Inexpensive Dating Ideas For College Students

By Elana Goodwin on August 28, 2014

This article is brought to you by CORT, a subsidiary of Berkshire-Hathaway and the world’s largest furniture rental and relocation services company. To learn more about how we can help college students like you, click here.

Dating in college doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to the little money you have (because hey, you’re a college student and you’re broke). There are plenty of ways to make a date memorable and fun without looking like you’re being a cheapskate.

Here are some dating ideas for college students that won’t break the bank.

Photo Credit: flickr.com

Do something outside. Going to a park, taking a walk, or having a picnic are all free or very cheap date ideas as are watching the sunset or looking at the stars.

Look up parks, boardwalks, outdoor markets, and more nice places in your area to walk around outside, take in some fresh air, and people-watch.

Having a picnic takes a little preparation time beforehand but is a nice way to have a casual (and cheap!) lunch or dinner together while enjoying the great outdoors.

If you want to spend more serious time outdoors, go for a bike ride together or look into metro parks in your area and go for a hike.

Attend a sporting event. While tickets to some games, like football and basketball, cost money at many colleges, there are other teams that you can go see for free. Lacrosse, swimming, soccer, rugby and more are typically free for students to attend.

You can make going to the game a fun date by wearing team colors and packing a picnic snack to eat while you watch your school play.

Plan a movie night. Rather than going out to see a movie, stay in and have a movie marathon. Staying in is cheaper than going to a theater, plus you can pause the movie whenever you want and don’t have to tailor your reactions because there are other people watching that you don’t know.

Movie nights mean you can get comfy (pajama party!), cue up Netflix, and then flip for who gets to pick the movie first. Or you can kick it old-school and have a childhood films marathon and watch classic Disney movies with your date.

Do something seasonal. Rather than just going on the same kinds of dates year-round, plan a date that can only be done in certain seasons.

In the summer, hit the beach or local pool together for a day out in the sun. In the fall, go apple picking, on a hayride, or to a haunted house. In the winter, go ice skating, sledding, build a snowman, or have a friendly snowball fight. In the spring, take advantage of the nice, not-too-hot weather and do something physical outside.

Photo Credit: splatter.com

Go bowling. Bowling is a pretty fun and cheap date idea as renting shoes and a lane don’t cost all that much. Plus, bowling gives you a chance to get in some good-natured smack talk as well as some real conversation as you wait between turns.

You can even make this a group date by inviting another couple you’re friends with to come with. When bowling with your group, you can play couple vs. couple, and girls vs. boys for some friendly competition.

Have a study date. Dating doesn’t always mean going out and doing something; it’s also just about spending time together. Having a study date means you can do this during the week when both of you are busy with homework and classes and need to get work done but also want to be in each other’s company.

Plus, you can rope your girlfriend/boyfriend into testing you on material before a test, bounce ideas and paper topics off them, get an extra pair of eyes on your essay, etc.

Go to a concert. Most colleges across the U.S. bring artists and bands to campus and have either free concerts or discounted tickets available to students. Keep an eye out for announcements and information about upcoming events on your campus on your school activity board’s website.

Small concert venues by your university will also typically sell tickets fairly cheap, especially if you purchase them well in advance. Going to a concert is a fun date idea, especially if it’s a singer or band you’re both a fan of or one you discovered together.

Use your college I.D. Your college I.D. can help you get awesome deals at various businesses and restaurants located near your college campus as well as discounted movie tickets. Look into what establishments by your university offer specials and cheaper rates to college students and take advantage of them by planning your date at a place that won’t empty your wallet.

So when you’re planning your next date night, don’t worry about how much money you have left in your wallet or if you’re reaching your credit card limit. Use one or more of these inexpensive dating ideas for college students to have a fun night that doesn’t kill your bank account. 

Looking for a more convenient way to furnish your off-campus apartment? Rent stylish furniture from CORT and save time and money. For more information on furniture rental packages, click here.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format