Cheap date nights for parents

Do you remember before kids: the clean house, the well-padded bank accounts, the spontaneous date nights? All things that have gone the way of the dodo since munchkin #1 arrived. As we prepare for munchkin #2 in February I fear they will completely evade us. That being said there is one of those items that will remain important, and should be a priority, DATE NIGHT! But dinners at our favorite five-star restaurant seem out of the question and way out of budget. So what’s a couple to do?

One of our anniversary celebrations prior to kids. Don’t we look so relaxed and unfrazzled?

Here’s a few ideas that we have come up with to keep the romance alive and stay connected.

1. Picnic & Movie Under the Stars - Look through your cupboards and pick out whatever snack items you can find. For example I always have a jar of bruschetta, assortments of crackers and cheese on hand in my house. Whatever you have put it in a basket with a blanket, grab your laptop and your favorite DVD and head to a local park. You can watch the movie under the stars while you munch on your favorite snacks.
2. Groupon Dinner - I often see deals for great restaurants in my area, my favorite site is Groupon. Usually it will give us over 50% off for a nice dinner! I even scored our anniversary dinner through Groupon for a restaurant we’ve been wanting to try for ages.
3. Theatre Date (Off Off Broadway) – You don’t have to go to Broadway to see great theatre. There are lots of local community theatres or colleges that put on wonderful productions for less than the price of a movie ticket. Our first date was actually to a community college production of the Scarlet Pimpernel, which has since become our favorite musical together.
4. Volunteer – Find a non-profit you are both passionate about and volunteer together for an afternoon. Serve at a soup kitchen, help coordinate a fundraiser, or donate your time at a local community event. There’s no better way to feel grateful for the things you do have than helping those who don’t.

What cheap date ideas do you have?