Valentine’s Day should be a day filled with love. However, after warring with fleets of other couples for dinner reservations and paying for food, gifts and other miscellaneous holiday expenses, the day might not seem so lovely anymore. But a V-Day date night doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive! You might find that you’ll have a more fun and intimate holiday if you just use some creativity. Lucky for you, we’ve already put our creative hats on and come up with five low-cost date ideas that still have a lot of heart!
Homemade Heart Pizzas
Making dinner together is a way to spend quality time and get to enjoy food at the end of it. It’s also more intimate and far less expensive; instead of being around 100 strangers all trying to have a quiet, romantic dinner, turn your own kitchen into a private five-star restaurant! Grab your speaker and turn up the good vibes as you cook, or keep it quiet and lowkey and enjoy the time together.
Homemade pizza is simple and straightforward, and to put a Valentine’s twist on the meal, you can make your dough into a heart shape! Trader Joe’s has everything you need to make your pizzas: plain pizza dough ($1.69), pizza sauce ($1.99), a variety of shredded cheeses and delicious toppings like pepperoni. They have all the necessary pizza-making ingredients in one section, so you don’t even have to search the store!
Portrait Painting
All you need is a pack of paint and a plain canvas for a crafty date night! A fun painting activity is to attempt painting portraits of each other. Stop in at a nearby craft store and you’ll find all the tools you need to paint, like brushes ($4.49), acrylic paint ($6.99) and canvases ($5.99). Unless you’re secretly a Picasso or van Gogh, this lighthearted activity will surely make you laugh!
Elevated Movie Night
These days, picking a movie takes longer than watching one. So before the movie night even starts, agree on what you’re going to watch. You can even take a few days to chat about it; that could make for some good conversations!
Once the movie is picked, how can you romanticize a movie night at home? We’re glad you asked! First, go to a nearby store and pick out candy and other treats that will pair well with some microwavable popcorn. (Walgreens has movie candy for just $0.99, or five for $5!) Then, prepare your ultimate dessert charcuterie board to enjoy as you watch the film! If you need some inspiration, be sure to check out Pinterest.
DIY Spa Night
After a long week of work or classes, a DIY spa night can be the perfect way to unwind. Go on a Target run together and pick up affordable face masks, eye masks and nail polish (all of which you can get for under $20!). If you want to add a twist to the night, paint each other’s nails a surprise color. Set the tone for relaxation by lighting some candles and playing some music from the “Best Relaxing Spa Music” playlist on Spotify.
Game Night
A game night can tell you a lot about a person. How do they deal with setbacks, challenges and success? Do they rage quit when they’re sent to Monopoly jail, or do they persevere to get back to GO? Board games usually last an hour or so and can be a fun way to get to know someone. Target has a large selection of board games, so take a fun drive over and pick one out together. Teamwork makes the dream work!
Written By Emily Rutkowski G’25, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
This article is for reference purposes only and is not deemed an endorsement by Syracuse University.