10 Tips for a Fun and Frugal Valentine’s Day

Here's a topic that seemed appropriate for this week. MSNBC lists 10 tips for a fun and frugal Valentine’s Day. My favorites:

1. Get creative when it comes to dinner. You really don’t have to spend $85 to $250 on a romantic dinner at a restaurant. Why not have a nice candlelit dinner at home?

3. Play hooky. If you’ve racked up some vacation time, or if your employer allows you to take personal days from time to time, why not see if you can take the day off together on Thursday?

5. Seek out some silence. You could wander through libraries and bookstores with coffee shops that encourage browsing.

7. Give thoughtful gifts. Can you think of something different that might mean a whole lot more — and maybe even cost a whole lot less?

8. Reflect on that flower purchase. Everyone opts for roses at this time of year, but there are plenty of other gorgeous and neglected (i.e., less expensive) flower varieties to choose from.

9. Write down how you feel. Using a package of inexpensive Valentines from the drug store or grocery store — or, for that matter, any kind of paper — you could write out dozens of reasons why you love your mate. Leave the messages all over the house, in both noticeable and hidden-away places.

We're not big "it has to happen on the exact day" sort of people, so we'll be going out to a nice dinner on February 22 to celebrate Valentine's Day. It will be less crowded and we'll be able to enjoy the evening while also using a gift card we got for Christmas to pay for the entire meal.

In addition, we save money on Valentine's Day cards for our extended family by having our kids make them. My parents and others simply LOVE these cards and our kids like making them, so we save $2.50 or so per card using this method.

Anyone out there have any other ideas for saving money on Valentine's Day?

Comments

[Anitra]

We have several other commitments on Thursdays, so we probably won't even see each other until 9pm. So, we'll celebrate on Monday instead (we both get President's Day as a holiday from work). We plan on going to our favorite restaurant (probably for a leisurely lunch instead of dinner), and we'll also be using a gift certificate we've been saving since Christmas.

[claymeadow]

not sure about you but across the street from our very expensive florist is a discount supermarket, aldis. in the weekly flier they have $3 half-dozen roses. checked it out last night and was pleased with merchandise.

[Beyond Paycheck to Paycheck]

Talking to each other. It costs absolutely nothing, is (unfortunately) a change of pace, requires advance planning and commitment, and reminds you why you're with who you're with. Bonus points from sitting next to one another holding hands.