When I ask couples why they don’t make a point to go on dates more often, lack of money is one of the most frequently mentioned obstacles. There are a lot of different stages of life that can contribute to the low availability of funds for date night. Being newlyweds, students, parents, retired, starting your own business, etc. can cause you to cringe any time you spend money. In many situations, it can feel impossible to afford fun activities or time out of the house together. That’s why I suggest that couples budget for date night each month.
I’ve heard it said that date night is a lot more enjoyable and less expensive than divorce. So no matter your situation, your marriage is worth the investment. That being said, your investment does not have to be hundreds of dollars a week. My husband and I enjoy splurging on our dates. But more often than not, the things we do are extremely cheap or even free. The key for us has been to set a budget for date night each month and stick to it.
Related: Why You Need to Make Date Night a Priority in Your Marriage
We have always used a form of the envelope system when it comes to our spending money. Our date night funds were always lumped in with “eating out”, “fun money” or “other”. But that money was quickly and easily spent on things other than date night. Leaving nothing for us to put toward our relationship. If the two of you are serious about making date night a priority in your marriage, I suggest budgeting for it separately.
I suggest that you have a line item in your budget that is specifically for date night. This money won’t be used for anything but your time together. It’s a simple way you can make your marriage and date night a priority.
Decide how much money you have to put toward date night. Then you will be able to better plan what you want to do together. You won’t feel like you can’t spend time together because you have no money left.
Related: Why Your Marriage NEEDS Kid-Free Date Nights Outside Your House
When determining your budget, don’t feel like you need to go overboard. It’s ok to plan more expensive date nights. Don’t feel like you need to cut your grocery budget in half or put date night on a credit card just to strengthen your marriage. We cut back on our more frivolous expenses to make room for date night. It was something that we decided was important and worth sacrificing for!
Take money from your eating out and fun activity budgets and donate them to your date night budget. Maybe you could give up your own spending budgets for a few months to help fund your date night budget instead. You can eliminate streaming services you don’t use as often. I called on a couple of bills this year and was able to cut them in half, giving us more money to work with.
Tip: We have loved using this family finance rescue program from Pennies Into Pearls! It has helped us create a goal-based budget, which includes date night. We are on the same page and better able to prioritize where our money goes.
Set a budget that is realistic for your income and necessary expenses. Then work together to think creatively to find activities to fit within your budget. Look for deals in your area and use coupons or gift cards that you might have. We love to use free events or local activities for our date nights on a regular basis. I often use my budget for gifts to give my husband a date in the form of tickets or a gift card.
If you go on date night earlier in the day, you can purchase drinks and appetizers instead of a full dinner. The same can be done with matinee shows at the community or movie theater. You can pay for a babysitter and go out for a couple of hours, not spending a single cent. We will often enjoy date night at home to save money as well. The goal of date night is not to spend money, it’s to connect with your spouse and have fun together!
Related: 8 Ideas for Short Date Nights Out
I hope you will seriously consider evaluating your budget and making room for date night. With a little thought and creativity, you will be able to come up with a date night plan to fit your budget, no matter your stage in life.
