I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it's almost that time of year again, everybody. Aka the time of year when walking out of your house almost certainly guarantees layers upon layers of sweaters not keeping you warm, and jumping out of bed in the morning becomes much, much more difficult. The good news? It's also the time of year when we start looking forward to the first snowfall, cuddling up with a cup of hot cocoa by the fireplace, making gingerbread houses, and just living our very best lives as snow bunnies. What's the name for it again? Oh, right: winter. The best way to push away any wintertime blues and live it up, of course, is by spending as much time as humanly possible planning cute and cheap winter date ideas with your BFF.
Of course, when it comes to you and your BFF, you always have a hard time deciding just what you should do that day together. There are so many options (and, let's be honest, way too many days when you just want to stay inside). The next time you're together, check out these seven cute bestie dates on a budget. You'll be living your best winter lives, and you won't break the piggy bank doing it.
01Hit Up The Ice Rink
I don't care what you say, winter isn't complete without a few good ice rink dates. Grab your main BFF and get going. Even if you both suck, you're bound to have a blast and make a few awesome memories. Most local ice rinks have open skate hours or days open to the public for under $10.
02Plan The Perfect Winter Photo Shoot
This one's the perfect bestie date because it's free, baby. There's no shame in a quality photo shoot, especially one for the 'Gram. After the first snowfall, the two of you can go on a hunt for the most picture-perfect spots in town. Don't forget the outfit change.
03Skip The Coffee And Go Straight For The Hot Chocolate
Yeah, coffee dates are nice, especially with your bestie, but when winter comes, it calls for a step-up on that classic date. This winter, switch out your coffee routine for hot chocolate. Make a point to try it out at all of the coffee shops you can until the two of you have decided on your favorite spot. And so, a tradition was born...
04Marathon Your Favorite Holiday Movies
Get all of your favorite holiday movies together and marathon it out. This is the perfect BFF date for those days when neither of you feel like leaving the comfort of your own house. Queue up Netflix and Hulu, and get comfy with some snacks.
05Bake Your Favorite Cookies All Day Long
This is one of my favorite dates to have with my squad, especially because we're not the most efficient bakers. It's a guarantee that you'll end the day with flour in your hair and a messy kitchen, but it's so worth it. Spend an hour picking out your favorite Pinterest recipes, then go to town. At the very least, you'll have a good story to tell.
06Deck The Halls (Of Your Apartment)
Stream those classic holiday hits, get the fire going, put on a pair of fuzzy socks, and grab your best decorations, because it's time to get to business. Decking the halls always sounds more fun than it is, but add in your best gal pal, and you're definitely in for a great time. This date is double the fun — someone has to decorate her place and yours (unless you're roommates, then lucky you).
07Have A Winter Clothes Swap
I don't know about you, but every winter I have the same problem, which is that I just don't like any of my winter sweaters. Break up the monotony and host a winter clothes swap with just your bestie or your whole squad. You can return each other's things when you get tired of them, but for awhile, you'll have a closet full of new things (and you'll feel brand new, too).
