Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Memphis chapter.

Looking for cheap date ideas? Look no further, here’s a little advice for how to spend less.

For college students who are trying to balance social lives, jobs, and school work, keeping a well-stocked bank account can be quite difficult. It gets even more difficult when there’s a significant other that you’re trying to impress.

This is the part where some people say that girls should never pay for dates anyway, so this entire topic is irrelevant. However, this is the 21st century and that isn’t the case. At least in my opinion. Even if you do think guys should always pay, suggesting dates that are both cheap and fun will help ease some of your man’s financial strain.

Suggestion #1– Enjoy a picnic at the park of your choosing. For bonus romantic points, suggest watching the sunset together.

Picnics can be as cheap or as expensive as you want. On one of the best dates I’ve ever been on, I ate a turkey sandwich and some watermelon at Shelby Farms, then went downtown to watch the sun set over the Mississippi River. This date cost less than $10, including gas, and I’ll never forget it.

Suggestion #2– Go to the Memphis zoo, but only if it’s Tuesday.

Actually, you can go to the zoo whenever you want, but it’s free from 2 p.m. to close on Tuesdays. With all the money you or your honey will save without admission fees, you could eat a nicer dinner.

Suggestion #3- Take your significant other to the riverfront.

With multiple parks, a breathtaking view, and no admission fees, the banks of the Mississippi River provide the perfect backdrop for a date. Whether you’re aiming for romantic or athletic, you’ll have a blast.

Suggestion #4– Grab a sugary doughnut with your sweetheart.

If you’re really trying to pinch pennies but still enjoy taking your “bae” out places, Gibson’s Donuts between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. is the place for you with their half-priced donuts. For less than $5, you can enjoy six donuts and a chocolate milk to wash them down with.

Suggestion #5– Experience important American and Memphis history at the National Civil Rights Museum.

With a student id, admission is $14. That means a date here would cost a whopping $28. However, on Monday afternoons from 3 p.m. until close, Tennessee residents can visit the museum for free.

Being a broke college student can be very stressful at times, but it’s nice to know that the city of Memphis offers plenty of ways to have fun without paying a fortune.

I'm a journalism student who enjoys listening to music, drinking coffee, an attending concerts. If you've ever seen the movie Almost Famous, William is living my dream life.
Lauren Berry is a journalism major at The University of Memphis from Dallas, Texas. She's spent the past three years covering news stories from campus events to attending the Michelle Obama press conference at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Wanting a change, she joined the Her Campus team to empower women and get her voice heard. She believes that finally, she's in the right place.