Once a month my hubby and I are guaranteed a date night, and we look forward to it with great anticipation every time. We have no family where we live and paying for a babysitter can be quite expensive when living on a budget. So every month we sign up for Parents Night Out at our YMCA (you can read about my obsession with the Y here). This way we have about 3 hours of childcare at no additional cost to our monthly membership. Just about every month we would go out to dinner. Which is great fun, don’t get me wrong. But, it kinda gets pricey. And it kinda gets boring. And we have the time restraint of 3 hours. So we have been trying to get creative and save money. Here is a list of 12 dates, one for each month. It’s important to be intentional with spending time with your spouse. Life gets so hectic, with so many things demanding our attention. It’s really easy to neglect the one that you can depend on the most. As we take our dates, I will report back to let you know how it went.
Date #1 Impromptu Picnic (rain optional)
Alright, so our first cheap date was not planned. We dropped off the kiddos and ran an errand, then sat there in the car wondering what to do. We really just wanted to sit and munch and chat and be together. So we went to Trader Joe’s and picked up pitas, hummus, wine (with a screw top), and sweets. We also got a sample cup of coffee so that we had cups to sip our wine out of. Then we sat and wondered where to go. See, it had been pouring rain all day. Not great weather to sit outside. We were willing to sit in the car, but that wan’t ideal. We went to a park with a gazebo, but there was a birthday party happening there. So we travelled to a different park to find a pavilion. First one was taken. Second one was taken. Then we found one that was a bit secluded. Perfect! We sat there under cover, listening to light rain, and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company while sipping wine out of paper cups.
Total cost for this date: $16.75 (and we took home leftovers)
Date #2: Thrifting and Coffee
This was so much fun! My hubby found a sharp looking, name brand shirt for four bucks, and a DVD for a buck.
At another place we took a stroll down memory lane. I found a cook book that reminded me of one my mother had and used so very often.
Hubby found a series of books that he read as a child.
And we had a great time looking through old albums.
What made this date so special was that even after nearly 14 years of marriage, we were still able to learn something new about each other’s lives.
After thrifting we went to a local coffee shop and listened to live music while chatting over drinks and scones.
Total cost: $8.50 for merchandise, $13 at the the coffee shop
Date #3: Cheer on Local High School Football Team
This month’s edition of “Keeping the Flame Alive” was another successful event. I must admit, I wasn’t really looking forward to it. It felt a little awkward going to watch a high school football game when we don’t know anyone playing, and have no family that goes or has ever gone to this school. Here’s how the evening went down:
After dropping the kiddos off at the Y for Parents Night Out, we had an hour to kill before the game was set to start. We went to a park at the south end of Lake Robinson and thoroughly enjoyed the view and the peaceful tranquility of the moment. It was odd to see such a beautiful lake and not a boat on it. I’m glad we had this quietness, because the rest of the evening was going to be a bit more hectic.
We drove up to the high school what we thought was a little early before the game was to start. Wrong! Oh my word, people take their football so serious here. So many pickup trucks. And they park wherever they feel like it. Walking through the parking lot we could hear the drums telling us that we were late. Hubby says, “I don’t remember there being so much hoopla for football games, do you?” I gasped (thinking to myself, you were homeschooled) and said, “Ummm, we were Number 1 in the state! Yes, there was a lot of hoopla!” And thus began my night of reminiscing.
All the teenagers decked out in their school spirit, with their faces painted. The cheerleaders doing pyramids and running with flags. The marching band and color guard at half time. And of course the football players playing their hearts out. It was so heartwarming. I’ve not ever been one to get sentimental for my past. When it’s time to move on to the next stage of life, I don’t like to look back. Because of this, I don’t share many life stories with my husband. But last night I found myself talking about all these great memories I have of going to football games and then the “fifth quarter” parties our FCA would have afterwards.
Bottom line, this was a good date. We paid $6 a piece to get in and then bought snacks, so a grand total of $16. We cheered when they made a good play, and moaned when it didn’t work out. I look forward to going again, but probably not until my boys go there and we are driving them and their friends.
Date #4: Mini Golf
Date #5: Indoor Rock Climbing
Date #6: Take an Art Class
Date #7: Milkshake and Video Games
Date #8: Crafts and Coffee
Date #9: Planned Picnic
Date #10: Teach Each Other a New Skill
Date #11: Do Something for Someone Else
Date #12: Bike Ride to Ice Cream Shop
