Between buying Christmas presents, paying for books next semester and blowing money on food (because duh, priorities), winter can be tough on our wallets. Here are some ideas for fun and cheap dates that you and your significant other can go on during the winter season that won't break your wallets -- but number one might break your ankles. Be careful!
1. Ice skating
From Chicago to right here in Bloomington, there are plenty of places to ice skate and it's a cheap, fun and potentially competitive date that's perfect for the holiday season! Even if you're bad at skating or never have skated before, it's still fun to learn together!
2. Christkindlmarket (Illinois specific)
The Christkindlmarket in downtown Chicago contains vendors that sell everything from German delicacies to handcrafted ornaments. The best part? It's completely free! Just make sure you bring money to spend on their amazing hot chocolate!
3. Baking cookies
They can be gooey chocolate chip, decorated sugar or even the Pillsbury ready to bake Snowman cookies. Regardless, getting the dough is pretty cheap and making the cookies with your significant other is so much fun!
4. Watching Christmas movies
Hallmark movies or the 25 Days of Christmas countdown movies are cheesy of course, but who doesn't love snuggling up with their love while drinking hot cocoa and watching "Elf"?
5. Looking at Christmas lights
There are plenty of places to go drive through and look at beautiful Christmas lights! Another fun activity is driving around your own town to see the huge tacky inflatable snowmen and dozens of nativity scenes that litter your neighbor's yards.
6. Decorating a gingerbread house
If it fails (as gingerbread house-making typically does), you can just stop the process altogether and eat the supplies for the house!
7. Having a photo shoot
Taking wintry pictures in front of pine trees, twinkly lights or just a blanket of fallen snow makes for the best Instagram pictures, and it's free!
8. Listening to Christmas music
The best way to get in the holiday spirit is by blasting Mariah Carey and dancing around with garland around your neck and tacky, yet festive, hats.
9. Decking the halls
Or as boring people call it, decorate your house.
10. Building a snowman
You and your S.O. can compete to see has the best-looking and well-made snowman!
11. Competing to see who can find the ugliest Christmas sweater
This one could get a bit expensive depending on where you decide to shop at, but you and your S.O. could set a time limit of 10 minutes, go into a thrift store with a budget in mind and see who can find the ugliest ugly Christmas sweater! The loser has to wear the sweater around the rest of the day. Good luck!
12. Going sledding
If you already have a sled, this inexpensive date is perfect. Even if you don't have a sled, you can make one out of cardboard, a trash bag and some duct tape. Or if you have a more creative idea, that works too! Then after you're finished sledding, you and your S.O. can have a fun snowball fight!
13. Giving back to your community
Of course getting gifts can be fun, but giving them can be fun, rewarding and make you happy! You can do anything to give back such as donating to Toys For Tots, volunteering at a soup kitchen, pitching in money at local homeless housing places, etc!
Just remember, no matter what you're doing this holiday season, as long as you're spending time with your loved ones that's all that matters. Merry Christmas and happy holidays, ya filthy animals!
