By Melanie Stone

Dear Melanie,

What is a creative date that is also affordable?

Sincerely,

Anonymous

For this generation, dating seems to be a thing of the past. Years ago when you said you were dating someone it meant that they were taking you out, going to see movies, have dinner, play miniature golf, etc.

Today, most people associate the pre-stages of being in a relationship with “talking.” If you go home and tell your grandmother you are “talking” to a boy from your economics class, chances are she is going to think you called him for homework help. “Talking” has become this new concept that allows guys to have an easy way out when it comes to winning over a girl. Dating is no longer expected; therefore, the guy really has to make no effort (besides the occasional ‘good morning’ text).

That being said, as college students it is very hard to have a constant flow of money, and all of those dinner and movie dates can definitely add up. If you are not working, or even if you are, you are not making nearly enough money to support all of these efforts for a lucrative relationship.

There are, however, ways to go on dates without spending a million dollars. Most of the time guys pay for the dates, which is why they will usually try to avoid going on them. What they do not realize though, is that girls usually are happy with anything as long as they are with the person they care about.

In nicer weather I would suggest picnics, bike rides and hikes (here in Connecticut there are so many nature trails and places such as East Rock, West Rock, and the Sleeping Giant with beautiful views). Taking a drive to a park somewhere you can lie out a blanket and watch the stars is also very date-like with virtually no price tag.

This is the perfect time of year to spend little to no money and still have an amazing time together without just hanging out in the dorm.

There are a million surrounding neighborhoods with Christmas and holiday activities going on every weekend into late January. Hamden’s craft show at The Outer Space, and New Haven’s tree lighting ceremony in the New Haven Green are just two of the many events going on in this area that are free to attend. Bring up a calendar of events on a nearby town’s website and see what looks like something the two of you would be interested in.

The price of the date isn’t what matters. What matters is who you are with. As long as you have each other, you should be able to go for a walk around campus and have an amazing time together. Go to the Milford mall and play with the puppies in the pet shop, spend the day in the town of Milford just browsing the shops and having coffee. All that matters is that you enjoy each other’s company enough where anything can be considered a date because you have a great time no matter where you are.