Finding cheap date ideas

Justyce Mirjanovic

Fun dates do not always have to cost an arm and a leg. There are plenty of fun, cheap or free things to do in Sacramento that would help one bond with their beau.

One way to get a good deal is through Groupon , which offers a variety of things in Sacramento. They offer money off for K1 Speed, the Go Kart racing places, deals on massages, different restaurants and much more.

“I have used Groupon a few times; they have some great deals,” said Stephanie Diaz, junior journalism major. “It’s super efficient and easy to print out your deals.”

Dinner and a movie are usually one of the most popular dates. If one insists on going to a movie, try the drive-ins. Every Tuesday at West Wind Drive-In, movies are only $5 and on a regular day, tickets are $7.50.

“It’s more intimate,” said freshman kinesiology major Haley Sommers. “You are either in the bed of the truck or the back of a car.”

Aside from saving money at a drive-in, people have the pleasure of bringing their own pillows and blankets to create a more comfortable setting.

Frozen yogurt is a treat one could enjoy before a movie, and a lot of theaters have frozen yogurt places nearby.

“It’s cheap and it’s fun to make your own,” said freshman kinesiology major Victoria Cox.

Instead of going to dinner before the movie, make dinner at home. Cooking at home is most likely be cheaper and can be romantic with just two people.

A picnic at the lake or river can be a very inexpensive date and Sacramento has a lot of great lakes and rivers to offer.

“The water is relaxing and it’s fun to just hang out,” Diaz said.

Stargazing may seem silly, but can actually make for a fun and relaxing night.

“You don’t even have to leave, you can just stay in your backyard,” Sommers said.

The perfect date in Sommers opinion would include stargazing in the back of a truck or going to the lake and just hanging out with the right person.

“I am not an expensive person,” Sommers said. “You have to be nice to me, but you don’t have to spoil me.”

There are plenty of restaurants that are not incredibly expensive if you feel like being fancy for a night. The Cheesecake Factory is a very popular restaurant and they have a wide variety on their menu. The prices range from about $10-$30 for a meal.

The Cheesecake Factory is Cox’s favorite place to go out to eat.

“I just love the bread and the salmon,” said Cox.

Other restaurants that are little pricey, but not outrageous would be Joe’s Crab Shack, the Spaghetti Factory, and Mikuni’s.

The Downtown Sacramento convention center features plays that could be fun for those wanting to go on a little more expensive date.

“[I] went to see a play/musical at the convention center in downtown Sac,” Diaz said. “It was a lot of fun and a good time to get to know someone.”

The perfect date to Diaz would be walking around Old Sacramento and looking at all of the different shops and unique places.

“It’s fun going to Evangeline’s and getting lost in the huge three-story costume mansion,” Diaz said. “I think that’s a date within itself.”

Sacramento offers a wide variety of fun date places for those hoping to get to know one another. With a little creativity and an open mind, a couple can find plenty of fun activities to participate in.