Unless you’ve got a heck of a lot of spare time on your hands or you’ve somehow managed to get that tricky ‘work-life balance’ down to an absolute tea, it’s likely that you and your S.O rarely find the time for one another.
And, as someone who works full-time, runs a blog and owns a house, I can completely empathise with anyone that struggles to find that time. But not just the time, the money, too.
Yep, date nights can be expensive. Very expensive in fact.
When Marc and I have a date night, we’ll usually go for a meal and a few drinks at one of our favourite restaurants, or we will try somewhere new. I love spending that quality time with one another but I can’t deny that date night comes at a cost...
A yummy starter each, two delicious mains, a couple of cocktails each (to start with) and then maybe even a scrumptious dessert to share... yep, all those £££’s soon add up, and before you know it, £100 is gone. Just like that. For more money-saving inspiration, be sure to check out my post: 'How To Save Money Fast.'
And I suppose that’s why so many of us limit our date nights. Other commitments get in the way & ultimately, we can’t justify spending such a hefty amount of cash in one evening. However, there are ways that you can enjoy date night a little more regularly and not worry about the damage to your purse.
It’s all about being prepared - planning ahead & doing a little research.
So, for this blog post, I thought I’d share with you my top tips on how to enjoy date night on a budget - without feeling as though you’re scrimping!
I hope you enjoy.
How To Do Date Night On A Budget
1. Do A Daytime Date Instead
Who's to say that you can't enjoy your date night during the day instead? During the day, you're much more likely to save money and on top of that, you'll still have the entire evening to snuggle up on the sofa with a brew.
Of course, this does depend on what your date day entails.
To stay within your budget, I recommend heading out to your favourite coffee shop (or one that you've been meaning to tr), get a nice hot drink together and enjoy some nibbles. I don't know about you, but I love nothing more than chilling out with a tasty caramel latte and just having a chat. It's one of my favourite ever things to do and actually, it makes for the perfect, purse-friendly date.
So, next time you're feeling like spending some quality time with your partner away from the house, suggest a coffee rather than a cocktail. It'll make a change and you'll both really enjoy it.
My favourite coffee shop in Manchester City Centre is Ezra & Gil, and at home, I love going to Caffe Grande Abaco. Both do the most amazing lattes!
2. Look Out For 2-For-1 Deals
You'd be amazed by how many amazing 2-for-1 deals are kicking around, but unless you're actually keeping your eye on them, or doing a little research, it's unlikely that you'll find out where they're at.
Things like going to the cinema on a Tuesday or a Wednesday and using your Meerkat Movies voucher will half the price of your cinema date, but as well, lots of restaurants run these kind of deals, too!
So, if you're hoping to save a little cash, get yourself online and have a look at the various deals that are on in your area. More often than not, there'll be a handful of restaurants doing certain deals before different times, 2-for-1 offers and more. Don't miss out!
If you live in/around the Manchester area, I strongly recommend taking a look at the Restaurants Of Manchester website - it's great for locating those deals!
3. Sometimes, The Fancier Restaurants Aren't Always The Best
Anyone that knows me knows that I love having a little luxury in my life. I love buying nice things, heading to nice places and eating out in nice restaurants. However, if there's one thing that I've learned that's really stuck with me, it's that the fancy-looking restaurants aren't always the best.
There is such a thing as style over substance and unfortunately, while this isn't the case for every posh restaurant, some venues really do look the part, but what they're serving up is less than impressive.
My advice? Be willing to try something different and don't always go to the place that's 'good for the gram.' We're all guilty of it, but sometimes, you just can't beat a good old country pub with traditional, home-cooked food and a big, roaring fire.
Lots of the country pubs where we live allow dogs inside as well, so if like me you have a cute little furry friend that you'd rather not leave in the house, you can often take him/her with you, too.
4. You Don't Need A New Outfit Every Time You Go Out
As women, we are all guilty of this. When we go on a night out, whether it's with friends, family or our partner, we like to invest in something new to wear for the occasion. However, while it's great to fill up your wardrobe with fabulous new things, all those pretty dresses and gorgeous heels are coming at a price. In fact, if you were to look inside your closet & actually count up how much you've spent on garments you've worn just once or twice, I'm sure you'd be a teeny bit horrified.
So, in the interest of saving a little money and not blowing your date night budget, recycle some of the dresses you already own and give them a fresh new debut. By teaming your dress with a different pair of heels or a different clutch bag, you can actually make the look quite a lot different from when you first wore it. And let's face it, there are worse things in life than being seen in the same beautiful dress.
5. Don't Take Your Credit or Debit Card With You
This is a tip that my mum gave to me years ago, and it's one that really does work. By not taking your card out with you, you are taking away the risk of over-spending and getting carried away. It can be all too easy to say 'ah well, we're out now, let's just go for it!' - especially when you've had a few drinks! But, if you withdraw a certain amount of cash out that you're willing to spend, and take this with you but nothing else, then you'll wake up the next day without the need to feel guilty.
Now that we all use contactless with our cards, it's so easy to lose track of our spending, but, if you plan ahead and you take away this temptation, you'll avert any spending regrets the next day.
I really hope you all enjoyed this blog post & that you're having the most wonderful October.
Lots of love,
Grace x
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