Dating in your teenage years can be exciting, especially if it’s your first date. As you’re busy creating new experiences and getting to know someone new, you may develop butterflies in your stomach.
The reality is that it doesn’t take much money to have a great evening (or afternoon) together!
Actually, the best dates are often the simplest ones: often they will include great conversation, some creativity, and memories in the making.
Nevertheless, determining where to go on your first date can be tricky. You want to take your date somewhere fun that makes them happy, eliminates awkwardness, and is affordable.
Here are some of the best Cheap date ideas for teens that show you can have a great time without spending too much money.
There is certainly something for every couple, whether you enjoy going outdoors, watching movies together, or working on creative projects together.
Cheap Date Ideas for Teens: Creative and Affordable Ways to Spend Time Together
1. A Picnic at the Park
You really can’t get much simpler and romantic than a picnic in the park! Pack up some homemade snacks, a blanket, and a speaker for some background music.
Find a nice spot under a tree or near a pond and spend the afternoon laughing and talking with each other.
You can even add a little more fun by cooking some of your favourite foods together beforehand, or bring along a sketchbook to draw while you talk.
Parks are always free, relaxing and a perfect getaway from our busy context.
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2. Watch a Movie Marathon at Home
Don’t spend money on movie tickets when you can create your own movie theatre. Pick a theme like classic rom-coms or your favourite adventure series and pop some popcorn.
Netflix and streaming services make it so easy to plan a movie night. Alternatively, if one of you is a budding filmmaker, try recording your own short video clips and watching them together.
3. Visit a Local Farmers Market
Farmers’ markets are bursting with colour, excitement, and free samples. Meander through the stalls, sample new items, and maybe split a snack or drink with each other.
The point isn’t to empty your wallet, but to enjoy a fun experience exploring together.
Take a few cute pictures, speak with some local vendors, or challenge each other to find the weirdest item possible for a few dollars. It’s a sweet, spontaneous little outing that will feel adventurous.
4. Art Date Together
You do not have to be an artist to have fun making something. Grab some cheap paint, or markers, or even clay and spend the afternoon making art.
You could try to paint each other’s portrait, or you could just represent your relationship in whatever way that feels good for you both.
Art dates are low-key, funny, and you’ll end up with something to keep as a memory. Plus, it’s a great way to spend time together and see how creative you can be as a team!
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5. Nature Walk or Hiking Trail
If you’re both fans of the outdoors, then going for a hike or nature walk is a great, free date idea.
Find a local hiking trail, bring some snacks and just enjoy your time together in nature’s quietness.
You can make it even better by creating a playlist to listen to while you walk, or by bringing a camera to take scenic photos.
Breathing fresh air and taking in some beautiful sightseeing is one of the most peaceful and enjoyable ways to connect.
6. Thrift Store Challenge
Thrift stores are full of quirky treasures and unique fashions. Give each other a small budget per outfit and see what you can find that is the funniest or coolest.
Afterwards, treat yourselves to a smoothie, or sit in the car and model your outfits. It’s silly, creative, and would be great for couples who enjoy laughing together.
Plus, you’ll learn about each partner’s taste and sense of humour.
7. Game Night
It doesn’t matter if you are playing board games, card games, or multiplayer video games; game night is great for any couple, whether you take it seriously or for fun.
Bring out your competitive side and keep score, but don’t take it too seriously, because it’s not about winning.
If you’re lacking in games at home, no problem! You can always check out some free mobile games or grab a few games from your buddies.
Pick up some snacks (while some snacks work, keeping it easy with popcorn is best), and turn on some music in the background to make it an actual date night.
8. Ice Cream Date
The ever-classic ice cream date is an easy and timeless date idea. Simply take a trip over to your nearby ice cream shop, order your favourite flavours, and take a stroll.
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It’s affordable, fast to plan, and you have to give yourselves time to talk. You can even evaluate (or rate) the flavours together to make it a mini tradition as a date idea.
9. Sunset or Stargazing
Sometimes the best dates don’t require many words at all. Find a spot (whether that’s your backyard, rooftop, or some lookout viewing area) stroll over and take in the sunset.
Bring a blanket, some snacks, and perhaps a playlist of songs you both enjoy! Even once it gets dark, taking a second for stargazing adds a dreamy cinematic feel you won’t be able to forget!
10. Volunteer Together
Helping others can serve as a powerful way to form meaningful connections. Seek out volunteering opportunities in your local area, such as beach cleanups, animal shelters, or community events.
It doesn’t cost anything and is meaningful, giving you both purpose while spending time together.
Also, it’s the type of date that creates memories that will be cherished.
11. Attend a sporting event
Are you feeling anxious about sitting down to share a meal with your loved one? You can attend a sporting event.
This can create an enjoyable date idea if you both share common interests and root for the same football team or another sports team. You both can be part of the exciting atmosphere and create great memories.
You could even get out and grab something to eat or drink from the stadium after the games are over if you’d like!
The date will definitely get off to an amazing start if your team wins. Even if they don’t win, it will still give you something to talk about after the game!
However, it may not be the most enjoyable experience for your date if they’re not into sports, so we suggest finding out if sports interest your date before surprising them with tickets.
12. Find a Free Community Event
Many towns sponsor some sort of free concert, art show or outdoor movie night. Check your community calendar and pick one to attend together. This is a simple way to experience something new, all for free.
Still, you are part of your local scene! Bring a blanket, bring some snacks, and feel the energy being around other people.
13. Bike Ride Around Town
If both of you have bicycles, take a ride around your neighbourhood or a safe trail in a nearby area. Stop for a little snack or photos along the way.
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Biking offers an opportunity to talk, laugh, and explore while staying physically active. This also works great for daytime dates, as it is free and doesn’t require a reservation.
14. Visit a Bookstore or Library
Bookstores and libraries are quiet, cosy, and often have character. You can wander the aisles, find your favourite books, or pick one out to read together.
If your community library has a café, you can get a drink and sit to talk about your favourite genre or author. It is simple, meaningful dates sparking connection and conversation.
15. Take Fun Photos Together
You don’t need a professional camera to take photos. Grab your phone, wander around your neighbourhood for cool backdrops, and take fun or goofy pictures.
You can theme it – vintage, aesthetic, or candid photos. Then you can create a digital scrapbook or simply store the pictures on your phones.
It is creative, romantic, and something to look back at.
16. Visit a Museum or Art Gallery
Some museums offer free days or discounts for students, allowing you to enjoy art or history together at a more affordable rate.
You can wander in and out of galleries, see an exhibit or two, and talk about what you’re seeing together.
Don’t worry if you’re not really into art there, it’s still a cool or fun way to explore together.
Plus, there can be something extra romantic about wandering through quiet museum halls and discovering something together.
17. At-Home Spa Night
Spend the night having a spa date all in the comfort of your home, with DIY face masks, a candle or two, and your favourite relaxing music.
You can buy spa items at the dollar store or use natural ingredients for your face masks.
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It’s a funny and cute way to relax together, while still being relaxed. Just be sure to capture some photos of your silly mask faces; they will make for great memories that you’ll laugh at later.
18. Go for a Drive
If either of you drives, take a quick route so you can just enjoy the drive. Take your favourite songs, a cheap snack and drive around exploring new areas.
Driving dates can seem intimate and exciting because it’s just you sharing time and conversation without distractions.
Even driving around your town at night can turn into a little magical adventure.
19. Explore a New Hobby Together
Creating new shared experiences as a couple will deepen your bond. Try simple and inexpensive hobbies, like origami, baking, or photography.
You can find free online tutorials or videos, and you will certainly get a lot of laughs as you learn together.
Every new skill that you try together is just another chapter to add to your couple’s life story.
20. Write Letters to Each Other
The more old-fashioned the gesture, the more meaning it can hold. Write one another a heartfelt letter, and read it in person.
Find a quiet place to read out loud together, or save them and place them in a memory box.
This is a sentimental, free, and one of the most meaningful yet affordable date ideas for teens who value deep connections.
Final Words
Dating as a teen doesn’t have to focus on spending money. It’s more about the effort you’ll both put into the date, your idea creativity, and how genuine that moment to connect is.
The best inexpensive date ideas for teens are about connection, not cost. So, when you focus on enjoying time together with kindness and being yourself, even while planning your next date, it may feel like a small gesture, but spending time together is priceless.
