Happy St. Valentine’s Day Everyone!!
Being Single I’m not into the whole Valentine’s Day thing (although maybe one day when I’m NOT single that will change). I do love all chick flicks so I don’t TOTALLY hate the idea. I however don’t have a lot of tips on how to save money on dates/on valentine’s day other than wait until February 15th and buy tons of CHEAP CHOCOLATE!! So when Emmy contacted me about writing a guest post on Saving Money on Valentine’s Day I was very excited for her to write this guest post since I don’t have a lot experience in this area.
*Disclaimer: some of these ideas are only appropriate for married couples :)*
How to Save Money on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is a huge occasion not only for couples, but also for retailers. The weeks leading to it and the day itself are the most crucial to people’s wallets. As soon February kicks in, prices on love-related merchandise just seem to inflate.
Valentine’s Day is about making your loved one feel special but it doesn’t mean blowing one month’s worth of paycheck on roses and expensive chocolates. There are many ways to express your love without spending a fortune.
Relive your first date.
Do you still remember your first date? Your palms were clammy and at the same time, you were giddy with excitement. It didn’t matter that your date was set in a dingy burger joint—all that mattered was that you were together. Why not recreate that day and have fun recalling the awkward but sweet moments you had? Block a few hours on your calendar and take a short trip to the place where everything started.
Write love notes.
E-mail and SMS may have killed the romance of letters and poetry. Bring back the amorous gesture of handwritten notes by placing a few throughout your home—on the bathroom mirror, refrigerator door, or computer monitor. For a nice surprise, you can also tuck it inside their lunch bag.
Serve breakfast in bed.
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t start and end on February 14th. Make any day a romantic one by serving breakfast in bed. Note that you have to get up extra early to do this. But that wide smile on your sweetheart’s face? Totally worth it.
Cook for your loved one.
Dinner at fancy restaurants on Valentine’s Day will cost you an arm and a leg. Whip out your own special menu and surprise your significant other with a freshly made home-cooked meal. Include your partner’s favorite dish to make the dining experience exquisite. Prepare everything ahead of time so that you still have time to cleanup. You don’t want to smell like grilled steak when your darling gets home, do you?
Spend a romantic evening in the tub.
Nothing ruins a romantic night at home faster than stress. To melt the tensions of the day away, prepare a bubble bath complete with all the works. Light some scented candles, pour your sweetheart a glass of his or her favorite champagne, and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Give IOU cards.
IOU cards are thoughtful gestures that show you truly appreciate everything your beloved does to make life better. IOU cards can be about anything under the sun—for doing the dishes, washing the laundry, or cleaning the car. You can design your own cards or download a template from the Internet.
Retailers rake in thousands of dollars in profits from couples who spend a chunk of their income on Valentine’s Day. Keep your spending to a minimum without disappointing that special someone by coming up with creative ideas to celebrate your love.
Bio: Emmy is a wife, mom, and freelance writer for Discount Catholic Products. She and her husband plans to celebrate the season of hearts by having a Valentine-theme dinner at home with their beautiful twin daughters.
I missed this! Such a cute post with some good ideas!
Mandi @ Catholic Newlywed recently posted…Baby on a Budget: Stocking Up
Thanks! I thought she did a great job also! Sometimes I think things like this are better than buying people $100 gifts that will sit in a closet for months.