For many people, Valentine’s Day presents an enormous amount of pressure to spend a lot of money. While there’s nothing wrong with indulging on this special day, lots of couples simply can’t afford to splurge on lavish dinners and expensive gifts. There are a wide variety of ways to enjoy Valentine’s Day with a loved one without breaking the bank and still having a great holiday.
Browse Flyers For Cool Tech
Going through flyers from local stores like Best Buy can be a great way to learn what you both desire. Do you have your eye on a GoPro for an upcoming trip while she wants a security system for the house? This can bring up an opportunity to discuss these things before they become arguments in the future.
Go out for drinks or dessert
Dining out for dinner is one of the most expensive ways to have a meal. Think about preparing an intimate dinner at home and then treating yourselves to cocktails or dessert at one of your favorite places. If you’re set on going out for a meal, look at breakfast and brunch deals, which tend to be cheaper than dinner. If you’re set on going out for dinner, check out deals on restaurant.com, Groupon, Living Social, and other coupon sites.
Celebrate on a different day
There is nothing that says that you have to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the day itself. As Valentine’s Day has grown in popularity over the last decade, many establishments have vastly marked up their Valentine’s Day offerings. From buying flowers to dining out, you’re almost guaranteed to save money when you do your celebrating the weekend before or after the actual holiday.
Have a movie or game night
When was the last time that you stayed in for a date instead of going out somewhere? Taking in a new movie in the theater is always fun, but nothing is quite as romantic as snuggling up on the coach with an old favorite and a big bowl of popcorn. If you’d rather do something more active, pull out a board game or fire up the PlayStation and engage in a friendly competition.
Make your own gifts
Sometimes the gifts that you make yourself are the most meaningful gifts. Making your own gift can be as simple as writing a poem for your significant other to as complex as creating a Valentine’s Day mailbox and filling it with love notes and other sentimental items. Gag gifts are also a great option. A can of silly string or a set of fake teeth will keep the two of you laughing for hours that night. Finally, Valentine’s Day can be a great excuse to buy something together that you’ll both enjoy. The gift can be practical, such as new mats for the car, or indulgent, such as a fine bottle of wine.
Relive favorite memories
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to look through old photos or treasured relics from past dates and vacations. If you don’t have a lot of printed photos, go on the computer and look through your hard drive or Flickr album. For married couples, thumbing through your professional wedding photo album or candid guest shots will make you feel as though the event just happened yesterday. You can also spend the night talking about some of your favorite memories from your dating days.
Take a walk
Use the holiday as an excuse to take a stroll through your town visiting some of your favorite sites, to check out a new neighborhood that you’ve always wanted to see, or to plan a major hike. If the weather is favorable, think about enjoying an evening walk along the beach or snuggling outside with a blanket for some stargazing in a secluded spot.
Travel locally
You don’t have to go far to feel as though you’ve gotten away from it all for a night or two. Spending the night downtown while the kids stay with grandparents gives you a chance to relax together without shelling out for a week long trip across the country. Camping is another great way to take a day off and do something that you’ll both enjoy without having to go very far or spend a lot of money. Go back to a site that you frequented during the early days of your relationship or use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to explore a new area.
Finally, remember that Valentine’s Day is not a competition. Instead of getting caught up in feeling like everyone is spending more money or doing something more lavish than you and your significant other, concentrate on making your own Valentine’s Day great for the two of you. As long as you have a great holiday, nothing else matters.