The Lehigh Valley is filled with incredible fine dining and is surrounded by fun, adventurous places for couples to venture off to, but there’s a catch: all of these locations leave a dent in your wallet. This causes couples on a fixed-income to sit at home on the couch, binge watching “House of Cards” on Netflix. Sure, this can be fun, but once you’ve watched all of season 4, it’s time for a change of pace. Head over to The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley for a date fit for couples on a budget.

1. Take the dogs for a walk

The Promenade Shops are an extremely pet friendly shopping center. Not only can you weave in and out of the “dog-friendly” shops, but many locations also offer dog bowls filled with water for your thirsty pooch. Stores like American Eagle Outfitters give out dog biscuits to the canines that visit the store. If you and your significant other are looking for a change of scenery from the shops, try heading to the back of The Promenade where pathways take you along a man-made pond, creating a peaceful scenery away from the chaos of shoppers. Be sure to check the windows of the shops for the orange “dog-friendly” sign to ensure that your pet is allowed in the facility. For other rules and regulations, click on this hyperlink to check the website.

2. Share frozen yogurt or a soft pretzel

Brand new to the shopping center is Auntie Anne’s attached to the Yogo Factory. Head over here for a cheap date in a fun atmosphere filled with candy, yogurt, pretzels and vibrant orange walls. Yogurt is now a set price, allowing customers to fill their cup to the rim with yogurt and then add an unlimited number of toppings, perfect for two. Couples can take their pretzel or yogurt and sit outside on black, wrought-iron tables and enjoy the cool breeze of a warm summer day.

3. Go to Starbucks

There’s nothing that can bring two people together more than a cup of coffee. Venture into this cute and quaint coffee shop at the center of The Promenade for a cup of something hot or cold. Bring your drink outside and sit at the tables on looking the fountain for a romantic ambiance. You can also nestle up in comfortable chairs in the gazebo over-looking the fireplace, making for a cozy date with great conversations at an inexpensive price.

4. Go shopping at night

For those who don’t know, The Promenade Shops keep their Christmas lights strung along the trees for the whole year. At night, yellow lights line the sidewalks, making the streets look like something out of a movie scene. Couples can stroll hand-in-hand down around the shops, bobbing in and out of stores on a cool, picturesque summer night.

5. See a movie on a Tuesday

Snuggle up in the cushioned, reclining seats of Carmike Cinemas at The Promenade Shops for “Stimulus Tuesday.” This means that on Tuesdays, popcorn, soda, and candy are discounted. Rather than paying the outrageous movie theatre prices, the popular snacks are only $2.00. With prices like this, a couple isn’t forced to put two straws in the soda cup. Make sure you head over to the theatre for a matinee movie to optimize your discounted date. After all, who doesn’t love a cheap film and inexpensive movie theatre popcorn?