Romance on a Budget
50+ Date Ideas
Pro Tip: Dating at BYU-Idaho is unique and fun! This list includes ideas for every budget and season. When someone asks you on a date, you'll have plenty of creative ideas ready!
Free Date Ideas ($0)
Perfect for broke college students or spontaneous dates!
Stargazing
FREEDrive out of town to avoid light pollution. Bring blankets, lie on your car hood, and identify constellations. Best on clear nights.
Temple Grounds Walk
FREERexburg Temple has beautiful grounds. Walk, talk, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Especially pretty at night with lights.
Hiking Nearby Trails
FREER Mountain, South Fork Trails, or St. Anthony Sand Dunes. Pack water and enjoy Idaho's natural beauty.
Porter Park Picnic
FREEPack homemade sandwiches and eat at Porter Park. Play on playground, throw frisbee, or feed ducks in summer.
Campus Devotional
FREEAttend Tuesday devotional together (BYU-I Center). Inspiring speakers, followed by lunch or walk.
Hart Building Activities
FREEUse your student ID for free gym, swimming, basketball, ice skating, or rock climbing wall.
Game Night at Home
FREEBoard games, card games, or video games. Invite roommates for group date. Make cookies together.
Sunrise/Sunset Watching
FREEDrive to scenic spot, bring hot chocolate (from home), and watch sunrise or sunset together.
Free Campus Events
FREEBYU-I hosts free concerts, movie nights, and activities. Check campus calendar.
Bike Ride Through Rexburg
FREEExplore neighborhoods, downtown, or Greenbelt trail. Enjoy the ride and conversation.
Cook Dinner Together
FREEUse ingredients you already have. Make it fun - compete to create best dish or cook a new recipe together.
Photo Scavenger Hunt
FREECreate list of things to find/photograph around Rexburg. Compete or work together. Get creative!
Service Project
FREEVolunteer together - rake leaves for elderly neighbor, serve at food bank, or clean a park. Bonding through service!
Sledding (Winter)
FREEPorter Park or behind Hart Building. Free if you have a sled (or cardboard box works!).
Watch a Sunset at Sand Dunes
FREESt. Anthony Sand Dunes (25 min drive). Climb dunes, roll down, watch sunset. Magical!
Low-Cost Date Ideas ($5-15)
Affordable but still special dates that won't break your budget.
Hot Chocolate Date
$5-15Get hot chocolate at local shop (Purple Turtle, Dutch Bros). Sit, talk, and enjoy warm drinks.
Thrift Store Shopping Challenge
$5-15D.I. (Deseret Industries) - set a budget ($5 each), find funniest outfit for each other, try them on. Laugh guaranteed!
Dollar Movie Night
$5-15Check for discount movie days at local theaters. Matinee showings are cheaper. Stick to G, PG, or PG-13 movies.
Bowling at Rexburg Lanes
$5-15Classic date activity. Split cost of lane and shoes. Make it interesting with fun competitions.
Ice Cream Date
$5-15Broulim's, Fat Cats, or local ice cream shop. Share a sundae or get cones and walk downtown.
Mini Golf
$5-15Fat Cats has indoor mini golf. Fun, competitive, and great conversation starter.
Smoothie Date
$5-15Jamba Juice or Dutch Bros smoothies. Healthy and refreshing. Take a walk while you drink.
Farmers Market (Summer)
$5-15Rexburg Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Browse, sample, buy fresh produce. Cook together after.
Arcade Games
$5-15Fat Cats arcade. Bring quarters, compete on classic games, win tickets together.
Breakfast Date
$5-15Pancakes at Porter's, Da Pineapple Grill, or Frontier Pies. Cheaper than dinner, less pressure, great conversation.
Baking Together
$5-15Buy cookie dough or brownie mix. Bake together at your apartment. Decorate cookies, make a mess, have fun!
Park Hammocking
$5-15Bring/borrow a hammock, go to Porter Park or nearby nature area. Relax, talk, read together.
Paint Night at Home
$5-15Buy cheap canvases and paint from Walmart. Paint together, follow YouTube tutorial, or freestyle.
Frisbee Golf
$5-15Free course in Rexburg if you have frisbees. Or buy cheap frisbees at Walmart and learn together.
Moderate Date Ideas ($15-30)
For special occasions or when you want to splurge a little.
Dinner at Nice Restaurant
$15-30Costa Vida, Chick-fil-A, or Da Pineapple Grill. Use student discounts where available.
Movie + Ice Cream Combo
$15-30Theater movie followed by ice cream shop. Classic date night!
Yellowstone Day Trip
$15-30Split gas costs. Pack lunch. Explore Old Faithful, hot springs, wildlife. Unforgettable adventure!
Laser Tag or Escape Room
$15-30Check Idaho Falls for escape rooms. Fun, team-building, memorable experience.
Dinner and Dessert Date
$15-30Cook dinner together, then go out for fancy dessert at local bakery or restaurant.
Rent Kayaks or Paddleboards
$15-30Rexburg Reservoir or Henry's Fork River (summer). Split rental cost. Beautiful and active!
Concert or Show
$15-30Check BYU-I or local venues for concerts, plays, or performances. Cultural and fun!
Tubing on the River (Summer)
$15-30Float down Henry's Fork. Rent tubes or bring your own. Relaxing and scenic.
Cross-Country Skiing or Snowshoeing
$15-30Rent equipment in winter. Harriman State Park is beautiful. Peaceful winter activity.
Idaho Falls Date Trip
$15-30Drive to Idaho Falls (30 min). More restaurant options, bigger mall, nice riverwalk.
Group Date Ideas
Perfect for getting to know someone in a low-pressure setting or FHE activities!
Game Night Tournament
FREECouples compete in board games, card games, or video games. Winner gets bragging rights or homemade trophy.
Bonfire at Porter Park
FREERoast marshmallows, make s'mores, play music, tell stories. Bring blankets and chairs.
Progressive Dinner
$5-15Each couple cooks one course at their apartment. Travel together, eat appetizers → main → dessert at different homes.
Bowling Competition
$5-15Split into teams. Losing team buys winners ice cream or hot chocolate.
Capture the Flag
FREEClassic outdoor game. Play at park or large field. Active and competitive!
Karaoke Night at Home
FREEUse YouTube karaoke videos or apps. Sing duets, group songs, or compete for best performance.
Potluck Dinner Party
$5-15Each couple brings a dish. Theme it (Italian, Mexican, breakfast for dinner). Play games after.
Ice Skating Party
$5-15Hart Building ice rink (free) or Idaho Ice World. Bring hot chocolate in thermoses.
Scavenger Hunt Around Rexburg
FREECreate lists of things to find/do. Teams compete. Take photos as proof. Winner gets prize!
Movie Night with Snacks
$5-15Rent projector or use TV. Make/buy popcorn, candy, drinks. Vote on family-friendly movie.
Creative & Unique Ideas
Stand out with these memorable date ideas!
"Chopped" Cooking Competition
FREEGive each other mystery ingredients from pantry. Set timer. Cook a dish. Roommates judge winner!
Bookstore Date
$5-15Browse bookstore, each pick a book for the other to read. Discuss over hot chocolate.
Teach Each Other a Skill
FREEYou teach them something you're good at, they teach you something they know. Learn together!
Create Time Capsule
$5-15Write letters to your future selves, add photos and mementos. Bury or store to open in 5 years.
Language Learning Date
FREEIf you served missions, teach each other phrases in your mission languages. Practice together.
Build Blanket Fort
$5-15Use couch cushions, blankets, chairs. Watch movie inside fort, play games, eat snacks. Childish but fun!
Scripture Study Date
FREERead scriptures together, discuss insights. Spiritual foundation for relationship.
Gratitude Walk
FREEWalk around neighborhood, take turns sharing things you're grateful for. Uplifting and meaningful.
Seasonal Date Ideas
🍂 Fall (Sept-Nov)
- • Visit pumpkin patch or corn maze
- • Apple picking and make caramel apples
- • Leaf pile jumping and fall photoshoot
- • Hike to see fall colors in mountains
- • Halloween costume contest (modest!)
- • Make pumpkin desserts together
❄️ Winter (Dec-Feb)
- • Sledding at Porter Park
- • Ice skating at Hart Building
- • Build snowman or snow fort
- • Hot chocolate bar at home
- • Christmas light tour
- • Gingerbread house contest
🌸 Spring (Mar-May)
- • Fly kites at Porter Park
- • Plant flowers or garden together
- • Bike ride on Greenbelt trail
- • Picnic with homemade lunch
- • Visit Yellowstone (fewer crowds)
- • Feed ducks at pond
☀️ Summer (June-Aug)
- • Swimming at Hart Building pool
- • Tubing down Henry's Fork River
- • Outdoor movie night
- • Farmers Market Saturday morning
- • Camping at nearby campgrounds
- • Sunrise hike up R Mountain
Date Planning Tips
For Guys Planning Dates
- • Ask at least 3 days in advance
- • Be specific - time, place, what to wear
- • Have a plan ready
- • Open doors, pay for the date
- • Be on time - punctuality shows respect
- • Ask questions and listen
For Girls Being Asked
- • Give a clear yes or no
- • If you can't, suggest another time
- • Be ready on time
- • Show appreciation for their effort
- • Put phone away, be engaged
First Date Tips
- • Keep it casual and low-pressure
- • Choose activities that allow talking
- • Group dates are great for first dates
- • Keep it short (1-2 hours)
- • Have backup plans ready
LDS Standards Reminder
- • Follow Honor Code standards
- • Keep physical boundaries
- • Include others (roommates, friends)
- • Don't rush into serious relationships
- • Pray about dating decisions
Need More Ideas?
Check out our other guides for activities, food, and budgeting tips.