Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and if you are like me, you like to celebrate friendships and of course love. Even though you can express your love and affection to your friends and loved ones any time of the year, Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to make them feel extra special. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to make the day a special one. In fact, sometimes the best gift is the gift of your time and attention. Here are some tips for a frugal Valentine’s Day that won’t break the bank.
- Bake your own sweets- According to the National Retail Federation, candy is the #1 Valentine’s Day gift. Who doesn’t love sweets, huh? Instead of buying candy, you can bake your own cookies, cupcakes, macaroons, or even a cake to celebrate with the whole family. Baking your own sweets makes the gift more personal. I love baking! So I’m going to be making some shortbread cookies with red & white colored sprinkles this year. Yum!
- Home cooked meal- Let’s face it, eating out these days might get a little pricey. Cook up a light dinner, and enjoy the day outdoors if you can. For us who can’t because of the weather, indoors shall do! The important thing here is that you are spending time together.
- DIY- Pinterest is full of great ideas on fun Valentine’s Day gifts. So get your creative juices flowing! Create a poster board using candy bars, a picture frame, a candy box, a bookmark, or write a love letter. They are so many ideas, I’m pretty sure you will find something that will brighten up your loved ones day.
- Music for the soul– Create a playlist of your favorite songs and upload it to your device or burn them on a CD! It is sure to bring back lots of great memories. A couple of years ago, my spouse created a mix tape of our favorite songs. It was so special.
- Movie night– Watch a movie at home. If you are a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscriber, you can check out the hundreds of movies that they have available. Another option is renting a movie via Red Box for $1.50 – $2.00 (make sure you check out if they are any free movie coupon codes that you can use). Add some fresh popcorn, candy, sit back and enjoy the night.
- Greeting cards and balloons– Greeting cards are one of the top gifts given on Valentine’s Day. I am one of those people who likes handing out Valentine’s Day cards to my loved ones. One thing that I’ve learned is that you can get a great deal at the dollar store. There you can find greeting cards priced at $.50 – $1 each. That’s a great price if you ask me. Also, you can find a variety of helium filled balloons priced at $1. I’ve made a balloon bouquet for less than $5!
- Flowers?- Let’s face it, flowers are gorgeous and all, but they have a short shelf life. Instead of buying a dozen roses, opt towards purchasing a single rose. This is a budget friendly option and you can purchase them at your local grocery store. To me, a single rose says “I Love You” way more than a dozen of them. If you are a bouquet kind of person, you can find them for less than $6 at some stores (like Trader Joe’s and Aldi), just make sure to do your homework.
Here’s an interesting infographic published by Forbes on Valentine’s Day commercialism.
Independently of how you decide to celebrate Valentine’s Day, the most important thing is that you enjoy the day and don’t stress financially. Keep in mind that to show your love you don’t have to wait for it to be February 14th, it should be expressed every day of the year. So let’s show our affection for our loved ones each and every day! The best gift of all is the gift of our time and the memories we create. Happy Valentine’s Day!
How do you plan spending Valentine’s Day? Share it in the comments!
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