Going out is great, but let’s be honest: restaurant prices are higher than ever, parking is a nightmare, and sometimes, putting on real pants just feels like too much work.

Staying in has become the new going out. But an "at-home date night" shouldn't just mean eating takeout while mindlessly scrolling on your phones. If you want to actually connect, you need a game plan. Here are three amazing at-home date ideas that cost little to no money.

1. The "Chopped" Kitchen Challenge

Instead of ordering food, turn your dinner into a game show. Pick three random ingredients from the back of your pantry or fridge that you need to use up. Set a timer for 45 minutes, pour some drinks, and work together to create a meal out of whatever you found. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and much cheaper than a steakhouse.

2. The Living Room Blanket Fort & Movie Marathon

Channel your inner kid. Push the coffee table aside, grab every pillow and blanket in the house, and build a massive fort in the living room. Pick a specific movie theme—like "90s Sci-Fi" or "Terrible Rom-Coms"—make some stovetop popcorn, and camp out on the floor.

3. The "We Can't Decide" Spin the Wheel Date

Sometimes the hardest part of an at-home date night is just deciding what to do. Should you play a board game? Do a puzzle? Ask each other deep questions? If you end up arguing over the itinerary, outsource the decision to a robot.

4. The "At-Home Tasting" Experience

You don't need to go to a fancy vineyard for a tasting menu. Go to the grocery store and buy 4 or 5 different types of something you both like—whether that's cheap wine, strange flavors of Oreo cookies, local craft beers, or different types of cheese. Blindfold each other and try to guess what you are tasting.

A great date night is about the connection, not the price tag. By getting a little creative (or using a random generator to do the heavy lifting for you), you can make staying home the best night of your week.