Whether you’ve been together for years or are just starting a new relationship with your significant other, going on dates can be important for keeping your relationship fun and fresh. However, finding great winter date ideas that fit your budget can be a challenge.
The cost of just about everything seems to keep going up. For example, in 2023, the average cost for a three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant was about $100-$150 Canadian. That’s not an enormous amount of money, but it would add up quickly if you had one date night every week.
Heavy holiday spending makes stretching your date night dollars even more important. When you combine the increased cost of living with holiday shopping, it can be easy to overspend and rack up a little extra debt.To help make things easier for you, here are some winter date ideas that won't break your budget.
23 of the Best Budget Date Ideas for Winter
Everyone has their own idea about what they’re willing to spend on a date, so what is a low-budget date? On our list of inexpensive date ideas, most of the suggestions you’ll find cost little to no money (two can earn you some money). Hopefully, you’ll find something that suits your taste and your frugal lifestyle!
1. Go to a coffee shop
Coffee talk is a great way to get to know someone new or to reminisce with someone you’ve known forever. Even better? You don’t need to wait for the second course to arrive if the date goes south and you need to bail!
Want to make it more fun? Many coffee shops have board games on hand that you can play at no cost or provide free Wi-Fi that you can use to connect to the web to play games from your mobile device (or get some work done for your side hustle while you wait for your date). Alternatively, you could find a coffee shop that has poetry readings or musicians playing for some free entertainment.
2. Go ice skating
With the only expense being the skate rental if you or your date don’t own skates (and maybe a cup of cocoa), ice skating is a great date option for winter. Ice skating can be a real ice-breaker, with some genuine laughs to be had if one, or both of you, fall on your backside.
Also, if your date doesn’t know how to skate and you’re a seasoned pro, ice skating gives you an excuse to get close and hold hands. How romantic!
3. Go to a museum or gallery
Get cultured! Many museums have free days or reduced pricing on certain days of the week, so you and your date can get inspired by impressionist art or learn about prehistoric animals without hurting your wallet. This is also a good way to find some common ground and interests with your new partner if you’re on a first date.
This can make a museum or gallery visit a great free date idea.
4. Visit your local park
Need a totally free winter date idea? Consider taking a trip to a local park in your area to spend time together in the great outdoors! Weather permitting, a trip to the park in the winter can be a beautiful (and fun) experience as you and your date engage in traditional holiday activities like building snowmen, throwing snowballs, or just relaxing on a park bench and appreciating the atmosphere. 5. Take winter photos
The winter landscape can be beautiful, with buildings and trees glistening like crystals in the sun. Taking a walk and taking photos is a great way to get to know your date and capture memories. Best of all, you don’t need an expensive $5,000 camera, you can simply use your smartphone. So, why not capture some photos while you’re exploring that winter wonderland with your loved one?
There are many smartphone photography apps that can help you and your partner up your photo game (and make all your friends on Instagram jealous). And the best part is if you get some really great shots, you can even earn some money by selling them on photo-sharing sites like Shutterstock.
6. Go dog sledding
Back in the day, dog sledding was how people got around in Northern Canada during the winter months. Nowadays it’s a great recreational activity that you can do in the afternoon. Dog sledding excursions are available in most areas that get a lot of snow, and you can check out some of dog sledding adventures on sites like Culture Trip or Adventures
Be sure to check the pricing information for any dog sledding adventures in your area, as the prices can vary greatly depending on the destination.
7. Offer to volunteer
Do you and your partner like to give back? If so, lend a helping hand to those less fortunate. There are plenty of opportunities, so pick one that interests both of you. For example, did you know that animal shelters often invite people in to play with their dogs and cats? It’s fun, free, and you're bringing a little joy to animals (what's not to love?). FYI National Volunteer Week takes place in April, so check out volunteer opportunities available on their site.
8. Catch a matinee
Going to the movies these days can cost you an arm and a leg, but not if you go to a matinee show! While the cost of tickets will vary from one cinema to the next, it’s easy to get tickets for as little as $6.75 per person if you go at the right time on the right day. Even better, once the movie’s over, you still have the whole day ahead of you! (You might want to incorporate budget date ideas #2 and #5 on this list to your date.) A matinee is also a great double date idea, as you can split the concessions and their cost.
9. Check out the library
When was the last time you visited your local library? They’re nothing like the libraries of yesteryear, and you’ll be surprised at how much they offer. You can borrow books, magazines, e-books, music, movies and more. Many libraries also offer free classes and events such as book readings.
10. Go to a pond hockey game
Us Canadians do love our hockey, but going to professional sporting events can be pretty expensive. Instead, check out a community hockey game or catch some pond hockey games, and pack a thermos of coffee, cocoa, or soup. Pond hockey has become so popular that Plaster Rock, New Brunswick even hosts a World Pond Hockey Championship every year!
11. Do yoga together
A moonlight stroll is the ultimate cheap romantic date idea, but during this time of year it can get a little frosty. Warm up by doing your stretching on a yoga mat instead! Yoga is a great activity you can do on your own or with a partner, and most cities offer free classes. Doing a quick search on sites like Eventbrite can give you a few different options.
12. Paint together
No good “date night ideas” list is complete without mentioning a Paint & Sip event. Available in most cities, this is an event where you and your date are provided a canvas, paint, paintbrushes, and some adult beverages to boot.
These events are usually led by an artist/teacher, who’ll bring out your inner Van Gogh. And if professionally-hosted Paint & Sips are beyond your budget, you could always pick up some supplies from an art shop or dollar store, grab an inexpensive bottle of wine, and hold your own private Paint & Sip at home!
13. Go to the zoo
We tend to associate going to the zoo with the summer months, but many animals are more active during the cold months! Plus, many zoos have awesome indoor pavilions that might be uncomfortably hot in the summertime, but in the wintertime, they can be the perfect 15-minute tropical getaway.
Some zoos might even offer free zoo days during the winter because business is slower.
14. Take a brewery tour
Craft beers and microbrews are all the rage these days, so book a brewery tour and sample the many seasonal beers on tap. Many brewery tours are free, so research them online to find one near you.
15. Go ice fishing
Ice fishing is a great way to enjoy this gorgeous country of ours and be one with nature. It also gives you plenty of time to get to know your date better when the fish aren’t biting! If you're looking for an alternative date idea that won't break the bank, and you're willing to spend a little money on amenities, luxury ice fishing shacks are a growing trend.
However, be sure to check if you need a fishing licence to go ice fishing in your province. For example, if you’re in Ontario, then you will need a licence to go ice fishing.
17. Try indoor rock climbing
You can engage in some healthy competition with your date by going indoor rock climbing at a local gym. Some also offer bouldering, a type of rock climbing that doesn't require a harness. Instead, if you lose your grip and fall, you'll just land on massive spongy mats. Some rock-climbing gyms and bouldering facilities have free special events and competitions you can watch.
18. Have a cook-off
Need an at-home date idea? Have a cook-off in the comfort of your own home! Pick a winter dish, such as chili, and make it together. All you need to purchase are the ingredients, or you can challenge yourself to create a delicious meal only using the ingredients you already have.
If you're not comfortable inviting your date to your home (just yet) there are couples’ cooking classes you can find online. It’ll cost a little bit more, but you’ll be creating a delicious dish together, not just ordering one. Try checking Groupon for local deals.
19. Go sledding, tubing, or tobogganing
Skiing can get costly, but hitting the slopes to go sledding, tubing, or tobogganing is a lot cheaper and easy for anyone to enjoy. Plus, you can make a whole day of it, as retailer Airhead explains.
Wondering where the best sledding, tubing, and tobogganing destinations are in Canada? You can often find lists of great spots on community website pages for your area. For example, the Inside Vancouver blog has a list of the area’s top 10 sledding spots..
20. Earn money
Wait, what? Dates are supposed to cost money! Well, not anymore. You and your partner could sign up for some activities that actually pay money, such as mystery shopping (you could get your meal for free, on top of some bonus cash) or dog walking. Check out our blog 10 Ways to Earn Some Extra Cash for more on these.
21. Stay-at-home game night
Just because you’re going out doesn’t mean you have to go outside. If you and your significant other are avid gamers, there’s a ton of fun to be had with at-home gaming! Whether you prefer electronic or board games, you can spend some time together and getting to know one another.
22. Check out a light show
Light shows are a common feature of the winter months—especially during the period just before and just after Christmas and New Year’s Day. These public displays make for a great date night destination. For example, if you live near Niagara Falls, they have a Winter Festival of LIghts show that starts at 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm, and 8:00 pm each evening between November 18, 2023 and January 7, 2024.
23. Attend a parade
Here’s another memorable free date idea: go to a local parade! Many municipalities host parades even during the winter months to help boost tourism or to celebrate local history. Attendance is often free—just be sure to bring your own food and drink if you want to avoid paying a high markup for street vendor food!
Save Up for Dates with Our Budget Planner + Expense Tracker
There you have it, our list of the best inexpensive date ideas for winter. But if you want to spend some money on a night out on the town, one way to save up for this is by using our online Budget Planner + Expense Tracker.
With this free tool, you just plug in some numbers, do some tracking, and the tool does the rest for you, telling you how much money you have left over for entertainment, and yes, more dates. In time, you’ll see where you can begin making some budget cuts in order to be able to afford the occasional big night out. You can learn more about the Budget Planner + Expense Tracker here, and if you have any great easy date ideas or fun indoor date ideas of your own, let us know in the comments below!
