by ib

Created on: November 22, 2009   Last Updated: November 24, 2009

You're sitting in lecture theatre and sigh. Three rows down a face has turned, looked up directly at you and given you that smile that makes you're insides turn to honey. You return the gesture. You like each other, have swapped digits and you're going on a date. Ah, amore. Oh, but wait; that's right; you're a student; a realisation made very clear to you when you head to the teller to get out some cash. Crap. How the hell are you going to impress your heart's desire now? Minimum wage sucks and barely covers essentials; the strings are very, very tight but there is enough for a little bit of romance as long as you know where to find it.

Idea number one. Check out what's happening around campus. If there's a gig going on buy tickets and go to that. Usually there will be a variety of entertainment being shown every night of the week with student affordable tickets and drinks. Do not make the mistake of buying before asking; common interest will make for a rewarding but evening boredom will kill it, so check before you spend and waste your dough. Also do not go to a show that only one of you has an interest in. Its good to be supportive of individual tastes but when you're dating and especially on the first date you want to like the person first so compromise is key and if you can't agree on anything then you've just saved yourself a lot of money, time and emotional heartache.

Idea number two. Picnic. Why? Because it's one-on-one and relatively inexpensive. Winners are a BBQ chicken, a bottle of dry wine or beers, bread rolls and a tossed home-made salad, cost of the date less than $30. Location - if it's a balmy summer night go sit by the water under the stars or in a park. If it's a quiet spot with a beautiful outlook romance is sure to blossom. If you have class together discuss common topics and opinions on classmates, assignments and your lecturers. The chicken, being a little messy will provide you with the chivalrous ability to touch your partner cleaning them off, salad will please females and the alcohol will lighten the tension. If its winter, set up in an architecturally beautiful or interesting section of the University indoors - risqu, beautiful and interesting.

Idea number three. Sports bar / pub crawl. Make the night a challenge and get drunk together then dig into some junk food at the end of the date. Figure out a line of pubs to get through and make a pact to drink one beer at each. Take a camera and photograph the deterioration of the night

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