Let’s be honest, relationships can be extremely expensive. A lot of times we find ourselves spending a good amount of money just to keep the undying affection of our current love interest.
“Why spend all your money on a relationship, which ends, when you could spend your money on a car that won’t let you down and lasts forever?” asked one student.
Instead of being completely cynical, relationships really don’t need to make a dent in the wallet. Sometimes the most sincere, romantic things can be extremely cheap or even free. Instead of having to drive to the bank before the next big date, why not engage in an inexpensive experience that will be a lot more unique than going to the movie theater?
“My idea for a good, cheap date would be to go take a romantic walk downtown in the Elmwood and Delaware Park area,” said Matt McCarthy, a junior history major at the University at Buffalo. “We could get coffee afterwards at [Spot Coffee] on Elmwood.”
Other than taking a walk downtown, a couple get can romantic doing other things in the city, too. Regardless of whether you can ice skate, the M&T Plaza features free ice skating at the Rotary Rink on Main Street, which remains open throughout March.
“I’d love to go to an art gallery, because it’s inexpensive and there’s something romantic about art in general,” said Vera Neroni, a freshman biomedical science major.
The Albright-Knox Art Gallery is only a short drive from South Campus and displays many famous exhibits and collections. Every Friday night the gallery holds Gusto at the Gallery, a free night of events from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. With activities changing weekly, couples can listen to jazz music, watch live theater performances, discuss the newest art exhibits, or listen to poetry slams, all while not spending any cash. Since Delaware Park is so close, it would be easy to tie in a winter walk with a night at the gallery.
“It would definitely be fun to go sledding with a girl, especially since the winter is so long,” said Kyle Brenzel, a freshman civil engineering major.
If you’re looking to get a little farther out of the Buffalo area and want to indulge in some real winter fun, Chestnut Ridge, which is in the heart of Orchard Park, south of the city, offers numerous things to do. From sledding to cross country skiing, you get most of the perks of an expensive ski resort without having to spend much money at all. A lot of couples like to have winter picnics, too, which is sure to score some big points due to the cuteness factor of the idea. Throw in a winter bonfire in one of the fire pits at the park, and you’re really good to go.
“With my girlfriend, we’ve gone to some basketball games and such,” said freshman Brad Alden, a biomedical science major. “We also stay on campus and watch movies a lot.”
Staying on campus doesn’t mean you have to just sit around and do nothing, nor does it mean you have to go out to a party. The campus offers a number of free events, such as the movies played in the Student Union. It’s a great alternative to dishing out eight dollars on movie tickets at the Regal or watching old movies in your dorm room.
Movies may not be an original idea, but there’s more on campus than just that. Sporting events, like women’s swimming and men’s basketball, go on all year round and are free to UB students. For the not so athletically inclined, there are instructional art classes in the Center for the Arts, like the Student Visual Arts Organization (SVAO) open figure drawing class, which is only five dollars per person.
“What I would do is go pick up food from a fast food place—probably Wendy’s—and just drive around with my date and look at huge homes for hours. It would give us time to talk,” stated Justin Henty, a freshman media study major, “I’d pick out a large house and tell my date that that’s the house I would buy her. I might do the same at a car dealership, like Porsche, and pick out our car. It would score major points.”
For the college student with a car, taking a drive is definitely a cheap alternative. Driving around to see the city’s large, prominent homes could be extremely romantic. Jewett Parkway, which is off Main Street near Delaware Park, is lined with large, historical mansions, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. Martin house. Being in a car gives a couple time to talk, which is definitely one of the most important parts of a relationship.
“I’m a simple guy. I’d rent classic romantic movies and cook a dinner from scratch,” said Will Buck, a sophomore liberal arts major. “You don’t always need to go out all of the time, and staying home definitely saves money.”
You don’t have to be the Iron Chef to whip up a quick, gourmet meal for your significant other. FoodNetwork.com offers numerous recipes that are simple, yet elegant. If you live in a dorm and are thinking “how could I do this?” Well, there is a kitchenette in the common area of almost every dorm. So, pretend to be Emeril for one day and cook up something really special. If your cooking turns into a disaster, remember it’s the thought that counts. Pop in Casablanca or Pillow Talk, and you’re really to have a retro, romantic evening.
“My boyfriend made me a scrapbook with all of the ticket stubs and stuff from places we have been with each other,” said Fayelyn Matthews, a freshman nursing major. “Couples could always do that together.”
Feeling nostalgic? For those relationships that have been going on for a long time, scrapbooking is a special, one-of-a-kind idea. Going to A.C. Moore, in the Target plaza off of North Bailey, would be a good first stop. By putting together all of your favorite memories together in a book, couples can reminisce over the good times that they had together. An activity such as this can bring couples closer, especially those who are on the verge of breaking up.
So, don’t fret the next time your girlfriend asks you to go to Le Metro and waste $75 on a meal. Instead of saying no and sounding like a jerk, pick something creative and inexpensive to do. It’s not the amount of money that you spend on a date that counts. It’s the effort, thought, and sentiment put into the evening that does.
