Lock Down Friendly Date Night Ideas On A Budget

Covid 19 has sent the world into a spin. Lockdowns are becoming a common phrase in our day-to-day vocabulary. Relationships seem to either bloom or are doomed. Studies show that the divorce rate has spiked in some countries through Covid 19 although you might be surprised to hear that divorce rates have lowered slightly in Australia. 

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there were 113,815 marriages registered in 2019, which is a decrease of 4.5 percent since 2018. In the past 10 years, the marriage rate has decreased from 5.5 to 4.5 marriages per 1,000 people. This shows that fewer people were able to get married through the pandemic as lockdowns had venues closed for a lot of the year. 

I was happy to learn that there was also a slight decrease in 2019 in the number of divorces granted (49,116) down from 49,404 in 2018.  Divorce rates have also decreased over a decade from 2.3 to 1.9 divorces per 1,000 people.

Numbers aside, have you been affected by Covid 19, or has your relationship been affected? Here are some of my top tips on how to keep your relationship alive during the lockdown. 

Dinner Date at Home

Whilst in some Citys and Towns, you can still order in takeaway food. This is a great way to ensure you are not stuck in the kitchen cooking and you have time to relax. This can be budget-friendly also depending on what you like to eat, your home restaurant is you can bring your own alcohol so no corkage fees and no expensively marked-up bottles of wine or beer.

Instead of eating on the takeaway food on the couch out of the plastic disposable container in front of a Netflix show and not talking. Why not get out your nicest plates and cutlery, set the dining table up like a restaurant, think nice candles, a bottle of wine if that is to your taste, and some ambient music on Spotify and have a date night in.

It will be the most intimate and quiet restaurant you have most probably been to in a while. You won't need to worry about the loud table that is obnoxiously loud in the background or the constant interruption of waiters or other patrons walking around you. You can enjoy actually talking one on one without interruption from others or even the television. 

This is one of my favourite things to do when we are child-free for a night.

Bring Some Romance Back

They say chivalry is dead. I guess we do seem to have a bit of a society that a woman is independent and can do things for herself. Some even find it offensive if a man opens a door for them nowadays. I personally think it is polite and not degrading and it is always nice to be spoilt and to feel loved especially by the ones closest to us. 

Pick some flowers from your garden, or even ask your neighbours if they would mind if you don't have any. You can always check out your local markets or even your supermarkets or florists (if they are open during restrictions) for some discounted bunches. These are always a welcomed gift that doesn't have to cost hundreds. Being surprised for no reason with flowers can be a little bit of brightness in a world of lockdown. They also fill the house with a beautiful scent and can just bring a bit of cheer. 

Explore A New Walking Track

If your restrictions allow exercise (you may have to wear masks) get out and explore a new walking track. You never know what you might find in nature. Waterfalls, rivers, wildlife, and of course spectacular views. 

Take a picnic blanket and even a bottle of wine (again, if that is your taste) and find a beautiful spot to sit down have some stacks and enjoy the view. 

Being out in nature can be one of the best restarts. It can revitalise you and make you feel fresh and revigorated. If you can even find some time for a bit of meditation you may find that the calmer you are and the little bit of exercise you get whilst walking together can bring a sense of closeness and bonding to your relationship. 

There are plenty of ways to find walking tracks or bush tracks. If you live close to the beach a really long walk on the sand can also be therapeutic and revitalising. Try something new and get out for some fresh air after spending so much time locked up inside.

Catch The Sunrise 

For all the early risers out there, or even if you are normally not. There is something magical and peaceful about catching the morning sunrise. Even more special is having your favourite person there with you to enjoy it. 

Take a flask of freshly brewed coffee and get outside. If you can explore and get to a beach, local park or a river with a view of the sunrise would be amazing. If you cant do that you can just get out on your balcony, back deck or the front lawn. Get a blanket if it is a fresh morning and snuggle up and enjoy seeing the morning come to a start.

You will find that you are feeling at peace, calm and ready to start the day together. There is something romantic about the colours of a sunrise and the warmth of that someone besides you makes it a perfect start to the day. 

Try A New Activity 

If you can not get to the shops due to lockdown restrictions you can always order some affordable crafts online to be delivered to your house. Think of something different like an at-home pottery kit, candle-making kit, or even get some paints for their versatility. 

If you can't afford to order new things online, have a lookout in the shed or around the house for some activities to do. If you have old house paints in the shed, try adding some baking soda and making your own chalk paint and paint an old vase or some jars to give them a new lease on life. They also look super cute on display with some dried floral arrangements. 

Get out some scrap paper and have a 'paint and sip' night. This is really just a way of saying to drink some wine and paint together. Find some old materials, and recyclables and make a challenge to make a masterpiece with recycled materials. 

Changing your activities and spending time together in this way can really spark some interest, and bonding experience. 

Learn To Cook Or Try A New Dish

If you are already a wiz in the kitchen you can still do this. If you are not a wiz cooking can be a lot of fun and a lot of mess. there is something special in creating a meal together. If you have a lot of free time to kill try doing a full 3-course meal. 

Plan out your meal and get the ingredients online or at the grocery store. Prep the ingredients together over a chat and see how you can make it fun. You can find an endless supply of recipes on the internet. Try something that you have never had before, something that is a little different. Keeping your mind active and following a recipe can really take you into a meditative state of mind and your focus is purely on the cooking and of course each other. 

When your meal is done, go back to tip one, and instead of the take-out food, serve up your own meal and your date night dinner.

“Love is more than a noun – it is a verb; it is more than a feeling – it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing.” – William Arthur Ward

There are so many more ways that you can enjoy each other's company during a lockdown. Remember to try something new, be patient with each other, look after each other, be grateful, and most of all try and have fun in a world that is so unpredictable.