Cheaper than Dirt ($0-$10)

Instead of dinner dates, grab brunch! Breakfasts can be just as hearty as dinner, but usually cost less. For the most bang for your buck, it doesn’t get much better than Bon’s Off Broadway where you can get a full breakfast for only $2.95! 

Price: < $10 for 2, including refillable coffee

Instead of the usual coffee date, go out for bubble tea! I highly recommend Dragon Ball Tea House for quality and variety of flavours, although they can get pretty busy.

Price: ~ $10 for 2

Work off those holiday dinners with some brisk sea air and Vancouver’s gorgeous coastline, by walking or jogging along the Sea Wall.

Price: free

Price: free

Take up a sport meant for two, like squash or badminton! There are tons of courts available in Vancouver, and drop-in hours are readily available on weekends. 

Price: usually around $10/hour for a court

Fiendishly Frugal ($11-$20)

For classier decor, but just as much food as Bon’s, another alternate breakfast place would be The Twisted Fork downtown.  With its home-style decor, and open concept kitchen, this place was meant for animated conversations.

Price: $10/entree

A movie date is always a good standby because who doesn’t enjoy a good movie? Rent or go out to the theatre, but always bring your own snacks. 

Price: < $10-$20

Cook a romantic dinner for 2 at home.  Cooking together is fun, cheap, and delicious! Who knows, you may even end up in a sexy food fight.  Check out Food Network Canada for great, fool-proof recipes!

Price: dependent upon recipe and how well stocked your kitchen is

Learn more about eating local by visiting your neighborhood Farmer’s Market! Each location contains a huge variety of stands carrying goods that reflect the residents’ tastes and culture.  Find out the location and dates for the nearest market to you via Eat Local.

Price: ranges from free to the cost of whatever you decide to buy

Check out the next Michael Buble, Nickelback, or Nelly Furtado, in the final round of The Peak Performance Project! Presented by The Peak and Music BC, this massive clash of musicians is a province-wide competition for new talent, with the winner receiving a $150,000 mentor-ship. 

Price: $10.05 + service fees per ticket

Somewhat Thrifty ($21-$50)

Movies getting old? Then check out some live entertainment, like NEVERMORE: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe ($25-44), or a comedic rap musical like BASH’D: A Gay Rap Opera ($20-35)! 

Price: around $50 for 2

Dance the night away in each other’s arms, while showing off your skillz at Dance Marathon, a fun dance event evoking the dance marathon shows of the American 1930s.  Those who can dance the hardest and longest are eligible to win special prizes!

Price: $25-30 each

Indulge your ears with some rockin’ music, care of Tegan & Sara on Jan. 6.

Price: $25-32 each

Laugh your asses off, and maybe even get in on the act with Vancouver’ premier Theatre Sports League on Granville Island.  Featuring the city’s best and zaniest improv talents, Theatre Sports offers always refreshing comedic takes on well… just about anything!

Price: < $20 per ticket

As you can see, your significant other is right: you just have no more excuses to have yet another night staying in and watching trashy reality shows, or the sports channel.  There are tons of imaginative, fun, things you can do here in our own city!  Sure, most of these do cost some money, but in my opinion, free love ended in the 60s.  In my opinion, love is like an investment.  There’s no need to splurge a ton of money into it all the time, but investing a decent amount over time in your relationship, is sure to give you a large rate of return.

Jordana Mah

Software developer by day, writer by night, Jordana works as a freelance writer for various online publications and blogs. You can usually find her glued to a keyboard either shopping online, blogging, or tweeting, but she occasionally ventures out for movies, food, shopping sales, and bubble tea.

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