My favorite thing to do is to curl up on my couch, drink tea and watch re-runs of Sex and the City. If you’re not familiar with this show, it’s about a columnist named Carrie Bradshaw who would write about relationships and navigating through New York City, one sale at a time.

If Carrie Bradshaw was a real person and a broke college student today, I think her relationship advice would look a lot like this. If there’s a special guy or gal in your life that you’ve been dying to take on a date, get ready to text them because here are:

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10 Affordable First Dates in New York City

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1. Go to the Brooklyn Bridge | Free

Oh em gee, remember when Steve and Miranda reunited on the Brooklyn Bridge and totally embraced and loved each other forever!? Oh wait. To those who haven’t watched the Sex and the City movie, you have no clue what I’m talking about. The Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn, is the perfect cute spot. You can see all the padlocks that couples left on the bridge with their names engraved. If you think that’s too romantic for a first date, no worries. The view of Manhattan is breathtaking. Take it slow and just walk with your date and enjoy the view.

2. Picnic in Central Park | Free

Nothing says “I want to get to know you” quite like a bunch of ants crawling up your legs, trying to steal your sandwich. I’m kidding. A picnic in Central Park is the perfect opportunity to truly get to know your date, people-watch and enjoy nature. Forget Netflix and chill. Try picnic and chill.

3. The Bronx Zoo | Free (only on Wednesdays)

First dates can be awkward. The solution? Cute animals. Although a donation is suggested, you can waltz right into this humongous zoo (it’s over 260 acres) for free on Wednesdays and look at the 4,000+ animals. Penguins are guaranteed to get you a second date.

Trust me.

4. Late Night TV Show Tapings | Free

How cool would you be if you told someone you and your date were hanging out with Jimmy Fallon on your first date?! It’s totally possible in Manhattan. You just stand in line the night of the show or register online to be part of the audience. If that’s not a memorable first date, I don’t know what is.

Ma, look! I’m on TV!

5. Go to a Museum | $10 (a TUN student discount)

New York has as many museums as it has broke college students. I kid you not. Not only do you have a huge variety to choose from, but if you use your student ID, you can get admission tickets for as low as 10 bucks! Need help choosing? Head on over to TUN and click the “Arts & Entertainment” category to see a whole bunch of museums that provide stellar discounts. 

BONUS- Here’s a pick up line to use on your boo at a museum:

“We might be surrounded by all this art but you’re the most beautiful thing I see.”

Okay…maybe you shouldn’t use that.

Corniness at that level usually doesn’t get you a second date. Yikes.

6. Go to a Comedy Show | $10 (a TUN student discount)

The best thing you can do is make your date laugh. If you’re not funny enough to do that, take your date to a comedy show. The Magnet Theatre on 254 W 29th St. is the perfect spot for that. For only 10 dollars, you and your date can enjoy a whole night of knee-slapping comedy sketches. Plus, to all you 21 and older kids, they have a bar.

That’s all you really need right?

7. Go to a Jazz Club | $10-$12.50 (a TUN student discount)

Music brings people together. Where else can you find raw talent, good food and impeccable wine than a jazz club in Manhattan? People pay big bucks to see these performances but as a student, you pay less than $13. Iridium Jazz Club student tickets are only $12.50 and Smalls Jazz Club student tickets are $10. Live like a fancy person on a broke college student’s budget.

It will totally impress your date.

8. Grab Some Sushi | Less than $15 (a TUN student discount)

Everyone loves sushi. It’s a scientific fact proved by Bill Nye the Science Guy himself. What’s so special about going on a date to a sushi place? Chopsticks. If your date doesn’t know how to use them, teach him/her! Believe or not, it’s a totally smooth trick. Plus, sushi is like soooooo good. The amount of student discounts on sushi you can find on TUN is endless. Stop by Aki Sushi, Oishi Bay Sushi, Toto Sushi, Beyond Sushi or more to enjoy a 10% student discount.

9. Go to Show (Off or on Broadway) | $27-$29 (a TUN student discount)

The best way to bond with your date is to hear one of the 6 merry murderesses of the Cook County jail talk about how her deceased husband ran into her knife…he ran into her knife 10 times! Okay…maybe Chicago isn’t the best show to go see but a show where tickets are less than $30 is. If you scroll through TUN discounts, you will see that the August Wilson Theatre and Barrow Street Theatre offer student rush tickets. You can see Jersey Boys at August Wilson and The Effect begins at Barrow Street on March 2nd.

10. Madame Tussauds | $33 (a TUN student discount)

Make your date feel like a superstar by mingling with superstars…or, well, their wax figures at least. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Times Square is the perfect place to take selfies with Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston and Johnny Depp (swoon) and show off your celebrity knowledge. With your student ID, admission is only $33.

Now that you have 10 awesome date ideas for $33 or less, pick up your phone and call that special someone. Whoever said Paris is the city of love has clearly never been to New York.

XOXO the modern day Carrie Bradshawee