Free (or cheap!) date ideas

[StickEmWithThePointyEnd]

Does anyone have any ideas for free or cheap dates for people in long term relationships? Dh and I don't need to get to know each other, but a couple of hours each month spent with each other while dc free would be nice.

The cinema is hideously expensive, especially as we can't do Wednesdays. Eating out would be nice but finding good deals seems difficult.

Is there anything we can do on a tight budget?

Eating in?

There's always the park, (some) museums, rented DVDs, even shopping.

At the moment, I meet for coffee at the end of the day just to keep contact during the week, and have done different things. From cooking at home to shopping, yes, and walks.

Now the weather is cold there's not a lot of outdoor activities that you can do, what about a picnic at home? Turn the TV off, get a blanket, spread it out in the front room, feed each other with titbits whilst reading paragraphs from exotica and then .........

I'm so sorry I forgot I had made this thread! Thanks for the suggestions... I need to do some serious planning to ensure we actually do something if we stay in rather than vegging in front of the tv or computer!

It's so hard, especially when it's cold out, so no chance of pinics in parks , walks etc. Going out cheaply isn't viable in this country in the winter in the evenings.
Working with what you've got, could you make something of your nights in? I can't imagine settling down to do a jigsaw with DH, but we often watch meaty box sets together over several months.

DH an I's last "date" turned into fish and chips in the car at a local beauty spot and then a walk to the top to really appreciate the view.

Then we had to run back down and grab DC's from school.

Mac Donald's, Costa coffee, walking hand in hand round the supermarket. Dh and I were still student's when we married so we never really did dates.

We lived in separate cities, so by the time I'd bought petrol or he'd bought a train ticket, wrapping up warm and going window shopping or to a local pretty place and just chatting was all the budget stretched to.