For the longest time, I thought going on a date had to be extravagant and costly. That was until I realized that all a date needs is intentional quality time, doing something together. My husband and I have to fight for time together by sticking to routines, telling people ‘no’ to commitments, and finding sitters when we do want to go out. I was making quality time too hard on myself. If you’ve ever felt stuck on picking something to do on date night or want to freshen things up in your marriage while on a budget, this is the place for you.
Here’s what we will cover in this post:
- Intimacy in Marriage
- Knowing You and Your Spouses Love Language
- 30+ Ways to Date Your Spouse on a Budget
Related:
7 Steps to an Intentional Marriage While Parenting
Fall Date Night Ideas Download Now!
Intimacy in Marriage
What’s the first thing you think about when you hear ‘intimacy’? It’s sex. This is a judgment-free zone. Many people believe the same thing. However, intimacy just means closeness, familiarity, or attachment in simple terms. In other words, it can mean connection, which is the most important thing you can have and should protect in a marriage.
Intimacy can be a physical, intellectual, or emotional connection. This connection depends on you and your spouse’s primary love languages. From there, you can use those love languages to fill each other’s love tanks and know what dates to plan.
Knowing You and Your Spouse’s Love Language
I found myself attempting to show affection to my husband by giving massages, snuggling close to him, or just watching TV and spending quality time together, which are all things that I love. He, however, is an act of service and words kind of guy. He loves positive or loving affirmations and he’s a sucker for someone doing something nice for him or taking part of the load off of him. Listen and watch for what your spouse likes. This will help you determine how to best fill their love tank.
Next, find out what it is that makes you feel most loved. Listen to yourself emotionally and physically. Talk through it with your spouse. Make a date out of it. Grab some popcorn and wine and get to talking!
A book that helped me learn about how to love my husband and how he can make me feel most loved is The Five Love Languages by Dave Chapman. This book saves me when I am being selfish and not thinking of my husband’s needs. I won’t spoil it for you, so you’ll have to read it yourself.
30+ Ways to Date Your Spouse on a Budget
- Date Night at home playing a card game
- Wedding date night
- Coffee Date
- Workout Date
- Breakfast in bed
- Disney Themed Date Night in
- Form a two-person book club with one of these two books: The Five Love Languages or The 4 Seasons of Marriage
- Movie night at home
- Movie at the matinee with discounted admission
- Themed dinner night
- Bonfire & Beer Night
- Play a sport
- Walk at a park
- Make ice cream at home with this cute Ice Cream Kit
- Mini Golf
- Fruit picking
- DIY Home Project
- Ice Cream or Milk Shake date
- Highschool Football Game
- Amateur Comedy Night
- Amusement Park
- Carnival
- Brunch Date in
- Have a picnic
- Day at the lake
- Backyard or Indoor Camping Kit
- Plan your dream trip
- Nature Walk
- Visit a Museum
- Volunteer at a shelter
- Stargazing
- Wine Tasting
- Paint and sip at home with this Painting Kit
A date night can be super simple if you know how to fill your spouse’s love tank. This will take some time, but that’s what The Five Love Languages are for. It was designed to help people learn how to love people in their own love language. Be ready for a reality check when you pick this book up. It’s a good one!
These 30+ date ideas will help you stay within your budget while increasing intimacy in your relationship. We are dating with a purpose here, not just going on a date to look at our phones. Talk to each other and learn more about the evolution of your partner and what interests them in this chapter of your lives. I challenge you to make that decision and go the extra mile to make your spouse feel loved. Switch it up, and plan a surprise date! The ideas are all here for you to take and use! I can’t wait for you to experience these dates together and get back to intentionally dating your spouse, while on a budget.
Together, we rise!
