Romantic dates at good rates
Between the dozen long-stem roses, the rich chocolate assortment in a heart-shaped box and the romantic table for two at a fine restaurant, the "traditional" Valentine's Day can leave the wallet feeling pretty empty at the end of the night.\nBut for couples on a tighter spending budget, Valentine's Day requires a touch of spending savvy.\nSophomore Laura Hensley managed to get all the necessities for a Valentine's dinner at minimal cost. With ingredients purchased at the Willkie C-store, the use of her friend's hot pot and a heart full of love, Hensley will make dinner consisting of pasta, salad and a no-bake Jello cheesecake for her fiancée of one and a half years inside her Ashton dorm.\n"It's a nice excuse for us to do something romantic," Hensley said. "And it doesn't have to be about the money."\nHensley purchased the cake mix, a heart shaped tin in which to bake it and salad at Kroger and the ingredients for the pasta at the C-store. Not including what she purchased with her meal points, Hensley got away for less than $10.\nAlthough all students might not be as resourceful as Hensley, some Bloomington businesses are offering pleasant Valentine's Day experiences at low prices.