Dear Sweta,
My girlfriend is always hounding me about being romantic and the other night she got really upset about it. I know she thinks I'm doing it on purpose, but the thing is I'm a college student and I don't have a lot of money.
I really want to do romantic things for her, but I don't have any good ideas that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg. What should I do?
Sincerely,
Prince Penniless
Dear Prince Penniless,
OK well first of all, don't feel so bad. A lot of couples go through a phase similar to the one you and your girlfriend are in. We're all college students and most of us don't have bank accounts equivalent to that of Bill Gates. Some of us don't even have cars on campus. So how is it possible to do something romantic for your significant other?
The answer to that question is simple. Be creative! If your girlfriend really cares about you, she doesn't want pricey gifts or a date on a private jet. She probably just wants something from the heart.
I have taken the liberty of devising a list of five romantic things for couples to do on campus for little or no money.
1. Take your significant other on a picnic by the lake.
No matter what we say about the College, everyone has to admit that the campus is really pretty. So pack up a few sandwiches (even if you have to steal them from Eickhoff) and take your significant other on a romantic picnic lunch.
2. Write your significant other a poem.
The poem doesn't have to rhyme. It doesn't even have to make sense as long as it comes from the heart. I guarantee, if you stick a poem on your girlfriend or boyfriend's door while he or she is at class, it'll brighten his or her mood. They'll think you're a romance guru, or at the very least a corny sweetheart.
3. Give your significant other a nice massage.
Everyone loves a nice backrub after a long week of studying and midterms. If you set the mood correctly with mellow music and use great smelling lotion, your girlfriend or boyfriend will think you're the greatest romantic masseuse out there. Plus, there's an added bonus - it may set the mood for more intimate endeavors.
4. Make dinner for your significant other.
I know, most of us don't have stoves or ovens and a good amount of us can't even cook. However, French bread pizza from the C-store and a nice table setting can easily make you seem like the marvelous romantic your boyfriend or girlfriend never knew you were.
5. Decorate your significant other's room with photos of the two of you.
All you need is a lot of pictures and time alone in the room while your girlfriend or boyfriend is at class. If he or she asks you why you want to hang out in his or her room during class, just say the TV show you're watching is really good and you don't want to miss any of it. Then when he or she comes back from class, you get to surprise them with your romantic creativity!
Hopefully these ideas have given you some perspective on how to be a cheap romantic!
Sweta
