We’re all looking for entertaining things to do with our sweethearts, even if we are broke students or grads trying to pay off school loans.

It can be hard to impress the opposite sex on a night out given our limited resources, but worry not, fellow fiscally-challenged friends! Here are a few wallet-friendly date ideas that are sure to impress your sweetie.

House party

Being the young, fun and social LAUNCH reader you are, I’m pretty sure that you or someone you know is privy to a house party being thrown somewhere. This is a great way to hang out with a group and cut out the stress of constantly trying to come up with the right conversation starters.

House parties have nearly zero costs attached to them, but I’d recommend bringing a bottle of wine to impress both your host and your date. A word of caution: make sure that the party you choose doesn’t involve keg stands, Sex and the City-themed cocktail tastings, or any extended family members of the host over the age of 30 (you wouldn’t want to find yourself at Nan’s 75^th birthday party).

Cost: $12-$20 for a bottle of wine

New music night

Local venues will often hold “new music nights” showcasing up-and-coming bands or artists for free. Check out different bars and clubs in your area and find out when the next new music night is.

Venues are often small and if you pick a night when the artists being featured have a good following, you could end up getting cozy with your date in a very confined space! At the very least, you’ll be getting a free concert and you may also discover your favourite new band in the process.

Cost: $12-$20 for drinks

Outdoor ice skating

What better way to break the ice on a first date than by meeting it dead on with your rear end? Ice skating is fun even if you’re no pro – plus, it’s a cheeky way to grab onto your date if you’re no Battle of the Blades star.

Scope out pubs or coffee shops nearby with a fireplace, so you can warm up with a nice hot toddy afterwards and laugh about the evening’s mishaps featuring your less-than-graceful moments.

Cost: $5-$15 for coffee or drinks

Furniture assembly

Since most of us love to furnish our rooms with assemble-it-yourself items, what better way to spend an afternoon than working with your special someone to build that bookshelf? It’s actually a tricky little tactic you can use if you’re just a bit too shy to come right out and ask for a date.

If the offer sounds less than enticing, you can always promise a meal at the end of the endeavour. Nothing says “thank you” like a huge bowl of pho noodles and a cup of Vietnamese coffee!

Cost: $20-$30 for lunch (not including the cost of the furniture)

Markets

Vintage, clothing, food, farmers’… there are tons of markets to choose from! Think about what you and your honey are into and shop accordingly. Local markets are green, too! Support your local merchants while also keeping a healthy handle on your bank account.

There’s also ample opportunity for people-watching (a personal favourite pastime!), which leads to loads of conversation. You’re bound to end up with something you didn’t know you needed, and most likely another date!

Cost: Varies depending on how much shopping you do