While money doesn’t bring happiness, it sure is a lot easier to do new, exciting, and adventurous things with your partner when you’ve got the dough. If you’re like me and have spider webs in your wallet, don’t fret! There are numerous things to do that cost little to no money at all.

I’ve compiled a list of activities that can be done with your partner for very little to no money at all. Some of the activities may not tickle your fancy, but you may just find a hidden gem in this list. Read through them with your partner. You may just have a date night in the near future.

1. Have a movie marathon with your partner. Walk over to your local library and rent a few movies. Many libraries even have newer releases and guess what? It doesn’t cost a penny. You just need a library card!

2. Speaking of libraries, check out the monthly activity calendar that they have. Many libraries host events for little to no money at all. My partner and I had attended a book reading by an author. It was free, and it was actually quite fun!

3. Volunteer together. There is nothing more rewarding than giving back to the community. One thing that my partner and I had discussed is going to the animal shelter and walking the dogs together.

4. Get physical! There are so many fun activities that can be done. You can take a class for kickboxing, karate, yoga, whatever! Now you’re probably thinking, taking classes is expensive! I agree. Guess what? There are numerous websites online that offer free classes and workout guides. All you need is your computer.

5. There are other things you can do to get physical. Go outside, toss the ball, go for a hike, play Frisbee. If it’s winter, build a snowman together, or toboggan.

6. Own a video game console? Play a game together. No video game console? Try a board game. No board game available? That’s okay! There are plenty of 2 player games available online. No computer access at the moment? The good ol’ pen and paper games are just as fun.

7. At home karaoke. You don’t need a big pricey karaoke machine to get your sing on. Youtube has numerous karaoke videos that show the words of the song. Highlight them as they should be sung, and you can choose between having backup singers or no backup singers during your vocal performance. My partner and I have done this a few times and it’s a hoot. If you’re off-key, that’s okay! It makes it that much more fun!

8. Read an article or conspiracy theory that just boggles your mind. Discuss it with your partner. You’d be surprised at how long the conversation can last.

9. Cook together. Find a recipe online that both you and your partner find appealing. Work as a team at creating a lovely meal that you can enjoy together. My partner and I really like to make homemade pizzas. He makes his own; I make my own. There’s always lots of laugh and talking while we create our masterpieces.

10. Learn a foreign language together. You can rent books, CDs, and DVDs from the library for free, or you can practice online at one of the many free language learning websites available.

11. Pamper each other with an in-home spa day. Depending on the individuals in the relationship, this may sound too feminine or unappealing for whatever reason. My male partner loves the in-home spa days. His hands are quite rough so I massage his hands and then use scrubs to soften the skin. Spa activities can be anything from back massage, foot massage, foot soak, plucking hairs, head massage, moisturizing, washing hair, facials, to anything else you can think of. In home spas don’t have to be all about ruffles, bows, and nail polish. It’s about having someone take that extra time to make you feel better.

12. Creative couple? Come up with a theme and then both partners work on their own creative way at expressing the theme. Once each partner finishes, they show each other and discuss how they integrated the theme into their artwork (poem, painting, writing, cross-stitching, whatever!).

13. Scavenger hunts. This may sound a bit childish but I can tell you with confidence that it’s a blast for both parties involved. What I like to do is write up a first clue that I give to my partner to start with. The clue could be something like, “Brrr...it’s freezing cold in here!” This hint would lead him to the freezer, where he would find another clue. Once he’s found the very last clue, there will be a prize waiting for him. This can be sexual but it can also be a sweet love letter, a homemade coupon for a romantic dinner, or whatever! I also find it a lot more fun when you put the searcher on a time limit. It’s fun to watch your partner run around the house in hopes of winning his prize, and he/she will have a lot of fun by trying to figure out the clues you’ve given.

14. I saved the best for last. Take a vacation without even leaving home. Personally, I can’t spend $1000’s of dollars to take a nice vacation. You neither? Well there is an alternative option. Hit up your local dollar store and/or a wide-chain super store. Heck, you could even hit up your local thrift store. This idea will cost a bit more but it’s the most exciting (in my opinion). Decide on where you want to “go” for vacation. Hawaii? Jamaica? Whatever you chose as your ideal vacation, it’s now time to go find some destination themed items.

15. So if you choose Hawaii, you’ll want to pick up some lays from your local dollar store, some fake floral pieces, fake palm tree leaves, grass skirts (you can easily make these), pineapple appetizers, flip flops, a kiddie blow up pool for the “ocean," corny sunglasses, a very bright bulb to replace your living room light with for that extra “sun," a CD of Hawaiian music (you can just make a play list on your computer and have it shuffle through the songs), tacky Hawaiian print shirts (you can find these at any thrift store), wooden torch lights (they don’t need to be lit, they just add to the appearance), Hawaiian mixed drinks (many Hawaiian alcohol drink recipes can be found online), and whatever else you think is suitable! It does take a bit of time and a bit of money, but it sure beats spending $1000’s of dollars, especially when you don’t have that kind of money.

So I hope that after you’ve read through these ideas, you found at least one or two that sparked your interest. When you’re feeling like your loaf of bread (the relationship) is getting old and moldy, try one of these activities. You may be surprised at how much fun the activities are and how much closer you’ll feel with your partner during and after the activity. Good luck!