Most of us have a lonely “loose change” jar at home. It’s the place where we toss the pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters that we accumulate in our pockets or purses. That change will often sit there for months or years, so why not put it to good use?
Enter a fun and challenging date night idea. Think: How can you and your sweetheart go out on a dime, paying with only that loose change? Let’s count the ways.
[See: 10 Ideas for Dating on a Budget.]
Picnic in the park. Grab those coins and head to the grocery store, where you can pick up items for a picnic lunch. A bit of bread, some sandwich toppings and a side dish or two can be had for less than $10 if you look around. Fill up some water bottles, put the picnic items in your backpack, head to the park and voilà!
While you’re there, enjoy a few activities. Walk on the trails. Take a Frisbee and play disc golf. Swim if you brought bathing suits. The possibilities of a beautiful day at the park together with a meal in your backpack are almost endless.
Go to the beach after dinner. Take the pocket change along for parking or any minor expenses. Walk along the beach together. When it gets dark, find a secluded spot and start a campfire (if it’s permitted there) and just relax together under the stars.
Bonus tip? Grab several quarters and stop at a Trader Joe’s for a bottle of Charles Shaw wine (“Two Buck Chuck”) and pack it in your backpack along with a couple of glasses. It’s a perfect thing to share on the beach in the evening.
[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]
Go for a hike. Look for trails in your area that lead to scenic views, then pack a water bottle or two and head out to find those vistas. You can burn a full afternoon doing this, and when you get to the top, take a selfie with your partner at that wonderful vista you discovered together. You don’t even need the pocket change for this idea.
Make a romantic “farmers market” dinner together. Go to a farmers market together and spend your pocket change on an interesting ingredient. Then head home and make dinner together using whatever that ingredient is.
Find recipes online starring that ingredient (and that use what you already have on hand in the cupboards), then make the dish together. Put on some quiet music as you cook and eat together. If you have a few more quarters, buy a cheap bottle of wine (see above). If you have a few more quarters, buy a couple of candles and have a candlelit dinner.
Go to a movie or concert in the park. Most communities offer free movies or free concerts in the city park on summer evenings. Just pack a blanket and head to the park to enjoy a movie or a nice summer concert with your partner while stretched out together on a comfortable spot in the grass. Bring a second blanket if the weather is cooler.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
Tour a local winery or brewery. Not only will the tours be interesting as you take in behind-the-scenes views of the production process, they’re usually free and conclude with free samples. Not only is this a great idea for a local date, it’s something fun to do if you’re ever out of town and want to enjoy a “local” but inexpensive activity. (Some tours might require a small fee, but it’s nothing that a healthy handful of change can’t handle.)
With a little imagination and a bit of pocket change, you can come up with all kinds of fun and interesting things to do. Remember, the fun of a date night isn’t just in what you’re doing, but in the wonderful person you’re spending time with.
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How to Have a Stellar ‘Loose Change Date’ originally appeared on usnews.com
