Love Does Cost a Thing: Dating on a Budget
Published on February 12, 2025
•5 min read
It’s the season of love and Valentine’s Day is here. February 14 (or the weekend of) might mean dates, cards, candy, gifts, and money flying out the door. We all want to spoil the ones we love or impress a new love interest, but it can sometimes feel overwhelming when it all comes with a huge bill.
Regardless of your budget, you and whoever you spend the day with deserve to enjoy all that it brings, but planning ahead may help you avoid costs that you won’t love.
Dinner Dates
Eating at your favorite restaurant or trying a new spot can be exciting, especially for a first date or to carry on a tradition, but if you’re “ballin’ on a budget,” planning where to go and what to spend can be frustrating.
A dinner date doesn’t have to mean a sit-down at a steakhouse every time. With Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday, reservations are filling up quickly, and it’s unlikely you’ll come across a discounted meal deal. But if the day you celebrate is flexible, you might benefit from a weekday special.
Weekdays are a great opportunity to try something new while taking advantage of deals and promotions, no matter the time of the year. Plenty of restaurants offer weekday specials to drive up business. Whether it’s half-off apps, $1 wings, or a BOGO meal deal, you can feel better about having a nice sit-down dinner when you know the cost is more within your budget.
Try a first date during happy hour! In Massachusetts, happy hours hosted at restaurants can only discount food. If you’re going on a casual first date or meeting up with a new love interest after work, search for restaurants nearby that offer those post-work prices. This is also a good solution if you and your partner want to go out for the night, but don’t want a full, sit-down dinner.
If weekday specials and happy hour discounts aren’t an option, or you’re planning for Valentine’s Day during the weekend, get creative about the kind of date you might want to plan. A great approach could be creating an experience versus just going out for a meal.
One idea is to pick a neighborhood famous for its food. Boston, for example, has a historic Chinatown district with some of the best food out there. While there are expensive restaurants, there are also plenty of options that are budget-friendly too. The date could include bouncing to a few spots to sample what each one is famous for! It’s a great way to keep conversation flowing, get to know each other, and enjoy the adventure without worrying about the price.
Going Out Activities
There are many date-night activities that cost little to no money!
- Bring the things your partner loves—a popular social media challenge: if you’re getting snacks, drinks, and dessert, for example, you’re tasked with getting what you think the other person would want and surprising each other with the results.
- Museums—look at museums, art galleries, and other public spaces, especially on weeknights. Like restaurants, they might offer weeknight or late-night ticket specials.
- Public gardens and parks—a little self-explanatory, but public gardens and parks are a low-key date spot if you’re looking for fewer distractions and more quality time. Bring a basket of food and a blanket, and make a picnic out of it.
- Movies—another great weekday discount can be found at the movie theatres! Check your local cinema to see what day they run their deals and plan your next date night around showtimes. You might be lucky and find that your location could have food deals, too.
- Concerts and sporting events—it may not be a major concert or game, but you might see a free concert during the summer happening near you, at a town common or small auditorium, or you can catch a minor league team with inexpensive tickets at the ballpark or stadium.
A Night at Home
Date nights in can be cozy, relaxing, and (mostly) free!
While the traditional movie night, board games, or cooking together can be a great way to enjoy quality time, there’s a lot more you can do that won’t break the bank.
A few ideas to inspire your next at-home date night:
- Crafts and art—look online for a kit or some supplies if you don’t have any, then store the leftovers and reuse what you have for the next time. Try the “paint each other” challenge to really put your partner’s artistic skills to the test!
- Recipe book—if you love cooking together, try creating a recipe book of your favorite dishes. It can become part of your kitchen decor and possibly get passed down to the next generation.
- New languages—studies have shown how beneficial learning a new language can be for individuals, but it’s also great for couples. Hoping to visit a certain country in the future? Download a free language learning app and schedule a date night where you start practicing together.
The best part about an at-home date night is that you can be unique, creative, and put your personalities into the plans.
Not all dates have to be budget-conscious, but with some planning in advance, you can ensure you have the funds to enjoy what you love.
A Membership Savings account with Metro can help you put aside the cash you want for date nights, activities, and special occasions like Valentine’s Day.
Let’s start today, so you’re prepared for whatever you end up planning next February! Connect with an agent through our Digital Branch to start building your date-night savings.
