Image credit: Tim Foster
The first thing you think of when it comes to student life probably isn’t time spent in the library. When you’re fresh out of college (usually) in a new town and you’re finally an adult, you are naturally going to explore these new freedoms. It’s a time to find yourself, have adventures and plenty of fun. Embrace it. Go on dates! But – those dates can come at a heavy cost if you’re not careful. When you’re living on a tight budget, you have to ensure that your love life isn’t taking a toll on your finances.
There’s no need to put on a front when you’re still at university; others in your position know that you are working with a very limited amount of cash. Also – there’s not a lot of time to work with, between studying and holding down a part-time job. Keep it honest and find ways to enjoy yourself with a new person in your life.
These are four different ways you can cut your dating costs:
1. Date locally
If you’re going to find guys or girls near you it’s vital that you look int the right places. You can really waste a lot of time and especially money by using sites and apps that may include people from literally anywhere in the country. Find a speciality paid site that specialises in the Merseyside dating scene and avoid having to travelling to see your love interests.
2. Swap dinners for picnics
A meal out as a first date is a truly all or nothing choice. The setting brings so much added pressure to the situation. By the time that the two of you have sat down, you will already know whether there’s potential or not. Why spend £30 (or even up over £100+ if you’re really trying to impress them) on a meal with the Merseyside singles you link up with when you could eat in a much more relaxed place, and somewhere where you feel more at ease to stay around for as long as you want to. Plus – there’s no need to spend more than £20 on even the nicest picnic date. Bargain!
3. Head to free tourist attractions
There’s the Tate, Museum of Liverpool and so many other places that you can explore around Liverpool without having to get your wallet out. It just makes sense to think of places to visit that you find interesting and don’t actually have to spend a penny to gain access to. Once you have done one free date, you will question why you ever used to spend so much on trying to afford to go to places that used to break your budget.
4. Replace events with walks
A good conversation actually makes a good date. It’s so underrated, but it’s a really good way to get to know someone. Scenic walks, parks and other outdoor spaces make great settings to get familiar with someone new, and can feel like a real change to the other kinds of dates that you may have had in the past. It’s – obviously – free, and can also help you get familiar with new parts of your local area, while you get more familiar with the people you hook up with.
