The summertime can be a costly season, with vacations and a new wardrobe to handle the blistering Texas heat, on top of the many other expenses college students must already deal with. So, how do we relieve some of this financial pressure off of ourselves? 

Dates. 

I’m not sure if there’s something in the pollen that makes people more eager to go on dates during the warmer months of the year, but I’ve gone on multiple dates recently — and I paid nothing. Dinners, groceries, knick-knacks for my apartment, all handed to me as if I were a princess choosing a suitor worthy of my hand in marriage. But guess what? You don’t have to give anything back.

It may sound manipulative, but it’s not like I’m asking these men to give me all these wonderful gifts. I’m simply accepting their gratitude. 

“I think it’s kind of obviously mutual,” neuroscience senior Sri Suri said. “It’s not like you’re forcing someone to take you out on a date. You’re not holding them hostage. So, I feel like it’s not as much of an ethical dilemma as people say.” 

Jorge’s list of most eligible majors 

Anyone in the STEM field. Their internship payouts are usually fabulous, but get used to AI talk. 
Business. They have the most potential after college, and they’re obsessed with showing off. 
Communication fields. Most men I’ve met here come from a high-income household. That’s why they get to study communications. 

Date prep also finds itself exhausting at times. You have to worry about a nice outfit, boring conversations about their major and maintaining this facade of interest the entire time, but the question is … would you rather spend an hour shift in retail or getting ready for a fancy dinner? 

“The date itself takes time out of your schedule,” Suri said. “You have constant communication. … I’m one of those people where it is kinda hard to text somebody back.”  

However, no free dinner is worth putting yourself at risk, and making sure that you’ll be safe throughout the situation is vital to reap the benefits of this business model. 

I’ll usually use apps like Life360 to share my location with my friends and update them regularly on how the date is going and if any changes have been made to the plans. I’ve also set up a system where I’ll make a friend call me if plans go awry, and I’ll usually say something along the lines of,  “Oh my gosh! My best friend just got dumped. I have to go!” 

You also don’t have to converse with men at death’s door to get this sort of treatment. In fact, a 2009 study found that 49% of UT students came from families earning $100,000 or more per year, according to the Texas Observer. Of course, we should be wary of different financial circumstances and realize everybody’s bank accounts look different, but if someone were offering you a free Caniac Combo? Or a free ticket to see Addison Rae — yes, that really happened to me — why not say yes?

There’s potential to become the CEO of your own financial destiny right here on the Forty Acres. Still, it’s important to set your boundaries and acknowledge that you have the power to fire anyone when they’re no longer serving in the best interest of your business.

Espinoza is a journalism and rhetoric and writing senior from Laredo, Texas.