Easy and Free Stay-at-Home Date Nights

Want to plan a special Valentine date, but don’t have a babysitter or money?  Here are some great easy and free stay-at-home date night ideas for Valentine’s Day or any night of the year…

Once, when we were away at school, my husband and I attended a marriage retreat.  It was a good retreat, with helpful information.  One thing that has stuck with me for years is some specific advice from the seasoned instructor.  He said that it is pivitol for every married couple to go out on a date at least once a week without kids.

At the time I thought this was crazy hilarious.

 

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I still do.

I mean, it’s a great idea.  Love it!  But then, there is reality and knowing that it is just not going to happen.  Reality strikes.  Time is short and money is tight.

 

However, I haven’t wanted to give up on this idea completely.  There are fantastically simple ways to spend time together and not spend a dime.  Sometimes I think that the less we spend, the easier it is to discover and get to know your spouse better.

Maybe when your  children are grown, when you and your spouse retire, when you have a nice nest egg to pull from, maybe then you could actually go out on a date once a week.  But for now, check our our Easy and Free Stay-at-Home Date Night Ideas.

 

Why stay at home?  When you have children, one of the largest expenses involved can be child-care.  For us, that just does not fit into the budget.  So, instead we opt to stay home…honestly, it is one of our favorite places to be…  It’s quiet, relaxing, and completely comfortable…  Staying home nourishes our relationship without emptying our wallet.  How great is that?  All of these ideas are intended to happen post-supper, when children are tucked in bed and blissfully dreaming…

Easy and Free Stay-at-Home Date Night Ideas

• Pull out a puzzle, if you have one in a back cupboard somewhere…dust it off and try putting it together.  If neither of you are in a chatty mood, turn on an audio book.  Pull an old audiobook out of your cupboard or pick up a new one at the library.  These High, Green Hills (The Mitford Years, Book 3) is an old favorite of ours.  This can open up great conversation later and just let you enjoy each other’s company.  You could actually do this for a couple of date nights…until the puzzle and audio book are done.

 

• Go outside in the backyard and have a little campfire.  Bring out a couple cups of cocoa, have a great talk, gaze up at the sparkling stars and stay cozy by the fire…even roast a marshmallow!  Love this one! 

 

• Play a game.  This is your chance to play a game that is made for the 8+ crowd.  Once your preschool sweetheart is sound asleep, pull out a complicated fun game with lots of pieces and relish the fact that you won’t lose any!  Seriously though, this can be a really fun evening…when was the last time you played a game?!

 

• Brew some tea, start a fire (if you have a fireplace) and take turns reading to each other.  If you want it to be really interesting read a book about relationships! 🙂  My husband and I are currently reading Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before — and After — You Marry.  I’ve heard rave reviews about it, so we thought we would check it out (and yes, we are married already, but I hear it’s a good read even if you are already married.

 

• And of course there is the old-standby…Movie night.  Really, try some of the other ideas first…movies are fun and great, but they don’t usually encourage communication :).  But if you are going to do it, then try watching that DVD that has been sitting on your shelf, but you just never get to it.  Search through all the documentaries on Netflix and learn about something new together.  Or try putting a different spin on movie night.  Instead of Netflix or a DVD, try YouTube.  Do a search of some topics that interest you both add the word movie to the search and see what comes up!  You might discover a movie you never heard of but absolutely love.  Then maybe it will launch you both into a great conversation!

 

The purpose of all of these ideas is to bring you closer together, give opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, struggles, accomplishments…above all, work on communication.  It is the best gift to give each other and it is free!