Let me preface this by saying I hate Valentine’s day and feeling obligated to go out for an expensive date night.
I don’t hate love, and I’m not bitter because I’m single (for once I’m not), I just think Valentine’s Day is corporate America swindling us by preying on our biggest vulnerability: our desire to love someone and to be loved ourselves. To me, nothing is appealing about sitting down in a loud and overpacked restaurant, buying overpriced chocolates, or taking part in any cliche romantic date idea.
Maybe you feel the same way, or maybe you clicked the title of the article because you’re broke and need cheap date ideas, either way, the best way to spend Valentine’s Day, or any day of the year, is by staying in and being a hermit so here are some fun and unique date ideas you can have at home.
Living Room Camping
Grab your blankets and your pillows, living room camping as an adult is just as fun as you remember it as a kid. Organize the room any way you like, maybe even build a fort if you can, and enjoy being creative and having fun. Pop on a movie to spend the time and spend the night vacationing in your living room.
36 Questions to Fall in Love
This might sound lame, and it might not be for everyone. But one day I stumbled upon this article about how these questions are designed to make you fall in love with your partner and build a closer relationship. After torturing my stoic and reserved boyfriend with almost two hours of questions (I’m chatty so it took us a while), we both came out feeling so much closer. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Paint Night
You really don’t have to be an artist. A few dollar store paints and canvases can guarantee you a fun night. If you and your partner are both competitive, you can try and see who paints the best picture (it gets funny if you both suck at art). Try it with a glass of wine and some charcuterie for an even fancier experience.
Try Foreign Snacks
Hit up an international supermarket or snack store and pick out things you’ve never seen or heard of. In Ottawa, I recommend Kowloon Market or T&T for some delicious Asian snacks. I can guarantee you a fun night of trying out something new.
Documentary Night
Okay, so this might sound lame because it’s just like any other movie night but you’re wrong. Documentaries are often overlooked in my opinion. Browse the documentary section on Netflix or try a free trial of Curiosity Stream to find something that can appeal to the both of you. Instead of sitting on the couch mindlessly watching another movie, learn something through a documentary.
Breakfast for Dinner
Switch it up! Instead of just making dinner at home try making an elaborate breakfast for dinner! If you aren’t feeling like doing something over the top this simple little switch up can make it a fun night for you and your partner.
Free Online Course
Pick something you guys both know little to nothing about but would be interested in learning and find an online course to teach you. There are so many online course websites that will teach you just what you need for free! If you can’t find any try Youtube! Some topics I recommend are Dinosaurs, Game Theory, Investing, or this wacky dog emotion and cognition class.
So there you have it. Save your money and your energy by staying home on your next date night!