16 cheap but FUN date ideas

 

It's finally December!! I'm so excited, because not only does that mean it's closer to Christmas, but I'm also turning 16 next week! Yes, some of you might know what I'm hinting at. And if you still haven't figured it out, it means I'll be able to start dating! In my church, we are taught many standards that we strive to uphold. One of those is a standard found in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlets regarding dating:

"You should not date until you are at least 16 years old. When you begin dating, go with one or more additional couples. Avoid going on frequent dates with the same person. Developing serious relationships too early in life can limit the number of other people you meet and can perhaps lead to immorality. Invite your parents to become acquainted with those you date.

 

Choose to date only those who have high moral standards and in whose company you can maintain your standards. Remember that a young man and a young woman on a date are responsible to protect each other’s honor and virtue."

 

So, in honor of turning 16 next week, I thought it would be cool to compose a list of SIXTEEN cheap but creative and fun date ideas! It's pretty easy to just choose a movie to go see, and while movies are great, it can be really difficult to get to know the other person when you guys aren't allowed to talk. But a moonlight picnic or making homemade pizzas? Cheap but fun dates take creativity and planning, but I can guarentee they will be a lot more memorable.

 

Some of these ideas I came up with myself, and some of them are from friends that have gone on some of these dates themselves, so they can vouch for me and say these ideas work! Especially for any of ya'll that are in the same boat as me ;)

1. Make homemade pizzas together! I really love cooking and trying new things, and this sounds really fun, haha even if they end up not being very edible in the end!
2. VOLUNTEER! I really like the feeling service gives me. It was really fun one time to dress up in scrubs and go with the young women in my church to a peanut butter cannery! And it's amazing what you can do as a group to change lives for the better.
3. Have a board game night! I'm slowly discovering that there are a lot of fun board games out there that I have yet to discover (thank you L & T for opening my eyes) besides the usual Monopoly or Scrabble. Make sure to bring treats!
4. Go roller-blading at a rink! Rent some (or bring your own) and go skating! Nothing like the fear of falling on your butt allllll nightttttt longgg.
5. Go bowling! I went all the time as a kid! Okay, actually only on my birthday or one of my siblings' birthdays. But still. Make it a competition! Try granny-shots, eyes closed, or maybe even opposite hands!
6. Visit a park. There is a park by my friend's house that I adore taking pictures of or just walking around. It has two huge lakes, and dozens of dandelions litter the grass on all sides. There's a small section of rocks in the center combining the two big lakes, with a fountain in each one. If I sit on the rocks, I can feel the mist from the foundations, and ducks swim around and always ask for bread crumbs. Sometimes I'll even find duck eggs in the grass.
7. Have a movie MARATHON!! Harry Potter, anyone? No? Okay...
8. Go exploringgg! This might just be me, but I really enjoy just walking around outside. Whether that be in a forest, some retention ponds, on a golf course, etc! It really opens up the opportunity for conversation, too.
9. Visit a thrift store. I've never visited one but I've heard you can find lots of crazy stuff in there. Great stuff, too! Maybe give each couple or person $5 and see who can find the coolest stuff!
10. Have ice-cream sundaes! Who doesn't love ice cream? Go to the store, buy some vanilla ice cream and some of ya'll's favorite toppings, and voila! Instant happiness.
11. Have a picnic! I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A PICNIC! Food + outside + talking = awesome.
12. Go star-gazing! I used to look for constellations a lot with my grandparents, and I love learning about them. Not to mention they're so cool. Pack some pillows, blankets, and food! Then lay out and enjoy the view.
13. Go swimming! I highly recommend this in the warmer months (if there are any where you live). Or you could search for an indoor pool.
14. Watch a play! My school and the surrounding schools seem to always have a play going on, and a lot of them are awesome! There are so many talented people, and the plays are super funny, too!
15. Take a hike. Another fabulous way to get outside and enjoy nature. Very peaceful. Much talking.
16. And last but definitely not least; Murder-in-the-Dark. This is seriously a favorite in my ward. Basically you take a blank slip of paper for every person playing. Then, you write an "M" on only ONE of them. Put them all in a hat. Everyone draws a slip of paper and whoever gets the "M" is the murderer, but they CANNOT tell anyone they are "it." The lights go off and everyone walks around the house or room trying to avoid the murderer. If you're tagged, then you wait a little so the murderer isn't immediately revealed (otherwise it ends way too quickly), and then you SCREAM and drop to the floor. This continues until someone guesses who the murderer is, or, you know, everyone dies...

Mwahahaha. Best moment ever was when I hid under a bed. When people came in to hide, I grabbed their ankles. I think I went tone-deaf, though. Eden: 1, Opponents: 0.

 

And the amazing thing about this list is that all these can be so easy, so fun, and without almost any pressure.

 

I hope some of my suggestions helped spark ideas! Thanks for reading.

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