We all know that college kids are generally poor. Personally, as a student who just blew over eighty dollars on books for one class I know the feeling of reaching into your pocket/wallet/laundry piggy bank and coming up empty. So here are a couple of ideas for ways to hang out and not spend the money you don't have. (Damn you, debit cards, and damn them credit cards all to hell.)
Wintertime opens up all kinds of inexpensive fun for the romantics at heart. Looking for a cheap date? Wait for a lovely Scranton snowfall, bundle up, and head outside with some friends or that special cutie! Making snow angels, building a snowman or reenacting that classic scene from Dumb and Dumber are great ways to hang out and not spend a dime. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, kids, and like our parents, we are not made of money.
For those of you lucky little future investors who still have a couple of bucks, why not try ice-skating? There is a rink in Pittston, one opening soon in Scranton, and of course, there's the big time in NYC. It's not too difficult, and hey, this gives you an excuse to hang on tightly to whoever is skating next to you. Throw on a few layers and get out there to try something new! If it's not a completely sweet experience, you'll surely be laughing and/or pseudo-groping your date. Good times had by all.
An inexpensive alternative to going out to eat is cooking at your dorm or apartment. Call mom, dad, or some other trusted grown-up and ask for a simple, yet stunning recipe. Then head out to your local grocer and pick up the ingredients. If you need some support, cook with other people. If not, attempt using a kitchen on your own and wow the current heartthrob with a non-caf, college kid-made meal. Pasta dishes are generally the least expensive and most foolproof (think baked ziti, pasta primavera, etc). In addition, you don't have to figure out how much to leave for a tip!
For another fun night out sans-money, think about checking out some University of Scranton sports. Basketball, hockey, soccer, or baseball—there are schedules all over campus for when our boys and girls are playing a number of different games. Have some school pride; gather a gang together and head out with some good old-fashioned competitive spirit. UofS Athletics also has all the schedules you could ever need.
We may not be known for having too much money, but college kids can be pretty damn creative. So take that power you have to make a beer-pong table out of a broken door and spend a night on the town, without spending your weekly living allowance. Having fun without going broke is possible... it just requires a little more brainpower. And hey, we're college kids—that's what we're paying for.