Valentine’s Day can be an expensive time, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of swoon-worthy things to do on a college budget.
First dates are already hard enough. You add the pressure of Valentine’s Day on top of that, and you’re left with a fiasco that will be as expensive as it is romantic. However, if you play your cards right, you can plan a date that will be as affordable as it is adorable. Whether it be staying at home, walking distance or a bit of a drive, there are plenty of date options around town.
You can celebrate Valentine’s Day without even leaving the house. Lily Calvert, junior human communication major, says she gets a lot of her date ideas from Instagram.
“One of my favorite things to do is snacks from movies,” Calvert said. “You pick a movie and then you make snacks or food from that movie, and that doesn’t have to be super expensive. Take ‘Ponyo,’ for example. [My partner and I] made ramen and ham sandwiches and the milk drink that she drinks. None of that was particularly expensive, but it was so much fun.”
You can also get out of the house without even getting in a car. Liberty Mata, junior English and human communication double-major, said that she recommends walking along the strip of West Olmos, which is about a 20-minute walk from campus.
“It can be a fun little cafe/restaurant/thrifting date … and it’s super close to campus,” Mata said. “There’s a roundabout near Pho Kim Long, a relatively affordable lunch spot, and there’s also a bunch of coffee shops around there. The main thing I like about that street is Buffalo Exchange. It’s a great trio for a lunch-latte-thrifting date. It’s so accessible.”
If you’re looking for a little bit of a drive, it is still possible to dress up and save some money. Kiara Fernando, junior human resource management major, says that her favorite cheap date is Barbaro, a pizza restaurant off of McCullough Avenue.
“After 10 p.m. the four, five and six dollar slices that they have plus their half-price cocktails are really nice,” Fernando said. “It’s really nice if you had a good lunch and you’re looking for a late night snack. And the ambience is nice so you can dress nice, but it’s not going to be super expensive.”
If you are looking to get even further from campus, Fernando also recommended Piranha Izakaya, a ramen restaurant located in the Alamo Quarry Market. Like Barbaro, Fernando says the restaurant has plenty of specials.
Lily Calvert also had a ramen recommendation, saying that she really enjoys Ito Ramen. This spot is the furthest away from campus, clocking a 20 minute drive, but just like Piranha Izakaya, the ramen won’t break your wallet.
“I go there a lot with my boyfriend. I think it’s really cute,” Calvert said. “You can share ramen, and they also have some good appetizers and things like that.”
A Valentine’s Day date does not have to break the bank to be good. Capitalize on specials, get creative and most importantly don’t spend money you don’t have.
