Frugal Living

Simple and Affordable Date Ideas to Keep the Romance Alive

Being a parent can be rewarding, especially when your goal is to raise well-rounded children who positively contribute to society. However, when your days revolve around school drop-offs, pick-ups, homework, and extracurricular activities, it’s easy for parents to forget about the love and connection that made them want to raise new life together in the first place.

You’re more than a child’s parents; you’re a couple in love, and it’s vital to remain connected on a deeper level than parenthood to keep the spark alive. If you’re worried that your daily life is more about routine than romance, you might like to add some of the following date ideas to your calendar.

Camping Trip

While you might need to purchase a rooftop tent from a leading supplier like iKamper before heading off, a camping trip can be a worthwhile way to reconnect with your spouse and remember what brought you together in the first place.

You can venture to a beautiful camping area, set your tent up on the roof of your vehicle, light a campfire if it’s permitted at your campsite, and reminisce about old times before you entered the challenging world of parenthood. Even if you only head away for one night while you leave the children with family or friends, it might be all you need to reconnect and rekindle your love.

Dinner and a Movie

Not every family has loved ones they can rely on to look after their children overnight, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get away for at least a few hours to enjoy time to yourselves. Enlist the services of a babysitter and make a booking at your favorite local restaurant to treat yourself to delicious meals you rarely have time to prepare at home. You might even like to stay for dessert as an extra special treat.

After dinner, you can top the night off with a movie at the cinema before making your way home feeling refreshed and reconnected. If you’re trying to keep your date night as frugal as possible, you might even decide to plan a movie night at home once the kids have gone to bed.

Picnic in the Park

Often, the only time many parents go to their local park is when they’ve got their children in tow. Rather than enjoying their peaceful natural surroundings, they spend all their time making sure the children are safe, having fun, and not fighting as they navigate the play equipment.

However, you don’t have to have your children with you every time you visit a park. You can venture there with your spouse, a picnic rug, and a basket of goodies and just enjoy each other’s company in a peaceful environment. A picnic in the park can be the perfect low-cost date idea for when you’re on a budget. It can also be even more affordable when you stay local and bring food from home rather than making a special trip to the grocery store.

A Day Hike

Even if the extent of your hiking experience is walking the dog around the block, there’s no reason why you and your spouse can’t go for a simple day hike out in nature to enjoy time away from the kids. There are many stunning hiking destinations across the United States, many of which are suitable for beginners without expert hiking gear if you don’t have much experience in the wilderness.

As long as you have sturdy footwear, a backpack, water, and food, you can be more than prepared for a simple few-hour-long hike. Just ensure the people caring for your children know where you’re going and when to expect you home.

Coffee Date

Regular dates without the children can be important for keeping the spark alive, but not everyone has the time or spare money to make it an hours-long event. In that case, consider going for regular coffee dates to your favorite café.

You can enjoy a barista coffee, purchase a light snack, and talk about your week without having to make sure your children haven’t wandered away from the table. Get into the habit of making time for coffee dates at least once a week, and you’ll get to remember what it’s like to be an in-love couple with no parental obligations.

Go Shopping

Many parents find it challenging to go shopping because children can get bored of the event before long. It can also be anxiety-inducing when you lose sight of a child in a large store and spend more time trying to keep close than browsing for items you’d like to buy.

If you’ve hired a babysitter or your children are staying with loved ones, consider going on a shopping trip with your spouse. You can take your time, browse to your heart’s content, and purchase goods you’ve been meaning to buy for a while, all while doing it with the person you love.

Watch the Sun Set or Rise

Few things say romantic quite like watching the sun set or rise. If you’re on a camping trip or are within a short driving distance of a beautiful vantage point to watch the sun set or rise, consider making a date out of it. Bring a thermos of coffee and a picnic rug, and you might even spend a few hours just enjoying the peace and serenity of the setting.

Try a New Food Establishment

Coming up with date ideas can be hard work, especially if you’ve been scheduling alone time with your spouse more often. Consider trying a new food establishment each time you have quality time alone without your children.

There are bound to be many highly regarded cafes, restaurants, and diners in your town or city that you haven’t yet tried. Create a list of those near your home and add more from outer areas as you tick off local establishments. Before long, you’ll have a good idea of your favorites and where you’d like to go more often.

Life with children can get busy, and it’s easy to get stuck in a monotonous routine that sees you missing out on time alone with your spouse. Before you enter a rut that’s hard to get out of, make dates a priority. You might be surprised by how many affordable activities there are to help you rekindle your love.

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