7 Ways To Be A Thrifty Romantic

Money can’t buy you love, but a little extra effort and creativity can. Woo your significant other while staying within your means with our seven romantic ways to save on dates without looking cheap:

Get Back To Nature

Why settle for a movie when you can give your date the world? This country is full of breathtaking natural beauty. Take it all in with a scenic drive through the mountains, the countryside or whatever your hometown has to offer.

Make Something Together

Always wanted to learn a new craft? Sharing a new experience together—and making something tangible you can admire later—makes dates more memorable than dropping big money at a restaurant. Bonus: the Internet is full of free tutorials for a variety of crafts.

Chill Out

Take advantage of wintry weather with some outdoor fun. Go hiking or sledding, then snuggle up with some hot chocolate.

Take A Tour

Pretend you’re tourists in your own town. Visit museums, take snapshots of yourselves in front of historic or scenic sites, and grab lunch at a local diner or food truck.

Shop Kitschy

Explore a local flea market or look for yard sales in your town. Enjoy the thrill of the hunt for the best bargains, the strangest items for sale, or the rarest treasures you can find.

Dine In

Explore your inner home chef! Date night couldn’t be easier, with this creamy tomato basil shrimp recipe (brought to you by Tasty) that you can make in 15 minutes or less for a delicious and romantic dinner for two.

Creamy Tomato Basil Shrimp in 15 Minutes or Less

Servings: 2

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, patted dry
1¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups diced fresh tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
½ cup rosé wine
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon granulated sugar
Handful of fresh basil, very thinly sliced, plus more small whole leaves, for garnish
½ pound cooked linguine, for serving

Preparation

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp in a single layer, sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt, and brown on each side, 1–2 minutes per side. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
2. Reduce the heat to medium. Add garlic and let sizzle for a minute, then add the tomatoes and tomato paste. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, until the tomatoes begin to release their juices.
3. Add rosé and bring to a simmer. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until the wine reduces slightly. Stir in the cream, sugar, and remaining ¾ teaspoon salt. Return to a simmer, then stir in the shrimp and thinly sliced basil.
4. Serve the shrimp and sauce over linguine, garnished with the small whole basil leaves.
5. Enjoy!

Take A Class Together

Many kitchen supply stores offer free cooking classes. Enjoy samples of featured dishes and get printed recipes so you can hone your new skills by serving up a candlelit dinner for two at home.

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