Free Outdoor OptionsOutdoor plans cost nothing and ask little, which is why most budget dates start there. Indoor Ideas for a Tight BudgetBad weather does not cancel a cheap date. Active and Playful DatesSome of the best cheap dates are active ones. A cheap date removes that weight and lets both people act like themselves, which is the entire point of a first meeting. On a budget first date the total is small, so a 50-50 split is easy and increasingly common.