Although teens are on a budget, there are plenty of affordable dates they can go on. You don’t need big budgets or complicated plans to enjoy each other’s company. What really matters is the time you spend and the effort you put in. Whether it’s a first date or a tenth date, there are plenty of affordable activities that are fun and memorable!
This list is full of simple, fun, and meaningful date ideas made just for teen couples. Whether you’re into creative projects, chill nights at home, or exploring outside, there’s something here for you. These cheap date ideas are all about connection, comfort, and fun without the stress. You’ll definitely find new ways to bond, laugh, and build something real, without spending much at all.
Fun and Cheap At-Home Date Ideas
1. Backyard Picnic
Set out a blanket, bring your favorite snacks, and just chill under the sky. It’s romantic and doesn’t cost much. Add a speaker and some pillows, and you’re set. Just make sure to check the weather to see if it’ll rain!
2. Movie Marathon Night
Pick a movie series and binge together. Add popcorn, pillows, and maybe some matching PJs. It’s the kind of simple setup that still feels special. Make sure to pick a movie that is age appropriate and you’ll both enjoy. It can even be a movie you’ve seen before!
3. DIY Pizza Night
Making your own pizza is way more fun than ordering in. Choose your toppings, get messy, and laugh when one of them turns out slightly weird. This is one of those inexpensive date ideas that creates a good bond with each other.
4. Board Game Battle
Challenge each other to your favorite board or card game. It’s competitive, fun, and brings out your goofy side. It’s one of the best low-budget date ideas for teens.
5. Stargazing in the Yard
Lay on a blanket and watch the stars together. It’s chill, quiet, and it’s the perfect moment to have a heart-to-heart conversation with each other. Plus, it’s completely free.
6. Bake-Off Challenge
Each of you picks something to bake and goes head-to-head in the kitchen. Try not to burn anything, but even if you do, it’s all laughs. If you don’t want to make it a challenge, you can just collaborate on a single recipe!
7. Photoshoot at Home
Pick some outfits and do a DIY photo session using your phone. Set up cute spots with fairy lights or blankets. It’s fun, creative, and perfect for posting later.
Budget-Friendly Outdoor Dates for Teens
8. Sunset Walk at the Park
Catch the golden hour and walk while talking to each other. It’s relaxing, and it gives both of you a moment to connect with each other. It’s a great photo opportunity too!
9. Ride Bikes Together
Bike rides are like going on walks, but faster and more fun. The nice part is that you can still chat while riding a bike because it doesn’t tire you out unless you’re going up a hill or pedaling very quickly. You can ride bikes to a destination like a viewpoint with a nice view!
10. Fly a Kite at the Park
You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy this. Get a cheap kite, head to a park, and see who can fly it the highest. It’s one of the classic date ideas for teens that never gets old. There is a great feeling of accomplishment once the kite gets liftoff. If you can never get the kite to fly, you can still have fun and laugh at your attempts.
11. Visit a Botanical Garden
A lot of gardens have free or discounted teen entry. Walk around, take cute pics, and admire the plants even if you don’t know what they are. The nice part about botanical gardens is that they have plants that are not native to your region, so you’ll likely see something new!
12. Play at a Playground
Swing sets, slides, and a little throwback energy. Play tag or see who can climb the jungle gym faster. Childhood memories + a fun twist = a solid date.
13. Chalk Art Contest on the Driveway
Buy chalks and have fun creating doodles or sweet couple drawings together. You can make it a competition or a team effort, and there’s no need to stress about the mess. It’s a playful and artsy way to spend time outside.
14. Visit a Local Beach or Lake
Bring snacks, sunscreen, and your best playlist. You can tan, skip rocks, or just chill by the water. This is one of those free date ideas for teens that just feels right.
Affordable Food Dates for Teens
15. Store Snack Haul & Taste Test
Hit up a cheap store and pick the weirdest snacks you can find. Then rate them like food critics. You’ll learn more about your date’s taste, and also might discover your new favorite snack!
16. Split a Fancy Dessert
Go to a cute café and share just one dessert. You still get the café vibe without the full bill. Perfect for sweet tooth moments on a budget. Sharing the dessert makes it a fun bonding experience.
17. Farmers’ Market Walk + Samples
Wander around the market, try free samples, and maybe grab something small to share. It’s casual, fun, and great for morning dates. Plus, you might find something random (and yummy) to take home.
18. Make Smoothies Together
Blend whatever fruits you’ve got at home and taste-test your creations. It’s healthy-ish and feels like a mini cooking date. You can even name your drinks like baristas.
19. Ice Cream Date with a Twist
Instead of going out to get ice cream, get some at the grocery store and make your own ice cream sundaes at home! You can go wild with toppings, including things that ice cream shops don’t usually include!
20. Cook a Themed Dinner
Pick a country or theme and cook a full dinner based on it. Even if it flops, it’s still super fun. It’s one of the most underrated low-cost date ideas, this is much cheaper than going out to a dinner.
Creative DIY Dates for Teens on a Budget
21. Paint Together (on Paper or Old T-Shirts)
Get cheap paints and let your creativity loose. Make something cute for each other or just have fun making a mess. You can try a painting challenge where you both paint the same thing and see who is the better artist.
22. DIY Couple Bracelets
DIY bracelets aren’t just for Taylor Swift fans. Grab some string or beads and make matching or opposite bracelets. It’s a super-easy way to do something cute and personal. Plus, you’ll both have something to wear after.
23. Scrapbook Your Memories
Print pics, gather tickets or little notes, and make a couple scrapbook. It’s one of those couple activity date ideas that feels really meaningful. You’ll love flipping through it later on. It’s a great way to show your creativity and learn more about your date!
24. Make a TikTok Together
If you both like social media, try making a TikTok together! Choose a challenge, dance, or trend and hit record. It’s goofy, fun, and a low-pressure way to just vibe together. You might even go viral, who knows?
25. Karaoke Night at Home
You don’t need to go out and spend money in order to have a Karaoke night! You can simply find Karaoke videos on YouTube and sing along from home! If you’re good at singing, this is a chance to show off! If you’re not good at singing, you can still laugh and have fun.
26. Create a Couples Bucket List
Sit down and list everything you want to do together someday. Keep it silly, serious, or both. Decorate it like a vision board or journal. This could also lead to more dates if the bucket list includes things you want to do together!
27. Build a Fort Indoors
Pillows, blankets, string lights; go all out. Once it’s built, you can chill, snack, or stream movies inside. Building the blanket fort is most of the fun, and you get to chill and talk after it has been built.
Local Adventures & Free Events for Teens
28. Library Hangout
Browse through random books or find a cozy corner to sit and talk. Some libraries even host teen events or mini game nights. This is a great first date for teens who love reading and don’t want to spend a bunch of money. You get to learn about your date’s interests in books too!
29. High School Sports Game
Show up and cheer for your school team. It’s usually free or super cheap to attend. Going to your high school football game can be a fun social activity, and you’ll probably see a lot of people you know!
30. Community Festival or Market
There’s a good chance that there are small festivals or markets in your area. Whether it is a farmer’s market or a monthly festival, these can be super fun dates for teens. Even if you don’t buy anything, it can be really fun to just walk around, chat, and people-watch!
31. Free Museum Days
Many museums have free entry days or student deals. You can search through the websites of your local museums and find when their free museum days are. If you’re both available on that day, it becomes a great activity that you don’t have to pay for!
32. Window Shopping at the Mall
You can go shopping without actually buying anything! Pretend you’re picking outfits or planning your dream apartment. Try on clothes, take pics, and enjoy the air conditioning. It’s one of those go-to cheap date ideas when you just want to hang out.
33. Volunteer Together
Look for a local event or cause where you can help out as a duo. It’s a wholesome way to spend time and feel good after, which makes it an ideal cheap date. You can probably find a lot of volunteer opportunities near you, so you’ll have many options to choose from!