice.
Are there any other ideas you can think of that can be added to the list? Leave a comment and give us inspiration!
Jaime is a Nutrition Coach through the ISSA and professional writer. She has 4 years experience coaching and 9 years experience in writing. She enjoys cooking easy meals, running, and learning more about food.
Jaime specializes in helping women with ADHD learn to meal plan and cook healthier meals without getting overwhelmed.
Stephanie
Thursday 9th of February 2017
We usually have a date night or two in each month. Especially when we have a lot of social obligations we have to attend. Staying in helps with the budget.
Jaime
Friday 10th of February 2017
I'd love to do this once a week, but I've just been too lazy to add it on a regular schedule. =) Gotta work on that!