Have you heard of the Goodwill Date Night Challenge? It’s the perfect game for lovers on a budget. And in this economy, that pretty much describes the majority of us, doesn’t it?
Photo Courtesy of Olivia Christesen
Goodwill Date Night Challenge
It’s about having fun with your partner, and looking fabulous! Here’s the game:
- Grab your partner.
- Decide on a budget — $20 each? More or less depending on your finances. Whatever works for you!
- Head to your local thriftstore (Goodwill, if you want to keep it classic).
- Split up! Shop the store in different directions.
- Staying within your predetermined budget, get each other the best outfits you can find.
- Exchange your purchases for one another at check out.
- Change into your new duds, and go out on the town looking incredible and already laughing!
Other thrift store date ideas
But romance at the thriftstore doesn’t stop there. Here’s a few other thrift store date ideas.
Scavenger hunt
If you want to spend your whole date thrifting, try putting together a scavenger hunt. You can theme your hunt by color, decade, or interest. Pull together an all red ensemble, find kitchen utensils from the 1960s, or as many Greatest hits on Vinyl that you can find.
Thrift shopping is already a blast, turning it into a competition? Even better.
Photo shoot
What makes thrift shopping so fun is that it’s a hunt. Most of the things you find at the thrift store you wouldn’t dream of buying, which makes it all that more sweeter when you do find a keeper. Meanwhile, you’re surrounded by bizarre and hilarious items that fairly compel you to nudge your partner and say with a wink, “This pig snout would really suit you.”
The jokes are already half the fun! So why not make them the all the fun by shopping for pictures rather than spending money? Try on silly hats, pose with the life-sized Barry Manilow cardboard cut-out, film each other doing dramatic readings of that Z-list celebrity memoir.
Being playful can feel awkward as we age, but I promise that once you get past your hang ups, it’s as fun as ever.
Plan your next DIY project
Every couple has a dreamer and a doer. Or to put it in more practical terms, the one with the vision for DIY projects and the one with the actual skills to bring this vision to life.
Think of how many domestic disagreements could be solved if we stepped out of these roles, laid down our preconceptions about ourselves and one another, and just did the whole project together. Thrift shopping provies the perfect opportunity for this collaborative approach to DIY.
First, make sure you’re both on the same page about the activities before you get to the thrift store. Once there, have both of you search the store for a great DIY project. Maybe you’ll fine an new old dining room table that needs to be sanded down, repainted, and tightened up. Visualize and plan this together.
I know, I know. The temptation is to spring these plans onto our spouses by sneaking projects into garages and issuing marching orders like we’re on an HGTV show and our partners our favorite vendors. But maybe they have a vision too! And even better, if they’re part of the original plan, they’re so much more enthusiastic about the execution!
Once you’ve picked out a project together, head over to the hardware store to get yor supplies. Why not start immediately?
