There is nothing quite like a night out on the town with your partner. However, due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, heading out to bars, restaurants, and clubs has become a rare luxury for many of us. That being said, the desire to be conscientious with money shouldn’t mean you have to miss out on memorable evenings with your loved one. In fact, a romantic night in can be equally, if not more, enjoyable than forking out for costly meals, drinks and taxis. Here are some excellent food and drink ideas for your budget romantic evening with your partner. 

Flex Your Culinary Skills

A romantic night in is the perfect opportunity to put your chef’s hat on and flex your culinary skills. No matter how advanced you are in the kitchen, a lovingly-prepared home-cooked meal is a wonderfully thoughtful way to express your love and appreciation. Either stick to a tried and tested classic or take a risk and cook something new. You could even surprise your partner with their absolute favourite dish for extra brownie points. 

Cook Together

While sharing a home-cooked meal is always a great way to spend an evening with your loved one, you could take things one step further by cooking together. Sharing the labour and working together to create something delicious can be a fantastic bonding experience, even if the results aren’t exactly Michelin Star. Consider following along with an online cooking tutorial or dust off an old recipe book to find something you’ll both enjoy. 

Simple Snacks

If the prospect of cooking a meal from scratch seems like a recipe for disaster, it may be better to stick with some simple snacks you can share as a couple. You could prepare a platter of simple favourites like crisps and popcorn or push the boat out and create a luxurious charcuterie board complete with cold cuts, cheese, artisan crackers and crudités. Enjoy your snacks with a romantic movie or a board game for a little friendly competition.

Cocktails

Cocktail making can go one of two ways - you could end up creating the most delicious concoction you’ve ever tasted, or you could make something truly revolting. Either way, getting creative with liquors and mixers can be tremendously enjoyable. Try your hand at making some classic cocktails such as a martini or piña colada or mix together a selection of random ingredients and create your own couple’s signature cocktail - or mocktail if you’re non-drinkers. 

Try Something New

Trying new foods and beverages can be much more fun when you sample them with a loved one. Use your stay-at-home date night as an excuse to try something you’ve been meaning to for a while, such as a new recipe you spotted online or a new restaurant that just started delivering. You could even set up a wine-tasting experience to discover your new favourite bottle. If nothing else, you will have made some heartfelt memories with your partner. 

Wine And Cheese

Speaking of wine, a wine and cheese night is a fantastic alternative to a standard sit-down meal for two. Purchase a few bottles of your favourite Merlot, Malbec or Shiraz wine and select some exquisite cheeses to complement them. Wine and cheese have long been considered a match made in heaven as they sit at opposite ends of the taste spectrum. This creates a spectacular tasting experience, allowing you to better appreciate flavours, textures and quality. 

Supermarket Meal Deal

A supermarket meal deal may not sound like your idea of a decadent night in; however, many popular supermarkets offer “meals for two” deals, often featuring a choice of main, side, dessert and wine for a fixed price. This is an excellent budget-friendly alternative to going out to eat without having to put in immense amounts of effort cooking, as many of these deals involve high-quality, easy-to-prepare options without the exorbitant restaurant price tag. 

Takeout

When all else fails, there’s always the local takeaway. While a takeaway may not be the cheapest option, it is definitely the most convenient. That said, you can save a significant amount of money by using a discount code or taking advantage of deals and offers. For instance, your local pizza parlour may have a two-for-one deal on certain days of the week. Provided your takeout nights are relatively infrequent, the occasional treat can be immensely gratifying.