Good relationships don’t just happen by magic; they must constantly be encouraged along. One thing I believe keeps them strong are regular date nights—times to enjoy one another, have fun, talk, share your hearts and dreams and struggles, and just be together away from the normal hustle and bustle of life.

Oftentimes, a date night can easily cost $50 or more. If you want to have a weekly date, those occasions can really start adding up. However, it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, if you’re really creative, it doesn’t have to cost much and sometimes it’s even free. Here are some cheap date night activities we’ve enjoyed:

1. Walking

During the warmer months, this is something we love. We walk around town later in the evening when it’s calm and quiet. Because we’re doing something active, it seems easier to talk, too. (My guy, like many, will not talk at all if we’re sitting face-to-face.) We have resolved many conflicts during a walk, shared a few laughs, and had some really remarkable conversations I doubt we would’ve had otherwise.

2. Books & DVDs

Another activity we enjoy is going to the library. We each pick up books and DVDs to enjoy separately, plus something to watch/read together. If we can’t find any good DVDs at the library, we’ll check Redbox. Since they consistently have codes, these rentals are super cheap and sometimes free.

3. Warm Weather Activities

In addition to walking, we’ve also enjoyed taking a picnic to the park, spending time at the beach, and going out for ice cream.

4. Cold Weather Activities

When it’s too cold to be outside, we go out for coffee, browse at the mall, make cookies, play board games/cards, and take long rides in the car.

5. Meals

By far, our favorite date night is going out to dinner. This is also the most expensive. One of the easiest ways to save money on meals is by using coupons. I also sign up for emails from eateries we frequent, which alerts me to promotions.

I can also recommend mystery shopping. We’ve gotten paid to eat at many restaurants, from casual to fine dining. The meals are always reimbursed, but each shop offers different things (think dinner, drinks, appetizers, and/or a dessert). All I had to do was pay close attention to details while at the restaurant and record our experiences later. Since I’m a fairly attentive and detailed person, this is not hard for me to do and I can still enjoy our all-expenses-paid date night to boot!

Another great way to pay for dates is with gift cards. Anyone who enjoys taking online surveys can earn enough for at least one card per month. I’ve been doing this for over 10 years now!

6. Museums

Thanks to passes from the library, we’ve been to many local museums for free! Getting to visit an aquarium, see priceless art, and pet animals at the farm museum are just a few highlights. Check your local library and I bet you’ll find something similar.

Remember: there is no right or wrong way to celebrate date night. The key is to spend regular time together while interacting on a more personal level. One couple I know goes to their weekly couples therapy on date night. That wouldn’t work for us, but I’m glad they like it.

Depending on our budget, we usually do the cheaper dates, but I like to save up for a special occasion too. Because we track all of our expenses with Fresh Books, I’m able to plan/save easily and this gives me an incentive.

Do you have a weekly date night? If so, what do you enjoy doing?