6 Budget Friendly At-Home Dates - Winter Edition

As the temperature drops, we all look forward to cozy nights in our homes filled with blankets, candles, and a warm beverage. It’s the perfect time to revisit your favorite comfort shows or binge ones that have been in your queue all year.

It’s even nicer to have your SO or friends there beside you, but if you’re like me then you might feel like movie marathons are sort of your default. My boyfriend and I tend to watch an hour or two of TV every night together to unwind after a long day. I love the ritual, but after a while date nights don’t seem as special because they're the same as my after-work routine.

It's also more difficult to plan dates when the air hurts your face and you have to scrape ice off your car before you can go anywhere. And it's a little hard to do so now with, well, *gestures at everything*. Despite all of that, you can still have a fun date night to break routine, but not the bank - even if you choose to stay in for the night!

1.) Paint & Sip

There's a shop in my town that does painting classes a few times a week that my friends and I loved going to. They provided the canvases and paint and you had the option to bring in wine if you wanted to sip while you painted. It was a fun, relaxing atmosphere and a great group activity.

So why not bring the class to you? Buy a few canvases, acrylic paint, and your favorite beverages. Next, go to YouTube and search for painting tutorials that you can follow along with!

2.) Christmas Lights Tour

If your town has already started decorating, then another way to get out of the house is to do your own Christmas light tour! I actually did this with one of my friends a few years back and it was a lot of fun! You could grab some hot chocolate or a festive holiday drink from Starbucks and drive around listening to music, talking, and just enjoying the lights!

3.) Interactive Video Game Night

Video games are also a go-to for my boyfriend and I, but for a date night I’d suggest one that is pretty interactive and lets the two of you communicate and participate at the same time. Overcooked is a great one to try out where you both have to work as a team in a restaurant environment. It’s cute and a little weird, but in an entertaining way! The map changes every level so you always have new obstacles to overcome.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is also one I highly recommend! My boyfriend and I played this one New Year’s Even when we were snowed in and it was a blast (but not literally)! One person reads the instructions while the other tries to follow them - neither being able to see what the other does. Oh, and there's a timer so don't wait too long!

4.) Wine Tasting & Cooking Together

If you and your partner love to cook together (or want to get better) then why not try out a new recipe? Play some music in the background and have fun going a little out of your comfort zone if you aren’t a natural chef. If cooking isn’t really your thing, you could also do an at-home wine tasting complete with your own charcuterie board!

5.) Movie Night, but with a Twist

If you want to spice up your usual movie night you could try to mimic the actual theater going experience. Why not buy popcorn bags/cups and your favorite snacks? You could pick a movie neither of you has seen yet, dive into a holiday classic, or find something that’s so-bad-it’s-good to riff together in Mystery Science Theater 3000 style!

For added flare - why not build a mini pillow or blanket fort for your double feature?

6.) Living Room Picnic

Just because it’s snowy outside doesn’t mean you can’t still have a romantic picnic. Buy some bread, cheese, and fruits or make your own sandwiches. If you really wanted to, you could also order in or pick up a meal from your favorite restaurant to enjoy! Set blankets on the floor and play some music while enjoying each other’s company!

I hope these ideas spark little creativity for your next date night! Most importantly, it's always good to spend quality time with your partner or friends where you both can communicate, laugh, and check in on one another!