Winter is long, and while I count down to sitting out on my deck in the summer months, I need to find ways to get through the next few months, sanity in tact. A recent getaway with my husband helped tremendously, but now that we’re back home in frosty Saskatchewan, this mama needs a break. Finding a babysitter has proven more difficult than I thought.
My latest babysitter shared yesterday that she’s got a “regular babysitting booking every Saturday night” for another family. My first thought was, “Who goes out every Saturday night and has a babysitter booked, locked in, for that?” My second thought was, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Still, even if you do manage to book a babysitter the cost of that plus a night out (dinner, a movie, or maybe just meeting friends for drinks) can make you rethink that much-needed night out. It’s unfortunate because couples need date nights, yet so few actually make it a regular thing for these and other reasons.
In fact, a survey conducted by RateSupermarket.ca which polled 2,728 respondents on their sentiments on date night affordability, finds Canadian moms and dads are half as likely to make time for two than non-parents, with 68% stating they go on fewer than one date per month with their partner.
A weaker loonie and rising food and entertainment costs may mean Canadian moms and dads are extra strapped for cash – and romance.
“Canadians are seeing their spending power weaken, and that impacts all aspects of the household budget,” says Penelope Graham, Editor at RateSupermarket.ca. “It’s important to factor time for two into your financial plan, along with rising family costs.”
The Top Reasons Canadians Can’t Afford Date Night:
- Costs associated with having a family: 18.3%
- I don’t earn enough for extras like date night: 11.62%
- I don’t find it hard to afford date night.: 13.4%
- I’m saving for a big ticket item (car, wedding, new home, etc.): 11.4%
- My other bills don’t leave me with enough disposable income: 27.6%
- My rent / mortgage payments: 17.6%
While 50.83% of Canadians spend between $50 – $100 per date night, one quarter manage on a budget of $10 – $50. Here are a few ways to afford a sweet – and less spendy – date night provided by RateSupermarket.ca, Canada’s comprehensive financial rates comparison resource.
Build it into the budget: Include a line item for romantic outings among bills, shelter costs and your grocery budget each month, even if it’s just for a coffee or a movie out. Planning ahead makes date night a priority, rather than an afterthought in your household budget.
Make Rewards Work for You: Are you a savvy credit card rewards collector? Using a card that earns cash back or points on dining, entertainment or grocery costs during date night means you can help offset your household budget in the process.
Take a Spendthrift Staycation: 36.5% of parents reported they take a romantic vacation fewer than once per year. While the beach may be out of reach for some new families, staying local for a long weekend (with kids at the sitter or with family) can give parents the rejuvenation they need to rekindle their romance.
Great tips and ideas from RateSupermarket.ca – I absolutely believe that date night should be a priority with couples. Just having some time away as a couple can remind you on who you are as a couple, beyond mom and dad. It’s important.
Hubby and I rarely go out, he’s just not one that enjoys that kinda thing. So yesterday, took it upon myself to grab pizza and a little shoppin’! 🙂
We don’t go out a lot and it’s mostly because we don’t trust our kids with anyone!
I don’t have kids or a partner but going out with the girls can be hard to schedule and expensive too! It’s so important to spend time on all your relationships!
We don’t have kids at home any more but when they were small we hardly every went out that much. Hubby is just not one to go out even to visit unless its to our sons. I sometimes go by myself to festivities.
Hope when I’m finalized in separation and get my own place my life going I have dates.
We only go out maybe once every 3 months or so. It is hard to find the time and money, but we are trying to do it more often.
Hubby and I used to go out once a month but haven’t in quite some time. mostly because of not having a sitter and just my mom to watch the girls. but as the warmer weather hits, hubby and I will have his mom that can come watch the girls as well so then we can go out here and there (shes from out of town a couple hrs away and weather has been iffy the last couple months) cant wait to get in our much needed date nights again. they are missed
When I was younger, or shall I say when my girls were younger, we went out quite a bet, but then we were both working full time jobs and we didn’t have the bills we have now, now that it’s just me and hubby we can’t afford to go out anymore as the bills have increased and hubby is the only one working, and it just costs so much to go out nowadays, we are happy just to stay home and relax!!
We need to make it more of a priority to have some alone time.
For me it’s hard to find a babysitter.
Sometimes we have a special night at home after the kids are in bed.
My husband and I don’t get out often together as a couple because we have a daughter with very complex medical needs. When she does go to respite camps we do try to go out for dinner and unwind.
Its just hubby and i and we enjoy just relaxing at home together and having friend over for games
Being just the two of up now. We cook a meal and have friends in for a game of cards or go to their place for the same. We do love to go to an occasional movie.
We don’t go a lot out but we do try to get a babysitter every 6 weeks or so.
With four kids, it is really hard to find a babysitter. Date nights may happen, though, when my older girls can babysit.
We definitely do not do date night for many of these reasons! We live very close to the great lakes so our dates usually happen at the beach!
My husband and I are home bodies so we rarely go out but we have movie night once a week and we rent movies and when we younger or our kids were they went to their grandparents.
We so rarely have a date night , not only can we not afford to but are too tired to. We have 3 boys and they are old enough to leave for a couple of hours in the evening. When the boys were younger, we didn’t have money for a sitter but would trade with our friends sometimes, just for a quick escape.
We need to find some time and money once we get our new business off the ground. I love spending time, just me and my sweet husband.
I really believe that a date night is so important for a relationship to work! Our lives are so busy, and making time for each other and to have fun together is a good thing. Not only is it great for you, but it gives the message that you think your partner is fantastic and important to you!
Some great tips and information on that website! Date night seems to be a swear word around my house. Just doesn’t happen. lol
Hubby and I need to really work on this but we have been going to the movies with our free Scene Points so it doesn’t cost us anything – even the popcorn is free!
It also helps that my older daughters are now old enough to babysit the younger girls. They babysit for us once per month for free for 3 hours and if we go out more than that we pay them.
We too need to get out there. Sometimes it just seems like too much effort, but then once you are out there ….
I think a date night at least a few times a month is absolutely necessary to maintain SANITY!!!! 🙂
I don’t have that problem… I have no one to go out with. So here’s me, looking at it from the outside. I think it is necessary to have date night. Even just something very very simple, go to the park, without kids. Couples need time for each other, need time away from it all, need time to rest, and as one commenter (sarah alexis) said, maintain sanity. But that’s just me, who knows nothing talking. I wish i could babysit everyone’s kids so they could go out.
My date nights are so much fun and we always go out with great respect for each other and consideration of want we both want and like during the evening.We usually go to a favorite restaurant and then decide on a good movie or who we want to visit.I think it’s really important to get out and relax together and have fun.
We always try gor 2 a month. Its refreshing.
I love having date nights but we have been so busy lately! Thanks for the reminder to make time for important things.
I think it’s important for a couple to make time for a date night – it doesn’t have to break the bank, but the alone time is important to reconnect and stay connected!
Having time out is very important- we all have excuses.
We do date night twice a month, it’s a great way to reconnect 🙂
we definitely need to go out more. Our life with kids has been so busy. we tend to neglect our own needs
We so rarely go out for a date night. Should really try and go out together at least once a month!
It is very important to make time for date night without the kids! even if its just for a walk in the park.
Totally agree date night a must
We love to stay home with our grandson but we do go out for date nights once in a while! They always involve the ocean!
Great article! Regular date nights are so important in marriage. By pursuing your spouse and scheduling a date, you are revealing that they are worth your time, energy, and emotions. Plus, it is something hopeful to look forward to. The wife changing diapers or shuttling kids around in the minivan can look forward to that weekend date night. The husband who is stressed about work deadlines or a business trip can anticipate a relaxing date with his wife.