With the upcoming Valentine's holiday in our sights, everyone wants to do something special and exciting for the ones they love. As college students, sometimes it's hard to find that perfect something that is romantic, enjoyable, and affordable. Since we know you spent all your money on books this quarter, here is a list of some fun, creative, and inexpensive dates that will make your loved one smile. Some ideas are traditional and some are unique; have fun with whatever you choose. Feel free to add your own little flare into the plans; these are just some fun things to get you started.

1) Hold a progressive dinner with other couples. Food is enjoyable and it brings people together. You can enjoy the meal but only have to cook one of the courses.

2) Take one roll of pennies each, go to a fountain and take turns throwing the pennies in and making wishes out loud. You might learn something about your other half that you never knew.

3) Bake some cookies but make it interesting. Set up a scavenger hunt and go find the ingredients for the cookies. Then, after baking, sit down and enjoy each other's company while munching on a nice warm cookie and drinking a cool glass of milk.

4) If it happens to be windy this Valentines day, take your loved one to the park and fly some kites. Since it's windy and most likely cold, this gives you guys an opportunity to put your arm around your girl.

5) Go ice blocking. This is where you go to the store, buy a block of ice, find a grassy hill and slide down the hill on the block of ice. The two could share a block to save money, or buy two and race each other to the bottom of the hill.

6) Go to 'Fantasia' and play a couple rounds of mini golf or laser tag. This is even a good idea for a group of friends who all want to and out on Valentines Day. Get a big group and divide into teams.

7) Find a nice place to lay a blanket out and star gaze for a while. Bring some hot tea or coco and map of the constellations and if you really want to get into it, surprise your girlfriend or boyfriend with a star named after them.

8) Go for a drive in the afternoon up to the mountains and take photographs of the snow or simply take a walk when you get up there and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the wonderful company.

9) Surprise your sweetie in the morning with their favorite breakfast in bed or a festive one that consists of heart shaped pancakes and a nice cup of coffee. Also you could give them a homemade card made personally for them.

10) Go to a dance class at a community center or somewhere nearby. Later on put the moves you both learned to the test and take each other out for drinks and then move onto the dance floor.

11) Buy a disposable camera at a local drug store, take the day and go out to take pictures together all over, at the beach, next to your car, where your first kiss was, anywhere. Use all the photos and then take the camera to a one-hour photo. While they are being developed, find a photo album you both like and then, once the photos are done, take them home and make a memory book of Valentines Day. If you want, you can develop doubles and then make one book for each.

12) Go ice-skating together. This is a romantic date because the couple gets to hold hands while skating. After enjoying that, go home and make some cocoa and cuddle.

13) Have a romantic Italian dinner at home. Get all the ingredients and make a pizza together; have it be a smiling pepperoni pizza because you are just so happy to be spending Valentines Day with your loved one.

14) Go cosmic bowling. Be sure to wear white in case they turn on some black lights.

15) Have a board game night. If you don't have many, go to the thrift store with your sweetie and pick out all your favorites. Then they will also be there for the next rainy day.

16) Set up a scavenger hunt for the other person and have the prize at the end be a picnic with their favorite food, or a dinner on a boat or a present from you.

17) If both of you are outgoing and want to be more so, dress up and find somewhere to sing karaoke.

18) You and your date can have a night inside. Everyone loves sweets and one thing almost everyone enjoys is ice cream. Rent a favorite movie or a new comedy and make some ice cream. Milk, sugar, vanilla and lots of ice are the items needed to make this tasty treat.

19) Look in the couch cushions and in your car for some spare change and take your date out to the arcade. Laugh, talk, and improve your gaming skills together.

20) Go to downtown Seattle and find a restaurant that serves a style of food that neither one of you have had before. Take delight in both the charming sight that one can experience in Seattle and in the delicious food.

These are just some fun and creative ideas to get you started on what to surprise your honey with on Valentines Day.

Helpful Tips

Here are some tips for the one organizing the date.

Be sure to plan ahead. It's always embarrassing as well as disappointing when a good date ideas doesn't work because of faulty planning.

Ask for your date's advice. If they have a bad ankle then going ice-skating on a surprise date won't be very fun for them, but you can be subtle when asking.

Devote some time to planning this date. Don't just slap something together. If your date can tell that you put time and effort into the activity, they will enjoy it, and your company, all the more.

And lastly, be yourself. Add a little bit of your personality into the date; it might be strange, funky, romantic or adventurous but as long as you take it and make it into your own then both you and your date will have an excellent time.