This is a guest post from the blog Face and Fitness, a brand-new Yakezie Challenger site. Face & Fitness is a women’s personal finance blog. It covers health and beauty on a budget, and it’s part of the 10-Pound Challenge. Check it out!
You want to treat someone special to a fantastic Valentine’s Day – without being too tough on your wallet. Here are 10 ideas for Valentine’s Day that are budget-friendly.
#1: Show him or her that you care by making something yourself. Frame a photograph, create a sketch or a painting, or make her a beaded necklace. Lack artistic talent? Even making a simple card speaks volumes.
#2: Cook for him or her. Try cooking a classic (and cheap) romantic dish like Alfredo chicken pasta, or whip together something more exotic, like Thai red curry or homemade pizza.
#3: Plan ahead. You’ll save a bunch of money by not having to pay for rush delivery, and by not being forced to book a reservation at a more expensive restaurant because the affordable restaurant lacks any openings.
#4: Arrange a candle light dinner late in the evening. Create a distraction that gets him or her out of the house for a few hours. While he/she is gone, setup the table, clean the living and prepare an Italian romantic dinner right in your home! It may take a little effort but it’s always worth it.
#5: Lend a helping hand. Do the chores that your partner normally does, then make breakfast and serve it in bed. This gesture shows not only you love him/her, but you appreciate the work they contribute to your home.
#6: Bring lots of scented candles and surprise your partner by making a bubble bath. Enjoy a combo of a sensual bath and wine.
#7: Plan a trip to the places you went at the start of your relationship. Go back the place where you first met, or the place where you had your first date. Lose yourself in the memories of the beginning of your relationship.
#8: Rent a couple of movies that you both enjoy and laze around all day, watching rom-coms from Netflix or Redbox.
#9: Write a love letter! Putting it under her pillow or in her purse, or leave it in his sock drawer or laptop bag.
#10: Curl up on the sofa with the softest blanket you can find. Cuddling and kissing always works when you’re in a mood to do nothing else.
What are your best tips for a cheap Valentine’s Day?
13 comments
I just put together a similar Valentines’s Day on a Budget post on my blog. I love #5 and am forwarding a link to this post to the bf in hopes that he gets the hint. If not I’ll probably make him breakfast in bed. Homemade waffles with syrup, yum.
[…] Newlyweds on a Budget gives us a few tips on how to have a frugal and enjoyable Valentines Day this year. What better place to go to for advice on this topic than newlyweds who blog on personal finance! […]
[…] Newlyweds on a Budget: How to have a great Valentine’s Day on a Budget […]
When we were poorer, we rarely went out, and for months had wanted to try this new burger joint (Five Guys – it was new to us!). The burgers were delicious, and we’ve made it a tradition. The actual burger joint may change but the idea stays the same.
I try to celebrate Valentine’s Day on a different day. Its funny to see the prices of roses on Feb 15th.
[…] is showing some love to new Yakezie challenger Face and Fitness by sharing this guest post on How to have a great Valentine’s Day on Budget. Remember, everything is so much more romantic if you aren’t derailing your other […]
We’ll be dining at home, but I prepare something fancier than normal. My husband usually buys me flowers which I love.
I think we’ll go to a restaurant that we have a gift card for. Should only cost us about $20 for a $60 meal – chaching!
Awe… Now you make me want to do even more for my wife for V day. There is one thing on your list we can do… I can’t watch a movie. I get so tired that it takes 4 days to watch a 2 hour film. Not too romantic so I will think of something else. 🙂
I like these! We aren’t particularly into Valentines Day, but I’m thinking that we will use it as an excuse to cook together. Hopefully we’ll be able to figure out a way to make a pasta with Alfredo a bit healthier. Yum!
I just wrote a post on cheap Valentine’s dates today and shared that Dave & I will be using our gift cards we got from Christmas to a restaurant we love and an old-fashioned movie theater. Last year we didn’t get each other gifts and instead Dave spent a couple extra bucks to cook me a nice dinner (he never cooks) involving a rack of lamb and rosemary fingerling potatoes! Popped open a bottle of our favorite Two-Buck Chuck wine from Trader Joe’s and had a movie night. Awesome, cheap dates that are still romantic 🙂
I really like these! We’ve never gone all crazy with spending money for Valentine’s day. It’s usually low key so a lot of these ideas would be just perfect for us.
I remember when my wife and I were dating and I had no money, I would bring her a flower before we went out on our date. Can’t remember where I got the flower, but she loved them!