Ideas for cheap or free dates

[El Gringo]

What do you ladies and gentlemen suggest for cheap or free date activities - especially during the winter months. During the pleasant months, there are so many free activities such as outdoor movies, concerts, festivals, biking, hiking, etc. But I find that options significantly drop in the winter. Most indoor activities cost money. What are some fun, unique and creative suggestions for taking ladies out that don't destroy my budget?

[Milspecstache]

Local colleges/universities sometimes have free events (think orchestra, plays, festivals, etc).

I'm glad you posted this as I was wondering the same thing this morning!

[mamagoose]

Play in the snow, go sledding, build a snowman? I live in FL so when it's cold outside we go camping and have a bonfire, nice & romantic.

[2527]

Sex.

[soccerluvof4]

^ +10

[jnik]

Does it have to be "out"? Staying in and playing games has become a fave for us. Initial investment in the game, but cheap after that. Assuming you can find an appropriately neutral safe place if it's early in the relationship. Depending on where you are, there may be plenty of coffee shops with a game stash, so you can have several hours for the price of a coffee or two.

But I do second the recommendation of getting into outdoor cold activities.

[El Gringo]

Indeed - I think games is a great idea. And fortunately the girl I just started taking out is a huge games person, so that works well. The coffee shop idea is a good idea for early on in the relationship.

[luigi49]

The park
the beach
walking around downtown.
Walk around the mall

[MissStache]

A lot of museums will have free days once or twice a month- usually it is on their website.

[jordanread]

Sex.

By far my favorite indoor activity. +1
I've always been partial to sledding and snowball fights, but here are a couple more things I've done/wanted to do:

• Wine, blankets, and a fireplace (possibly lead to above ;-))
• Vehicle picnic - Big blankets, wrap up and look out over the city/mountains/etc
• If the sky is clear, and you have or can borrow a telescope, makes a hell of a time looking at the stars
• Thermos filled with mulled wine, warmed up and go for a walk
• Hot cocoa tasting festival - set in your kitchen

It all depends on the goal and comfort of the partner, but the beauty of cold weather is sharing a blanket. That plan can be transported anywhere it's cold.

[MrFancypants]

$20 bought two tickets to see a little known band that both myself and my wife enjoy for our Valentine's Day date.

If you're near a city a lot of smaller music venues will get decent bands for a very small buy in.  As long as you forego the typically expensive alcohol it's a fairly cheap date.

IMO, if you consider sex to be a cheap date idea, you're not getting enough.  ;)

[jordanread]

IMO, if you consider sex to be a cheap date idea, you're not getting enough.  ;)

What's that old saying? Something like
"The most expensive sex in the world is free sex"

[minimalist]

Ice skating at the Sculpure Garden, Smithsonian museums and/or zoo (free), First Friday art galeries (free), cooking dinner or having drinks at home, going out for affordable dinner or drinks, watching a movie from Netflix or redbox at home, giving each other massages. Here's a list of DC bars with games: http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/best-bets/best-bar-games,43411.html

[Fireman]

IMO, if you consider sex to be a cheap date idea, you're not getting enough.  ;)

What's that old saying? Something like
"The most expensive sex in the world is free sex"

As Charlie Sheen says, "You don't pay her for the sex, you pay her to leave!"