With spring days and warm weather approaching, Prom is right around the corner. But while Prom does bring a lot of fun, it also generates many expenses. There are tickets, dresses/tuxedos, flowers, and dinner to pay for, and when all is said and done, it adds up to a lot of money.

So you want to hang out with your significant other, but how can you when your wallet is about to be drained by Prom prep? Well, by following these cheap, but fun date ideas you can ensure you’ll be able to spend quality time with your date and still save money.

Jump C’ville

Jump Cville is brand new to Charlottesville. Once an old movie theater, it has been transformed into a big arena full of trampolines and foam pits. You can play basketball or dodgeball on the trampolines, or bounce of floors or walls. “I went to Jump with a group of my friends and it was a lot more fun than I expected. I left wanting to go back again soon,” said senior Shay Townsend.

The only downside to Jump is how busy it is. Make sure you make reservations and don’t just show up in case it’s full. Sometimes if you show up before your reservation and they aren’t busy, they will let you jump before your time starts. It is $8 to jump for half an hour and $12 for an hour, not expensive at all for the amount of fun you are bound to have…plus it’s a great workout.

See a Movie for Less

Going to see a movie can put a strain on your wallet, but here are a few tips to save money. First of all, don’t go to the movies at night. Seeing a “matinee” movie during the day, generally before 4:00 pm, means you’ll pay cheaper, matinee prices. Regular tickets are $11 but matinee tickets are only $9. While $2 may not seem like much of a difference, you can instead use that $2 to stop by the Dollar Store to save even more money by buying snacks. “I spent $13 on just a medium popcorn and drinks [at the movie theater],” said senior Lauren Cabrera. Instead of buying expensive movie candy or drinks, get boxes of candy and bottled water at the Dollar Store. They’re only $1 each.

If you want to go cheaper, consider renting a movie. Videos By the Lake near Food Lion near Lake Monticello charges just $5 for a two-night, new release rental. Your cheapest option? Rent one for free from the Fluvanna Public Library.

Hiking

Spring weather is the perfect hiking weather. It’s not too hot, nor is it too cold.   There are trails at Pleasant Grove and the dog park if you want to hike through the woods. But if you want to hike to a beautiful location, Humpback Rock is the place for you. Humpback Rock is located off 64 on the Blue Ridge Parkway just a few miles from the Afton Mountain exit, about an hour from Fluvanna. The hike is one mile up and one mile back. It’s not an easy hike, but the view at the top is well worth it. The top of the mountain overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and is beautiful in the spring when everything is starting to bloom, plus hiking costs nothing and is a great way to spend time together.

Picnic

Picnics are a cliche in romance movies but they are romantic, cheap, and a great way to spend time with your significant other. There are many settings in Fluvanna for a picnic. You can take a blanket to Pleasant Grove and find a nice spot in the grass. Or you can drive further down Thomas Jefferson Parkway to Pleasant Grove’s Dog Park which has many trails and picnic tables. One of the trails leads to a beach by the river, which is a beautiful spot to set up a blanket and have your picnic. You can pack a picnic basket filled with sandwiches and finger food or even get Chinese takeout. Either way, this will prove to be a fun, roma