| College tuition leaving you no room for dating? | | | | they usually wake up and give them a surprise |
| College students are hard pressed in coming up | | | | breakfast of his or her favorite breakfast and |
| with ideas for budget friendly dates. With the cost | | | | watch morning talk shows. |
| of tuition rising steadily and showing no signs of | | | | - Find lunch specials or coupons in your local |
| slowing, saving for college has become more | | | | newspaper or discount saver magazine (however, |
| important than ever. Dating, however, doesn't | | | | not a great suggestion on a first date!) |
| need to be expensive to be fun, entertaining and | | | | - Go dutch! |
| memorable. Remembering to use moderation will | | | | - A homemade, candle-light dinner: cooking dinner |
| have you maintaining a reasonable budget without | | | | at home could be quite a bang for your buck. |
| feeling like you're breaking the bank. | | | | Check out some great inexpensive recipes on |
| Dating on a college budget should be | | | | YouTube or |
| understandable for couples. With a little creativity | | | | - Restaurants or small joints near and around |
| and open-mindedness, you can go more | | | | campus are low-budget |
| adventures than you can imagine! No Cup Noodles | | | | - See a matinee movie or a dollar movie, then |
| here folks...unless you want to, of course! | | | | grab frozen yogurt to share...or don't share! |
| There are ways to skip out on those | | | | - Go fishing. Rent or borrow fishing poles and pack |
| frapa-choco-lattes here and there in order to | | | | a lunch. |
| enjoy a more "extravagant" date for the | | | | - Miniature golfing or bowling. |
| weekend! Check out the great options below at | | | | - Go to a planetarium or science center. |
| any stage of your relationship: FREE, CHEAP, and | | | | - Attend a local seasonal festival. |
| SPLURGE (Yes, SPLURGE!). | | | | - Take a scenic drive up and down a coast if you |
| FREE | | | | live near the beach or city. |
| (Don't forget to take gas into consideration when | | | | - Find a drive-in theater, and take in a show, be |
| necessary) | | | | sure to order a burger, fries and milkshake! |
| - Check out your university calendar of events. | | | | - Rent roller blades at a local park (great excuse |
| Most events are free or at a reduced cost to | | | | to hold hands). |
| students (e.g. sports events, musicals, theatre | | | | - Take a free yoga / dance class. |
| dance productions, local college bands). | | | | - Go to a water park. |
| - Group dates: set up game night playing | | | | - Happy hour at your favorite restaurant or dollar |
| Monopoly, Twister, and video games along with a | | | | draft night at a local college bar |
| potluck or a home karaoke. | | | | - Visit wineries: Some places offer free wine |
| - Free zoos or museums (many offer student | | | | tasting; some charge just a few bucks SPLURGE |
| discounts). | | | | (Splurge for the sake of splurging or on special |
| - Study dates with small coffee breaks. | | | | occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, |
| - Grab a picnic basket and go to your favorite | | | | end-of-the semester/finals, graduation) |
| spot beach, park, or hiking. | | | | - Weekend trip: camping, snow boarding or a road |
| - Use movies in your collection to have a "movie | | | | trip. |
| marathon." | | | | - Hot air balloon ride. |
| - Attend a school bonfire. | | | | - Take a dinner cruise around a local beach/lake. |
| - Go hiking. Take plenty of water, trail mix, power | | | | - Buy tickets to a local amusement park or if you |
| bars, etc. | | | | frequent, invest in annual passes, which comes |
| - Join a philanthropic organization you both enjoy | | | | out cheaper in the long run. |
| and volunteer. | | | | - Attend the symphony, a musical or a major |
| - Check out an astronomy book from the library | | | | theater production |
| then go out into the desert, woods, country and | | | | - Get dressed up and try the new, hip restaurant |
| pick out constellations in the night sky. | | | | in town |
| - Walk around the downtown area of your town, | | | | - Purchase tickets to a local sporting event |
| window shop, enjoy the weather and the time to | | | | - Rent the vehicle of your dreams for the |
| talk. | | | | evening! |
| - Attend a local church-sponsored dance. | | | | - Take a course in ballroom dance, and if you love |
| - Free music in the park or at museums during | | | | it, vow to use your new-found skill |
| summertime. | | | | - Arrange for a carriage ride around a local park |
| - Hit your college gym since admission is paid in | | | | or historical district |
| your tuition. Help spot each other lifting weights or | | | | - Take in a dinner show like a murder mystery |
| take a fun hip-hop, salsa, or zamba class! CHEAP | | | | As you can see, there are plenty of date options |
| - Search the Facebook events for your area for | | | | to mix things up. Go out on some free dates, |
| low-cost or free events. | | | | then splurge on the 5th date. The most important |
| - Take advantage of Netflix and snacks like | | | | thing to remember is that it's not what you do or |
| popcorn and drinks (dorm vending machine will do). | | | | where you go as long as you're together enjoying |
| Cozy up under the blankets and enjoy the movie! | | | | each other's company. |
| - Go to your hunny's dorm or apartment when | | | | |