Fun things to do on a college student's budget

All studying and no play makes Jane A. Student a very dull girl. But what fun activities can you engage in when you are already borrowing money to pay for school? Here are some fun times on a budget:

Board game night

Have some friends come by for a board game night. Check that shelf in the junk room at your parent's house; I'll bet you'll unearth a Scrabble box on the top shelf or a Taboo kit in the corner. Set up a tournament using 2 or 3 different games. Or, try my personal favorite, Smart Ass. While playing Smart Ass, the person to shout out the correct answer to the trivia question first wins. It's a great game, and Smart Ass has multiple trivia categories so that everyone can participate. 

Movie screening

Get all dressed up, and have your friends come over for a movie screening. Get popcorn and candy; make a real day of it. Try renting movies from the library; they often have DVDs you can borrow for free. Another great low-budget choice is Red Box or the 5 dollar bin at Walmart. Make it a themed party; watch "The Thin Man", an old black and white film, and get ready for some laughs as you lounge around in posh 1940s clothing. Have a scary movie screening and get your brother to jump out at guests during the scary part. There are many ways to make this fun. 

Video game contest

Hold a Super Mario Smash Brothers or Halo tournament. Play car racing games against one another. Pull out your old DDR pad and start playing again. Try Rock Band.

BYOB house party

Instead of gathering all of your party supplies by yourself, get each guest to bring something. Set up some of the previous activities around your house for your guests to play. Add in activities of your own.

Public art tour

New Orleans has several public art exhibits to see. Visit the NOMA website for a list of art in public places. Take a New Orleans fish tour. Go see some of the new bead poodle statues that have been popping up all over town. See if your university has an art gallery; go see what great work by your peers.

Walk in the park

Go for an old-fashioned nature hike. Look for different bird and butterfly species. Bonus: hiking is a work out, killing two birds with one stone. Read a great book underneath a nice, shady tree. 

Go on a cemetery tour

Bike through natural trails (or the urban jungle if you have no bike trails close to you.)

Play pool

Most pool halls and bars have a pool table that takes 50-75 cents per game. This a great, yet cheap option for fun. One of my favorite bars in Ruston, the Q Stick, used to have free pool every Wednesday  Check for local pool specials in your area.

Play cards

Get out UNO and Old Maid. Play poker for snacks. Play ERS--Egyptian Rats Screw. There are dozens of different card games to choose from. 

Go swimming

Most universities have a swimming pool. Ask your Residential Advisor where it is.

Campus Hide and Seek

Think you're too old to play? A great way to get oriented to a new college campus is to play campus hide and seek. Get a big group together to play, and set parameters (no going inside buildings; main campus only; etc.) It is more fun to play at night when its easier to hide. Get some seniors to play and have them partner with freshman and transfer students. 

Throw a potluck dinner

Have each person contribute a dish, and dinner is served at a reasonable price! Don't have a kitchen to cook it in? I bet your dorm does. Ask your RA where it is.

Dress up

In college, I never get to dress up anymore. Sometimes I dress up just to do it. Get out your old prom dress and get ready for a formal night out with your friends. Do your nails and hair together.

I hope this list helps you get started. Cheers!