LCO Child Support | August 1, 2019
Tags:  Resources | LCO Child Support Program

Top 10 Budget-Friendly Date Nights for Parents with Kids

Raise your hand if you have a regular date night with your significant other.  If you’re like many other parents around the world, you’re likely lacking in the time and/or resources to have yourself a dedicated date night with your significant other.  

In 2018, Fatherly.com surveyed several married women with a combined 200 years of marriage under their belts. 

Do you want to know their number one piece of advice?

“Keep date nights a priority in your marriage … no matter what.”

Connecting with your significant other through regular date nights takes work at any age, whether you’re dealing with teething, potty training, hormonal changes, or a child with a case of ‘Senioritis’.  

According to MyChild Magazine, there are two (main) date night challenges parents of small children face.

CHALLENGE #1:  EXHAUSTION
MyChild Magazine comments on these two challenges:  “Let’s face it, bearing children can be exhausting. First you try to keep your marriage fresh while pregnant, which seems almost impossible. Then you move into the stage of nursing and caring for a small child, which means your hormones are all over the place. You’re more often than not covered in bananas, flour, and boogers all at the same time, and it’s a vacation to go to the grocery store alone. Small children and all that goes into caring for them is exhausting, but worth it – totally worth it! Yet when you’re exhausted, date nights are too often the last thing on your mind.”

CHALLENGE #2:  FINDING A BABYSITTER
MyChild Magazine goes on to state, “I  would rather go to the dentist and get a root canal than go through the process of finding a babysitter. Dramatic and ridiculous, I know. Yet it’s the truth! Nailing down a babysitter can sometimes be challenging. Then, once you have a babysitter lined up, you have to get everything prepared for the babysitter to take over while you’re gone!” 

These two challenges can completely deter parents from making date nights a priority. Sometimes date nights can be more work than they’re worth, as mentioned by Ned Johnson, a contributing writer to the MyChild Magazine.  

Making date nights a priority is worth it!

You get a break from caring for your children for just a little while, which in the end actually makes you a better parent.

You get to connect with your significant other and recharge with your best friend.

Since parents of small children face enough challenges to make date night happen, here are 10 budget-friendly date night ideas, as published by Dave Ramsey, Personal Finance Expert, on DaveRamsey.com. 

Top 10 Budget-Friendly Date Nights for Parents with Kids

Date nights at home can sometimes be the best option for parents of small children. The key to at home date nights is turning off the phones, computers, and other distracting electronics and tuning into your spouse. My husband and I try to do this at least once a week.

Let’s get one thing straight: Free doesn’t equal boring. If anything, it means you get to be a little more creative with how you plan the date. Plus, you get to think up exciting, out of the box ideas. Here are 10 free activities to do on a date any night of the week.  These are not listed in any particular order, nor are they ranked, just a list of 10.

1.    Netflix and Chill

Finding a great movie on Netflix is uncommon with children in the picture.  Typically, it is mostly children’s shows on Netflix. However, on Date Night, make it a film you both wanted to watch and now that you have some free time, pop some popcorn, order a pizza, and get comfortable.  

2.    Local Band / Music Night

Go out and enjoy live music from a local band.  You and your significant other can choose to enjoy the music together or dance, and this is a very budget-friendly option.

3.   Watch the sunset or sunrise

This is one of the top picks across numerous online sources, and for good reason.  The sun can recharge you. It is composed of ultraviolet light which the body needs for optimum health.The sun stimulates the production of melanin, stimulates the metabolism, is good for helping glands that take care of internal secretion.

4.    Glamping

Glamping is where nature meets modern luxury.  When choosing to embark on this adventure with your significant other, this provides a perfect time for you to engage in some quality time with one another. Without the distractions of modern life and a busy schedule, you can sit down and engage in discussions and fun family games in your glamping abode.

5.    Eat dinner in the backyard

Some studies claim, eating outside reduces stress. In turn, reducing stress boosts your immunity to bad stuff. Digging a little deeper, some studies have looked at why nature, in particular, does positive things for the immune system.  You get the benefits of having an inexpensive home cooked meal, with the ambiance of patio outdoor dining.  

6.    Take a class together

This idea depends on where you live, as well as your interests. Some ideas include a dance class, painting lessons, photography workshop, cooking class, etc. Create memories together even if it means your painting looks more like a moose than the puppy you set out to paint. Taking a class together gives you an opportunity to loosen up.

7.    Get Competitive

If you’re not in the mood for a movie, try a game night. Pull out the playing cards for some poker and play for chips, change or something a little more “adult.” If cards aren’t your thing, try Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit or any other game you and your partner enjoy playing together.

8.    Train for a 5K

For some people, a 5K or 3.1 miles can be a warm up.  For the rest of the average joes, that can be a difficult task.  Motherly.com reports some of the most memorable accomplishments for moms less than 3 years removed from giving birth, is that they were able to train and complete a 5K with their significant other.  The 5K is a sizeable goal and milestone to getting back into an active lifestyle, produces measurable health benefits, and a great opportunity for quality time.

9.    Book a cheap hotel room

Booking a $69 per night room can be a great option to get out of town, experience a new city with sights and sounds, as well and spend a romantic night for less than $200 while balling on a budget.  

10.  Double Date

While it is great to spend some quality time with your significant other, there is great reward in spending time with friends and family.  A double date can be a great change of pace while spending some time with other adults, have adult conversations, and enjoy time with friends.  

Date nights are super easy ... until you're a parent.

Did you have an abundance of date night ideas early in your relationship? How about when you were newly married? As parents, what date night ideas do the two of you come up with these days? 

Do you even have a date night?

Try one of these 10 listed above.
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