Hey there friend!
I'm really getting into the swing of this blogging thing again and I'm loving it! Yesterday I spent an afternoon in the sunshine brainstorming ideas, so now I just need to flesh them out a bit and get writing. :) I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
As this is month one of living together Chris and I have set a pretty tight budget (to allow for extra moving costs etc) and our date budget is no exception. We put a total of £25 to last the month, which isn't even a meal for two at a restaurant half the time, but you know I love a challenge!
Why is this relevant you might ask? Well, last night Chris and I went on our first date night since I moved over! Things have been so busy with moving, along with still working and all the other normal life things lately that we just haven't had time until now. So I was delighted when I got a message through the day to say we would be going to see Suicide Squad that night.
(No spoilers, don't worry! But if you haven't seen it I would really recommend it. It's getting a lot of bad rep from people who read the comics, and if you're a comic fan you might be disappointed, but if like me you're only vaguely aware of the original storylines then you'll definitely enjoy it.)
With such a small budget for the month I was a little concerned that this might also be our only date, after all I've been used to paying £9.30 a ticket in Bristol! Luckily tickets are only £6.50 here, but that's still not cheap. This got me thinking about different ways to stretch the budget without losing any of the fun or romance of a date.
Here are 4 ideas for keeping date night on a budget - I've gone for a budget version and a 'splash out' version, so you can choose which dates to splash a little extra on!
Movie Night
I absolutely love cuddling up and watching a film, whether it's with friends, family or a partner, so movie nights are a must on this list for me!
Budget Version: Grab your favourite DVDs, a blanket and some snacks and cuddle up in front of the TV. If you're feeling extra fancy you can light some candles or even a fire if you have one! Cost: £2.37 (Based on a bag of microwave popcorn and a 1.75L bottle of coke from Tesco.)
Splash Out: The cinema doesn't need to be expensive if you plan ahead. Aim for off peak viewing times, grab snacks at the shop before you go and things can be pretty reasonable. We bought 2 500ml bottles of Pepsi and 2 bags of Magic Stars (I don't share chocolate well) for £3.98 and paid £13 for our tickets (we couldn't go off peak due to work). Cost: £16.98 (obviously this will vary based on cinema prices)
Personally I'll take the budget version 9/10 times unless there's something I really want to see, like Suicide Squad (totes worth imo!). It's cosy, cost effective and even better - when the movie is over you're already cuddled up under a blanket so nap time is go! (Anyone else get really sleepy after films? Just me?)
Picnics
Picnics can be as cheap or expensive as you like by making food at home or picking up pre-made convenience foods from the shop. Here I've gone for roughly the same menu but one you'll buy ingredients for and the other will be shop bought. This menu is based on the picnic lunch we had in the garden today, keeping it current. :D
Budget Version: Sweet chilli tuna rolls (2 each), carrot sticks (2 carrots), apple slices (2 apples), houmous (1 pot of plain organic houmous) and cheese cubes (from a bigger block). Plus water or squash to drink. Cost: £3.30
Splash Out: Tuna & cucumber sandwich (1 each), carrot batons (1 bag), apple snack pack (1 each), houmous (1 pot of plain organic houmous) and cheese slices. Plus a bottle of Oasis each to drink. Cost: £10.40
Again, I'd take the budget version any day, but sometimes you don't have time for making things at home or the tupperware needed to transport your homemade goodies so a combination of the two can be useful!
Going For A Walk
Some nice weather and a pretty spot is all you really need for this date, and even then only if you're a fair-weather walker! There are some beautiful parks around Belfast and I can't wait to make the most of the good weather we're having. :)
Budget Version: Walk out of your front door, wander around and see what views you can find! You'll be surprised by some of the pretty spots around your area if you start looking. Cost: Free!
Splash Out: Most parks, beaches, trails etc are free, but you could always combine this idea with a picnic or drive somewhere a little further afield for some nice scenery. On a recent trip before I moved here we visited the Giant's Causeway which was beautiful and had a little picnic on the beach. Using the entry fee for that as an example... Cost: £18 (includes tickets and parking)
Meal For Two
Good food and good conversation go hand in hand when it comes to date night, so sharing a meal is a great choice when you're trying to keep to a budget. Chris and I love cooking together so we don't often go out for food, but it can be done on a budget when you want to go that extra mile! :)
Budget Version: Cooking at home can be so much fun when you leave your comfort zone and put a little planning in. We absolutely love researching recipes, giving them our own twist and then bringing them to life in the kitchen. We're already developing favourites after 2 weeks and coming up with ways to make them even better! Our current favourite is Pork Ragu with pasta, so using that as an example with a bottle of fruity wine... Cost: £8.12 (bonus, this recipe actually serves 4 so you get leftovers! Cost per serving is £1.04)
Splash Out: You could still eat at home but buy something like the Tesco Finest offer: 1 main, 1 side, 1 dessert and a drink, if you didn't want the effort of cooking at home. Cost: £10
Go Out: I did promise you could get a meal at a restaurant for under £25, so here's how. Head to a restaurant at lunchtime instead of during their peak hours and many will offer a lunchtime deal. For example we went to Chiquito for lunch on one of my visits and it was quiet, the service was extra attentive and we still had the afternoon to explore. Cost: At Chiquito you can get 2 main meals, 2 soft drinks and share a dessert for £22.95 (or if you're greedy and want a dessert each it'll put you over budget slightly at £26.70...).
Feasibly you could do all of the budget versions of these dates in a month and only have to pay £13.79, leaving plenty of budget to pick one and splash out a little (or squeeze more dates in!) for a special night. We've already been to the cinema and we're planning a picnic if the weather stays nice by the weekend. I'm looking forward to coming up with more budget ideas for next month too! :)
What are your top tips for dates on a budget? Anything I've missed or something you could make better with a little more thought? Let me know in the comments!
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