For many of us in college, the idea of spending a lot of money on a date can make us cringe. Between all of the living expenses and school costs, being a college student isn’t cheap. That, however, shouldn’t force us to sacrifice going on fun dates. In SLO especially, there’s a lot of activities that are affordable and won’t make you miss the $40 you spent on a date the next time you go grocery shopping.
For anyone wanting to take their significant other, crush, or just your friend on a date that won’t break the bank, here are 7 ideas to explore.
- Cook at Home
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Dinner doesn’t have to mean going out and paying too much money for a meal. Cooking together at home can be a fun, more relaxed activity for a date instead. Depending on what’s for dinner, it’s generally cheaper to eat at home. A quick trip to the grocery store, a recipe, and a date are all you need for this.
- Paint Night
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Even if art isn’t your thing, it can still be a fun activity to do on a date. Any supplies you need can be found at Target with paints starting at $2, and sets of brushes and canvases ranging from $4 – $10. You can paint whatever you want, use a reference image, find a tutorial, or put on some Bob Ross for inspiration.
- Movie Night
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Movies aren’t always the cheapest activity, but most theaters offer discount days or other options for students. The Downtown Centre Cinemas has tickets for $8.50 all day on Tuesdays, as well as $10.50 tickets for students on Sundays and Thursdays. For more niche movies, the Palm Theatre downtown offers limited screenings nightly for $10.
- Star Gazing
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This can literally be done anywhere with a clear sky. To make it more special or intimate, drive somewhere more secluded for a better chance to see the stars. One place in SLO that’s perfect for this is Prefumo Canyon Road. Directly off of Los Osos Valley Road, this drive takes you atop the hills overlooking SLO, giving a perfect vantage point to watch the sun set and the stars come out. However, be careful driving at night as there is limited lights on this road, and it does narrow at some points.
- Hiking
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SLO is surrounded by great hiking spots, and it’s a perfect free date for couples that are interested in being active together. From Bishop’s Peak to Madonna to the “P” hike, these all offer well-maintained trails and great views. For those interested in hiking, scaling some trails on a date can help develop common interests or just spend some time outside together. Parking is also free at the trailheads of most of the major trails leading to these peaks.
- Go Thrifting
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Thrift stores are already the perfect place to shop if you’re trying to upgrade your style on a budget. With a date, you can just shop together, or make it a game and pick out pieces for each other. Depending on the thrift store, prices may vary, but it’s fun to set a price limit and try to build an outfit for your date just to see what you can come up with. In SLO, there are a few options for thrift stores, such as Al Thrift Store and Goodwill Central Coast. In Morro Bay there’s also Foxy’s Thrift Store, Castaways, Threads, and many more.
- Check Out a Used Bookstore
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Again, this is a way to try and find common interests to share with your date. For all the bookworms out there, it can be interesting to walk through a used book store together, talk about what you’ve read and recommend anything you might find to your date. In downtown SLO, there’s Phoenix Bookstore which offers a wide variety of books organized by genre with prices starting at under $5. Even if you aren’t interested in buying used books, it’s still interesting to browse.
No matter what your price range might be, it’s always possible to show someone a good time without having to spend an exorbitant amount of money. The most fun could be found at home or just a short drive away!