Dating in college can be difficult for several reasons: lack of transportation, money and/or living arrangements. Nonetheless, no one wants to be cooped up indoors due to lack of funds. College Gloss is here to help with some date ideas that are not only fun, but inexpensive.

1. Amusement parks and carnivals
During the summer months, you may want to consider activities such as amusement parks, carnivals and go-cart racing. You can’t go wrong, because no matter how many times you go, it’s still tons of fun. Not only that, but these dates will allow you and your guy to do things with your friends (or a group date), as well.

2. Paintball or laser tag
For the fall and spring, activities like paintball and laser tag are a blast. They’re also great because your guy gets to see you in a different light. You can also be one of the guys sometimes.

3. Baking cookies or cooking
There are the winter months where you can’t do much outdoors. Winter is a great time to spend time baking cookies together or cooking dinner for each other. Need recipe ideas? Here are three easy meals to make on date night!

4. Rent a movie
For a casual date at home, rent movies from Redbox instead of going to the theater.

The most expensive date is definitely not always the most fun. Just getting out (or staying in sometimes) and spending quality time together is what it’s all about.

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Image: Source

Shopping may be therapy for many of us girls, but college students unfortunately can’t always afford the latest threads. Thrifting can be a fun alternative -- it definitely beats window shopping!

Thrifting is an art form; it takes patience and vision -- but it can add a chic, vintage touch to any wardrobe. When you go, you aren''t always sure what you’re looking for, so you have to stay open to different possibilities. If you’re a regular bargain hunter and hate that awful moment of running into someone with the same top you just purchased, thrifting may be worth the effort.

What to know when hitting the racks:

1. If you’re a first time thrifter, go with someone who knows the ropes. It will make the experience easier and more enjoyable. If you go by yourself the first time, you may become somewhat overwhelmed and feel bombarded by all the clothes.

2. If you live in a smaller city, there may be good finds in your area, but going to a major city may be more effective -- a larger chest means a greater treasure.

3. Keep your shopping standards high. It can be easy to get distracted by all the bold prints and pretty colors. Go in with some type of plan and budget so that you aren’t just throwing everything into your cart.

4. Get creative; the wonderful thing about thrifting is the inexpensive pricing. So, there isn’t much harm in altering your purchases to make them your own.


5. Don’t leave without checking out the accessories. They can be the difference between a “cute” outfit and a “fabulous” outfit. The retro accessories found in a thrift store are sure to make your outfit stand out.

6. For checkout, bring a reusable bag and cash as many thrift stores give out thin plastic bags and only take cash. Bringing these two items will save you a lot trouble.

7. Sanitize! You don’t know where these items have been. Be sure to keep your hands clean, whether you choose to keep a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your bag or run to the bathroom is up to you. Also, be sure to wash any garments you purchase before wearing them.

8. A great rule of thumb as a shopper in general is to give away one item once you purchase something new. This will keep your closet from overflowing.

Now that you have a new perspective on budget-friendly shopping, you can still keep next weekend’s therapeutic shopping date, but ditch the malls for a stop at your local thrift shop.

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Images: Source

In college, weekends can sometimes become a bit repetitive because of budget restraints. And thinking outside the box for new ideas can be a little tough at times. Don’t let these factors discourage you, dedicate this next weekend to switching it up and go out for dance lessons with your friends. This is inexpensive and a total change of pace from your typical Saturday.

Dance classes are an awesome calorie-burning workout for the day, cost about the same as that "Twilight" movie ticket you purchased and allow you to interact and bond with your friends.

If you aren’t sure where to begin, just follow these simple steps:

1. Search for a local dance studio. Call for details such as the hourly rate for groups and a list of classes offered. The rates are usually around $10 for a minimum group size of eight.

2. Decide which type of dance class you would like to take. There’s a variety of fun dances to choose, from salsa to ballroom.

3. Find a group of friends who are interested and figure out a transportation system. Carpooling is a convenient and cost-efficient way to make sure everyone gets there.

4. Call back. You called before for details, but you’ll want to call the dance studio back and reserve a time and date for your lessons.

It’s that simple! Dance your way through a fantastic weekend.

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Image: Source

Being in college, it’s probably been quite a while since you believed in the magic of Santa. That doesn’t mean you have to stop doing all the activities that came with the holiday season when you were younger! With so many gifts to buy, and so little money, you can’t go wrong with doing a “Secret Santa” gift exchange.

Not everyone has the same financial situation, so be considerate of others and create a price range for the gifts. In fact, you may want to sit down with those who are participating and come up with a price range together. A typical Secret Santa budget should be a maximum of $20. However, you’re not allowed to give money as a gift (that’s no fun!).

Put the names in a hat and have everyone draw one; this will ensure that there are no favorites. Once you find out who you’re gifting, don’t just blow off their gift until the last minute. Take the time to find out what they like and even create a basic theme for your gift.

When looking for your gifts, don’t look in the most expensive places first, and remember to be creative. This won’t be quite as easy as going into your favorite store and heading to a specific aisle. It requires a little time and brain power.



Going for something more personal? Make a goody basket! It’s simple, personal and not too time consuming. This gift will be warmer than the socks you get each year as “stocking stuffers.” Put all their favorite items in the basket; if they have a favorite character, get something with that character on it or do a basket in that theme. Once you’ve got the bigger items, add little things they may like.

The most important tip is to have fun! There should be no pressure with Secret Santa. After all, it’s the thought that counts!

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Image: Source

College is all about fun ... if you have the funds. As a college student, you usually always find a way to come up with the money to do what you want, but it comes at a price. You forfeit that delicious meal you were going to order or the new shoes you really wanted. Here are the five websites you need to know about to have a good time and avoid making sacrifices.

1. Textbooks

As you know, the beginning of each semester always seems to be the most stressful, especially when it comes to monetary issues. Not only are you paying tuition, but there are organization dues, new bedding and expensive books. While there may not be a solution for the dues, there is one for your books: check out Chegg. Under no circumstance is breaking the bank for books fun, but the less money you spend on your books, the more money you will have left over to contribute to yourself.

2. Travel

If you want to get away for a few days during school breaks, you’re most likely going to need a flight. Airtran U provides discounted flights for students (ages 18-22). The prices range from $69-$120. There’s one minor catch, though: these flights are standby. But Airtran U has a set of rules listed on the website to make your travels as smooth as possible, including recommended days of travel. If you prefer to have your travel plans set in stone, this may not be for you.

3. More travel

Another travel site, Priceline, is unique because you have the option to bid. You can bid on rental cars, flights and hotels. On average, hotel rooms start at a daily rate of $90 per night, but you can bid as low as you desire. Keep in mind that locations such as California or New York may result in higher prices. The worst that can happen is your offer gets declined, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

4. Fun times

You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to use Groupon. Simply subscribe to the site, and it will email you local deals and coupons as they come in. It also allows you to tailor your account to your interests. Groupon has deals on just about everything, including travel, restaurants, spas and fitness.

Tip: Also sign up to receive the latest updates and coupons from your favorite stores and restaurants. Most will send you a coupon simply for joining.

5. Daily budget

As a college student, you probably tend to forget the importance of budgeting. Yet, this is a skill that will make life easier. If you’re no good at keeping track of your finances, let Mint give you a hand. Yes, you have your banking app, but Mint allows you to keep all of your finances in one place, from loans to different banking accounts. Budgeting has never been easier.

Thanks to these helpful websites, you can truly experience affordable fun in college.

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Image: Source

With winter around the corner, you’ll surely want to heat things up with your significant other. A good way to get some pointers in the intimacy department is by hosting a passion party -- it’s free, tons of fun and far more relaxed than going into one of those stores.

If you are wondering if a passion party is for you and your friends, keep in mind the perks of hosting one. Your consultant will go through each product and show you how to use it, you won’t feel like all eyes are on you when browsing, and you’re sure to get a quality product. Don’t be afraid to ask the consultant questions because chances are, someone else is wondering the same thing. If you need to, you can also pull her aside after the presentation.

The planning takes little to no effort. First, you’ll need to make a guest list and choose a company. There are many to choose from but you’ll want a company that provides a tactful, yet fun, experience for you and your guests; passion parties are meant to be fun and informative. Once you’ve decided which company you want to use, call and book your consultant. Usually, your consultant will provide games after the presentation, so you won’t have to provide your guests with constant entertainment (one less hassle). An extra perk to hosting is that you’ll receive a “goody bag” at the end of the night.

Don’t forget to provide refreshments! This passion party is nothing more than a girls night with a new activity, so the best option is ordering a pizza and grabbing a couple of drinks. If you are feeling creative, go to the bachelorette party section of your local party store and buy cookie cutters to serve appetizers shaped like a certain male body part.

With hardly any planning, you’re guaranteed to have an epic night with your girls, and get excellent insight on your romantic life. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Image: Source

Choose a beauty company to send out one of their representatives for the scheduled date and time of your party. For a seasoned makeup consultant, you may want to look into Mary Kay because it’s completely free! But, your guests may want to bring some money if they want to purchase from the sales representative.

Another great option is to enlist the help of a friend who dabbles in the art of makeup and would be interested in gaining some experience by hosting your makeup party.

While the makeup consultant may be the main event, you still have an entire evening to entertain your guests. Create an itinerary of the activities you have lined up for you and your gal pals before and after your beauty consultant is there. You don’t have to stick to the plan verbatim, but it will give you an outline of potential activities so there is never a dry moment. Some suggestions for activities include: manicures/pedicures, games (Uno is a party favorite or Twister is always a riot) and dinner.

Refreshments are an essential (always) task for any occasion. For this event, keep it simple; order pizza and make fruity drinks (try Daily’s Cocktails, delicious, pre-made drinks). Think less mess. You can find homemade drink recipes on the company’s website, too. If you aren’t of legal drinking age, virgin drinks or soda are appropriate alternatives. To make things a bit more festive, purchase plastic margarita glasses from Party City.

One less boring, cold night to mark off your calendar. Not to mention all the compliments you’ll receive on your new makeup.

By: Kiarra Sylvester | Image: Source