A Guide to Cheap College Dates

Christian Singles

College students are poor. And by poor, I mean dirt poor cheapskates who don’t want to spend money on anything. Did I get that about right? It is nothing to be ashamed of but it is true. No college student wants to spend money on anything they don’t need to. This is why a lot of college students do not go on dates. What many people don’t know is that dating does not have to be an expensive thing. There are so many things that people can do that are either free or really cheap. Don’t let money be an excuse to not go on dates. Here are some great cheap date ideas.

Make dinner together
Instead of going out to an expensive meal, make an activity out of it and cook it yourself. Buying food at a grocery store is automatically a lot cheaper than going out and buying a whole meal for two people. It is also a good opportunity to talk to the person and actually get to know them better.

Penny dates
In order to make this work, all you need is a penny. Then, you and your date each need to pick a destination. Then flip the penny and one destination will be heads and the other tails. The whole point is to let the penny make the decision. You may find that you go to some interesting places that you have never been to before.

Dollar theater
There are not dollar theaters everywhere, which means that not everyone can do this. If you do have a dollar theater close by, take a date to a movie. Dollar theaters show movies that have just left the normal theater that are still not out on DVD. It gives you the chance to see pretty new movies, without paying a fortune for a movie ticket.

College sports games
Most colleges have deals for students where you can get in to different sports games for free or for a lot cheaper than normal. Go to any sports game possible that is relatively cheap. Sports games are so fun because you can be loud and crazy, but you can still have a conversation and get to know your date.

Hike
If there are places to hike in your college town, look up some cool trails that would be fun for anyone. You can even make it a double or a triple date and go on a hike with a big group. Hiking is a fun activity and it is completely free! There is no cost to wander around in a forest.

Bike ride
If you have bikes, you can find a cool bike trail. Take advantage of a nice sunny day and go out and enjoy it. Creative dates are very much appreciated. Going on a bike ride is a lot more creative than your normal dinner and a movie. Plus, going on a bike ride is free!

Fly a kite
If you don’t have a kite, you may have to buy one, which will cost a little bit of money, but it is still a cheap activity. Many people have never flown a kite. It would be a fun and new experience and a good way to have a conversation with a date,

 

About the Author

Meagan Hollman is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers is a great place if you have decided that you want to enroll in online master’s degree programs.

How to Date on a Budget Without Looking Cheap

Ferris Wheel LoversWhen you fancy someone, money might be the last thing on your mind, but losing both your mind and your money over your crush is a terrifying scenario. Well, if you have already lost your mind, this article won’t help, but if you still have your money, keep reading!

Dating on a budget isn’t a “mission impossible”. All you have to do is plan in advance and stick to your plan. The choice of activities for a date on a budget depends on whether it is your first date or not, your location (if you live in the mountains then a walk on the beach is hardly a cheap date idea, because the nearest beach might be hundreds or thousands of miles away), and the likes and dislikes of you and your date.

There are really a lot of ways to date on a budget and impress your date, but there are also tricky areas where you can end up looking cheap rather than savvy. For instance, to ask for a refund because you didn’t like the meal (though you actually ate it) is certainly a no-no. Using a coupon could also be regarded as cheap by some people. To most it is perfectly acceptable, but if you are not sure how your date will react, you might want to avoid coupons on a first date.

Now let’s look at some of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to date on a budget.

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1. Go the Exotic, but Cheaper, Way

Trendy restaurants are very expensive and the food they serve isn’t always top-notch. However, if both of you like Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mexican, or other ethnic food, an ethnic restaurant is the way to go. Local ethnic restaurants are typically less expensive but more exotic, so the experience will be really memorable.

2. Dine at Home

Dining at home definitely beats any restaurant. However, you need to spend time preparing the food. Of course, you can order food online, but this might be as expensive as dining out.

Additionally, if you are in the beginning of your relationship and you are still not 100% comfortable with each other, inviting your date home for dinner could be considered as a prelude to a “sleepover”, and many people of either gender will back off at such an idea this early in a relationship.

3. Go on a Picnic

If both of you love open-air activities and the weather permits, you can consider going on a picnic. You can take light food and some drinks, and that (plus your date) is all it takes to make a great picnic!

4. Parks and Beaches Are Excellent Date Locations

If a picnic sounds too time-consuming, you can always go for a walk in the park or on the beach. This is definitely a very romantic idea and chances are you will be able to remain just the two of you for a while.

5. Look for Free Events

Free events, such as art shows, wine tasting, sporting events, book promotions, etc. are a few more opportunities to explore. Usually metropolitan areas are rich in such events but even small towns do offer such attractions. The trick here is to find an event both of you like – otherwise one or both of you will be bored, and this might spoil the date.

6. Do Community Work Together

Community work helps to build not only communities, but couples as well. It’s also good for your happiness and confidence levels – giving to others really does make you feel good.

7. Honour the Happy Hour

While most of the ideas on this list are completely free, a happy hour isn’t. But it is traditionally one of the easiest choices. One of the disadvantages of happy hours is that it might be crowded and if you want a quiet evening with your date, this will hardly happen.

Dating on a budget can be fun. They say that money can’t buy you happiness, and it’s true – you might spend tons of money on a date just to see it go in a disastrous direction. If you and your date are soulmates, then these cheap date ideas will be very suitable for you. If your date laughs at your suggestions because he or she dreams of something fancier, then this could be a signal that you aren’t soulmates after all…

 

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This article is by Ada, a personal finance blogger who remembers only too well how frugal living doesn’t always go down great with a date! Right nor she’s obsessed with home insurance comparison and trying to make sure everyone knows how to find a policy that works for them.

Wanna Go On a Date? 8 Cheap College Date Ideas

Single Parent Dating

College is a great time to get to know people. It is also a time when there may be a lot of courting going on. And when I mean courting, I mean going on dates. Sometimes, college students don’t want to date because they think it is too expensive. This may because they don’t want to take the effort to go out and see what there is. There are actually a lot of things to do for free―and they can be dates too. If you don’t want to spend anymore lonely Friday nights claiming that you are studying when you are really watching Japanese anime, here are 8 cheap college dates. Get your courage up and ask that special girl, or boy out for a fun Friday night!

1) Cook Together

This can be one of the best dates for college students. Often, many students don’t have time, or energy to make a proper meal. Most are dashing in and out of apartments with snacks in their hands. Planning a meal where you go shopping together can be fun―and cheap. Good meals to make can be pizzas and Italian food.

2) Picnic in the Park

You can pack up a lunch and go to a park. There are usually a lot of elementary schools around a college town. Just pick one! This can be fun because you can really get to know each other. Just don’t forget to bring a blanket, you don’t want to be sitting on wet grass!

3) Visit Local Museums

There are many local museums that offer discounted or are free for college students. This is a great way to get to know your date―and be more cultured!

4) Go on a Hike

Depending on where your college is, there are usually plenty of places to go on a hike. You could hike at night and see the town from above. Or you could make it an all day date. Just don’t forget to bring your trail mix―you’ll probably want something to snack on.

5) Culture Dates

This is where you find out what is going on in the town around you. Many college towns offer lots of activities that are free to the public. There are lots of Farmer’s markets, festivals and other activities. Just keep your eyes out for something that you find interesting.

6) Camera Shoot

You can take your little point and shoot camera, or even your phone and go around campus (or the town) taking pictures. Some people make this a group date and have a scavenger photo hunt.

7) Tandem Bikes

Tandem bikes are usually pretty inexpensive to rent. This is a fun date when the weather is nice out. You will learn team work with your partner―and you will probably enjoy some great laughs at each others expense.

8 ) Second Hand Clothing Stores

You can find clothes for each other to wear at second hand clothing stores! You can also dress each other up in funny clothes and take pictures. This is a good date for some laughs.

These cheap date ideas will ensure that you have fun with a special someone. Your wallet will also be just as happy. When it comes to cheap dates, you just have to take a little more time and creativity to come up with something to do. It allows you to be more creative, cheaper dates will allow you to get to better know your date. Stop moping around on the weekends and get yourself a date!

About the Author

Neltje Maynez is a freelance author for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers can help people to find the best online colleges to fit their needs.