Date Night without Debt

Being married is hard work, especially if one or both of you are working long hours, leaving for TDYs or deployments, and maybe you've got kids as well.  Many experts recommend that you make an effort to spend some extra nice time alone with your spouse.  Wait, you say, how can we do that?  We don't have a babysitter, we don't have money, we don't have time!

I can't help you with the time, but I can help with the other two. First, the childcare.  If you can't afford a babysitter, or you can't find one, check with friends, neighbors or relatives (if you are lucky enough to have some nearby.)  Maybe they would be willing to watch your children occasionally, or swap babysitting with you.  (You take their kids this week, they take your kids next week.)  Check with your base to see if the chapel or youth services offer any programs, and also check with your church.  Maybe a young childless couple in your unit might think that babysitting would be fun.  Childless spouses of deployed servicemembers might enjoy the opportunity to make a few extra dollars, as well.

Once you've freed yourself for the evening, you'll need to figure out what to do.  The usual "dinner and a movie" can easily cost $50 (or more!), so you'll have to be creative to stay within your budget.  Jen at Millionaire Mommy Next Door has made a list of 52 suggestions for cheap dates. I love having her suggestions, even if some of them don't interest me. Some suggestions that I would add to Jen's list include:

• go to a high school sports event
• look for dance classes on post
• get take-out (a treat, I know) and eat it somewhere you wouldn't usually eat.  Even your front porch will do, if you have the right attitude.

I'm sure that you have some great suggestions as well - so let's hear them!