Congratulations on being accepted into college and starting a new important chapter in your life. While it’s important to study and prepare for a career outside of college, that is not the only experience that college prepares you for (no matter what your dad says!).
Related Article: FAQs About College Enrollment & Finances
It’s also important to interact with others your age, experience new things, and experience dating new people. Dating in college can seem great immediately: the dating pool is huge, and many people are starting over (nobody is around to bring up your old, embarrassing moments from high school), but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come without its own financial challenges.
In college, money can be hard to come by no matter your situation. However, limited savings don’t have to cramp your style, there are ways to put yourself out there and meet new people without having to break the bank.
Time to get creative! Here are a few ideas to help you out:
1. Join a school club.
This is great for people who are looking to network with like-minded people. A college will host the clubs and provide information on the options available to you (contact your student union for info on options available to you). Some schools offer everything from local political chapters to newspapers to sports clubs. These clubs give you the chance to meet new friends who have a shared interest without romance being at the forefront.
2. Head to the library.
At many universities, the college library is the most beautiful building on campus. It can be a place to meet someone new (not a bad sign if they are working hard on their studies either!) or it can be a place where you get to spend quality time with the person you are already dating. You’ll be surprised how much both of you will enjoy that time together.
3. Go to block parties or dorm meetings.
Depending on where you live, there are often school sponsored events dedicated to helping new residents bond with one another. Your housing might not be co-ed if that's your preference, but it can be fairly easy to meet people at parties and other off-campus events. Talk to your friends and see what’s going on in the community. Remember, all you have to do is show up, be open to the experience, and you may be lucky enough to find someone you connect with.
4. Find people who share the same hobbies.
You’ll likely date someone who shares a common interest with you. If that’s the case, then there’s an opportunity for both of you to share the cost of some of these activities. For example, if you both like television and movies, you may be able to divide up your streaming subscriptions and enjoy watching what you like together. The same applies to music, books, etc.
Note: Applies to more than just hobbies, look into all the things you pay for separately (gym memberships, parking passes, etc..) and see what could be consolidated or changed to help reduce recurring costs for you both.
5. Pick up seasonal work or a part-time job.
There are plenty of jobs that offer part-time employment where part of the work environment is spending time around a lot of people. Positions like waiters, baristas, and bartending, allows you to work with many people your age, as well as interacting on a social level with others in the community. The extra cash you make while on the job doesn’t hurt either. A couple dollars earned here and there could expand your date night opportunities fairly quickly.
6. Talk to people you already know who went to different schools, you know online, friends on a gap year, or people who stayed home.
No surprise here, college students are on social media. If you are finding it hard to afford the in-person dating experience, then carry on those special connections with people online or over the phone. There's no rule saying that you have to only ever meet in person to date and connect with others. You can save up money in the meantime to plan an event for when you can have that special in-person date night.
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