Cheap Dates

Picture your dream date. Many may imagine a foreign beach at sunset. Others want something as simple as a dinner and movie. Now take this same dream date and give it a reasonable price cap—a practical reality for most Highland students.
With Valentine’s Day approaching, you may be feeling the pressure to go on a perfect date. But dates can be expensive! But don’t worry: it’s you your date really appreciates, not the material things. And cheap dates are a great way to figure out if they agree with this sentiment.
With a little bit of creativity, you can go on a top-notch date with limited cost. All dates can be seen through a basic framework of activities and food. There are many different options for activities and sustenance. Let’s get into it.
Perusing through a record store may seem somewhat of an odd choice, but it’s a solid choice. Looking through boxes and boxes of all your favorite music tangibly is a great experience. It’s a treasure trove of hidden gems and timeless classics. You don’t even need a record player to enjoy vinyl; the cover art is more than enough. If both you and your date are obsessed with music, this is a must. And looking at albums together sparks conversation about musical genres and taste.
Luckily, Salt Lake has a thriving and varied record store community—each store with its own strengths. Some of my favorites include classics like Randy’s Records on 9th and 9th, Raunch Records in Sugarhouse, and finally Diabolical Records downtown.
If music isn’t your thing, then maybe movies will suffice.
If you still remember what DVDs are, this is the time to pull them out of the dusty bin you keep them in. Going to the movies is probably the most consistent theme of a date. A fun twist on it is a movie marathon at you or your date’s house. You can both bring your favorite DVDs or stream your favorite movies. You could alternate between you and your date’s favorite movies, each listening as the other highlights their favorite aspects of the movie—something you can’t do in a theater. You might choose themes like Star Wars, genres, or just your favorite movies. And drawing on DVDs stored in each other’s homes takes away a big cost and will likely take you back to the classics. And hey, unless you’re an opposite sides of the couch kind of couple, it should be pretty great in that regard.
Another great idea is just doing something together.
One of the best ways to get to know someone is to get out of your comfort zone with them. Combined with the fact that people often bond when sharing adversity, even manufactured adversity like trying and failing at a new activity, makes trying a hobby together a great way to get to know someone, and there are plenty of cheap options out there. For example, a friend suggested Crocheting, a cheap hobby that can be shockingly fun and relaxing once you get into it. Volunteering together can be a great way to figure out if you have similar values, and it can be a great way to do something rewarding together. Volunteering options include the Utah Food Bank, Utah Humane society, and Millcreek gardens.
Food is always a safe bet.
Food Truck Hoppin’ every Tuesday and Thursday at the Gallivan Center, dozens of different mobile restaurants provide wildly different cuisines at a relatively cheap price. Food trucks aren’t usually what come to mind for a meal but like a reflection of SLC’s diverse population, they have a little bit of everything. The event opens at 11am and closes at 2 pm. If any of the options look a little on the pricey side or you’re just going for something light, San Diablo Churros is the place to go. It sells artisan churros; that’s the way to anyone’s heart. Another must-try is Makaya Craters, a cultural export of Haiti. If you’re new to Haitian food, you are far from alone. The food is well worth a leap of faith. Featuring strong spices and unique flavors, this Caribbean cuisine shouldn’t be passed up. Dabbling from a wide variety of small-served portions from food trucks provides a diverse experience and interesting cultural conversation.
Coffee shops, at least to me, have an image of a laid-back, chill atmosphere. A perfect spot to talk with your date and get some coffee. If you’re not into coffee, no problem. You can share a pastry or the several non-coffee beverages most shops have. One coffee shop to check out is Higher Ground in Millcreek. Along with great coffee, it has a cozy atmosphere and delicious paninis. Also in Millcreek is a personal favorite, Greenhouse Effect Coffee and Crepes. The shop is a hidden gem of sorts with highlights such as delicious hot cocoa and crepes to die for.
Whether or not you take any of this advice, dates are one of the main highlights of high school life, and shouldn’t be diminished just because of budgetary concerns. As Valentine’s Day fast approaches, the suggestions above could be followed, or just act to spark another idea. Dates don’t necessarily need to be a stereotypical activity; rather, the unorthodox should be encouraged. A date is not defined by the budget but by the interaction, diverse experience, and quality. And budget doesn’t necessarily buy quality.