Dating in college isn’t exactly easy. If you’re on a budget like most of your fellow students, you’re probably having trouble feeding yourself, let alone coming up with the funds to do something super romantic. There are still a few options out there that won’t break the bank, but it’s important to consider all the possible outcomes before you decide which one to go with.
1) Dinner: A Home Cooked Meal
It could be a personal, touching gesture, but that depends on your cooking skills and what you have available.
How it could go wrong:
If you’re still living in a typical dorm, this could go wrong, very quickly. Toaster ovens, hot plates, even a trusty George Foreman grill are all banned. Your options are either risking a fire or code violation (do not do this) or microwaving up something tasty (don’t do this either).
How it could go right:
This could go well if you have your own kitchen or a generous friend who let’s you use theirs for your prep. You can also utilize the 14 frugal recipes posted by Wise Bread to keep it budget-friendly. Your date could appreciate the effort you put into making a home-cooked meal for the two of you, especially if most of your meals have been cereal and PB&J. Even if you can only manage to cook spaghetti, one of those adorable moments in the kitchen where you raise the wooden spoon to your date’s lips so they can taste it will be a sickeningly sweet memory the two of you can cherish. Yum, Ragù. You can tell it’s fancy because it has an accent in the name, right?
2) The Movies: Fifty Shades of Grey
Although ticket prices keep climbing, student discounts tend to keep movies passes relatively affordable. If you’re trying to decide which film to see, Fifty Shades certainly isn’t your typical rom-com, date-night movie.
How it could go wrong:
You’d have to be an idiot not to know that this movie is going to be pretty sexually explicit. You may want to avoid it if you’re not experiencing an established, open, and adventurous sex life together or you’re not both comfortable watching explicit things together. If you don’t meet both of those criteria actually, you could send your date running for the hills.
How it could go right:
Watching something spicy before heading home could lead to one of your most memorable nights together yet. Better still it could inspire you both to try out some of the toys modeled after those used in the books. Adam & Eve points to the fact that a number of toys have been created featuring the franchise’s namesake, including Fifty Shades-themed condoms and scented candles, spanking rulers, and bondage cuffs.
3) Gifts: Chocolates and Flowers
They’re the classics. The go-to gifts. But they’re not much in the way to creativity.
How it could go wrong:
Let’s be honest, although any gesture is appreciated, this is probably the least personal gift you could give someone, which makes your delivery all the more important. As long as you don’t just plop them down on the table and immediately head to the couch to watch TV, you should be fine. Add a card with a nice message (make one if you have to) and spend some quality time together, and you should be just fine.
How it could go right:
Be upfront that you don’t have a lot to spend on extra surprises for your special someone. Being open about it shows you’re willing, and eager, to create an honest relationship with your date—characteristics that most will appreciate. After explaining your circumstances, even a small gift will seem more meaningful and sentimental. Also, as the Frisky explained, “Flowers announce: out of sight, still in my mind and heart.” They’re a visual representation that shows your date was on your mind, as well as one that will keep you on their mind each time they look at their bouquet. You don’t have to clean out your bank account to make your date feel loved. Instead of begging mom and dad for money, just remember that the effort is always more important than the price tag.
