Whether you’re going out on a questionable blind college date, or taking out your girlfriend/boyfriend of five years, thinking outside the box can save you money and prove to be more entertaining than an expensive dinner. The purpose of college dating is to get to know one another, or to simply spend quality time with one another. Why spend $50+ to do that? Here are some great ideas for dating in college that won’t break your budget:
1. Go To A Wine Tasting
You may not realize it, but all wine does not come in a box. Of course, we’re kidding; however, most of us have a lot to learn about wine, so why not have an educational college date? Wine tastings are great because they provide a casual atmosphere, and a continual topic of conversation. If you do your homework, you might even be able to impress your date with a few interesting facts. Plus, you can spend as much or as little as you want on this college date.
2. Attend Campus Events
The college living experience is a goldmine of interesting and talented people. College dating is the perfect time to take advantage of this. Go to a baseball game, see the drama club’s version of Romeo and Juliet, check out a student art show, or attend a talk on the Communist influence in Western Europe. There are plenty of opportunities, almost on a nightly basis, for fun and interesting events you can attend for a great college date. Check the student paper, the Union bulletin board, or the campus website.
3. Go Out For A Cup Of Coffee
This is one of the best ideas for college student dating, as well as one of the cheapest. How many times have you met someone, decided to go on a college date, and found yourself counting the seconds to the first appropriate moment to leave? Well, no more! Start things off with a cup of coffee at your local café. This gives you a chance to test the waters before diving in. Instead of being nailed down for an entire dinner, you can “spill” your coffee and say you have to run. Best part about this college dating idea? You can spend $5 instead of $50 to find out if you like the person.
4. Volunteer Together
You don’t have to join the Peace Corps to pull this college date off. Spend an afternoon mentoring a child, serving at a food kitchen, or making something for a charity event. This college date might even fulfill a class requirement, or an extra credit opportunity. Volunteering your time is a unique way to get to know someone on a very different level.
5. Go Out To Breakfast Or Brunch
This runs along the same lines as the coffee date. It’s a great, non-assuming idea for dating in college, and generally costs a lot less than going out to dinner. Because breakfast is typically more informal, it’s less intimidating than a dinner date as well. Have a plan in mind of something you can do afterward, if the date is going well.
6. Make Dinner
Making dinner is great for college dates. Before you freak out over the idea of creating a meal that doesn’t involve a microwave, realize that there are a ton of resources that can help. Ask a family member for a recipe, check the internet for simple ideas, or ask a local butcher for advice. If you lack confidence in your ability to follow a recipe, stick to the basics. Buy a bottle of wine, cook some pasta, light a few candles, and you’ve got yourself a cheap college date. If all else fails, admit to your date that you can’t cook and invite them over to help with the preparation.
7. Go To A Festival Or Street Fair
You may need to do a little digging to find them, but most communities host some sort of street festival every year. Filled with a plethora of original artwork, live music, and products of local agriculture, these events are great places college student dating. You’ll have a myriad of things to talk about, and you can stay for as long or short a time as you want.
8. Exercise
Why not kill two birds with one stone on college dates by getting workout in while getting to know your date. We’re not talking about running a marathon or lining up on the goal line for wind sprints. Keep it simple. Go on a jog through a nice neighborhood. Take a bike ride near a scenic river. Rollerblade through a paved trail in a nearby forest. This will cost you, at most, a minimal equipment rental fee and makes for a great college date.
9. Check Out A Museum In The Area
You keep saying you’re going to go, but never get around to it. Why not share the experience with someone, and create a cheap college date? Museums typically only cost a few bucks (using your college ID of course) and are usually pretty interesting. This is an especially good option if you don’t know your date very well and are worried about finding things to talk about while dating in college. Museums have lots of conversation starters down every hall.
10. Find A Good House Party
College parties aren’t just for exhibiting your questionable dance moves… they’re also great for getting to know someone. When dating in college, you should probably try to steer clear of a really wild party, in favor of something a little tamer; however, either one provides a good opportunity to get to know someone. It’s also a great way to meet each others friends, and may be less intimidating than going on a one-on-one college date.