As soon as this season hits, most people are scraping cash out of the bottom of the barrel to afford presents, traveling, and whatever else hits this month. Dates are usually a luxury cost that get neglected, but a small budget doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of things to do with that special someone.
1. Christmas Lights
Drive around together to view all the Christmas lights people have put up. Make a mix CD or plug into a streaming station, fill portable coffee cups with hot cocoa, and spend the evening driving, singing, and taking in the beauty of twinkling lights.
2. Gift Together
Get together and gift together! Whether you’re planning to go shopping or you’re hand making things, do it together. Walk the mall hand in hand to hunt for bargains or gather supplies and make wallet-friendly gifts together (bonus: you can split the cost of bulk supplies, which ends up cheaper!)
3. Movie Marathon
There’s so many iconic holiday movies and most of them are in someone’s house or free online, so cuddle up with each other and spend the evening watching movies. Make the night extra special by simmering a spice blend on the stove to fill the house with a fitting scent or burn candles and throw the blankets in the dryer and throw open the blinds so you feel utterly cozy.
4. Bake Off
Whether in preparation for your own movie marathon or for gifts, spend an afternoon baking together. Decorate sugar cookies or crank out simple chocolate chips, either way the kitchen is a great place to spend time together.
5. Go Sledding
Invite some friends or find a secluded spot and go alone, but either way embrace you inner child, bundle up, and leap onto a sled together. Race. See who can get the most bruises. Once you're done, maybe finish with your movie marathon, hot cocoa, and warm blankets.
6. Wrap Presents Together
For a lot of people, this is a chore; but make a tradition of it and do it together. Play some timely tunes and share the tape. You’ll get the job done and spend some time together.
7. Take Photos
No need to hire a photographer, though you can! Take some yourselves or get together with a group of friends or other couples and help each other take photos together in a huge group. Borrow, buy, or DIY a tripod or take snowy selfies.
Whether you send traditional holiday cards or not, fun couple photos for the season are a great way to remember the season together.
Consider too, combining this with picking out a Christmas tree or just a general outing where you just make sure you look extra cute when you head out!
8. Make and Decorate
Whatever you want to do, do it together. Break out your craft supplies and cut out snowflakes, string up popcorn, or help hang up lights. Make a plan and execute together.
Take it a step further if you want and take to Pinterest a week ahead of time and pin diy decoration ideas back and forth to pick out what you want, it can help build up anticipation for a date that might otherwise be rather simple.
9. Go Ice Skating
Find the free or cheap skating around you or just take to a frozen lake (though be careful!), hold hands and try out twirls. Ice skating is a timelessly romantic adventure that seems to bring out the kid in everyone.
10. Share Traditions
Whatever it is, share your own family's traditions with each other. Make a night of each family's classic movies, make reindeer food, go caroling, relieve a classic, childhood Christmas activity together. It’s nostalgic, but also is a great way to share something you cherish with them.
Whatever it is you end up doing, don’t let budget restrict you. With the right person, or persons (date your friends!), anything can end up being really fun so just take to life with an open mind and a partner in crime.
For more ideas, check out my Twin Cities Holiday Event Resource for lots of events to attend together!
