1. Photo Fun!

Most cell phones have cameras and most teens have cell phones, which makes this one of the cheapest date night ideas for teens on the list! Go for a walk with your sweetheart and take turns being the model at various locations. Be goofy and have fun. Make sure to take a few of the two of you together or have a passerby snap a photo for you. Places like Walmart and Walgreens print photos for as little as 20 cents each. If you don’t happen to have a camera on your phone or a digital camera, disposables only cost $8 for two.

2. Zoo

If you are lucky enough to have a zoo near you, find out when they have special events going on. Most zoos have one day per week where they offer a discount on admission or even a free day. Walking around the zoo holding hands, looking at the animals and talking can be a wonderful time.

3. Private Movie Theatre

As I said, going to a movie theatre can be disappointing. You’re surrounded by strangers and you’re not supposed to talk. Watching a movie at home can mean interference from siblings or parents, and while I'm lucky enough to live in a town that has a drive-in theatre, most areas don't, and even if you do, if you don’t have your license yet, that’s a no go anyway. The best solution to this is to pop a bag of popcorn in your microwave and sit in your driveway in your car (or your parent’s car) and play a movie on your laptop or portable DVD player. It’s like your own personal drive in movie. If you don’t have a car readily available, your backyard or the closest park will work just as well, if not better. Just make sure to bring a blanket to sit on and charge your laptop battery well before you leave.

4. Hike

Enjoying the beauty of the outdoors can be very romantic and memorable. Pack a couple of sandwiches, snacks and some bottles of water and go for a hike, even if it’s just on a trail in the public park. When you get to a scenic spot, sit down together and have a picnic. You will have privacy, you will be spending quality time together and you will be getting exercise all at the same time!

5. 50/50

If you just can’t decide on something you both want to do, have a 50/50 date. Divide the day in half: one of you plans out all of the activities for the first portion of the day and the other person chooses what to do for the second half. This is great if you don’t share many similar interests because you both get to do something you want to do, plus you get to experience and learn about the things your date likes without the fear of being bored or feeling left out all day.

6. Questions in a Coffee Shop

If you’re kind of awkward starting conversations and you’re never really sure what to say, going out for coffee can be one of the worst things to do on a date because you’re left with long periods of silence and nothing to distract you from it. A great way to turn this into a fun date is to either buy or make your own question cards. Treat it like a game and have one person ask a question such as “What is your favorite color,” “How old were you when you had your first crush,” etc… The next person asks their own question and you continue on, taking turns answering. It leads to funny answers, getting to know your date better and very little awkward silence. Please please please do not do this on a FIRST date. It’s a little strange to try to get to know someone so intimately the first time you go out.

7. Thrifty Creativity

I know this may not sound like the most fun to some people, but to the adventurous and creative, this sort of date can be a blast! On a Saturday or Sunday morning hit the garage sales, flea markets or thrift shops in your area. Choose an amount you each can spend and make your goal be to either find the best present you can for the other person or find the coolest treasure for yourself. You can make a whole day out of it, plus you have a little trinket to remember the date after it’s over.

Try to be creative and think outside the box when you’re coming up with unusual date ideas. I know it can be frustrating and boring to be stuck in a rut doing the same thing over and over again. Switch things up once in a while and do something totally different. What amazing dating ideas do you have for teens?