Ah, February 14th, the most romantic day of the year. For some, Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love and enjoy a romantic night with their special someone, while for others, it signifies a total money grab. Gifts, chocolates, roses, a candlelight dinner for two—with so many options, it’s easy to forget what the day is truly all about.
Although it may seem impossible, you can still enjoy Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank. You can make your partner feel spoiled, special, and loved without dissolving two of your paychecks in one sitting. This is how to correctly do Valentine’s Day on a budget.
Pick 1 or 2 out of the big 3
The big three: chocolates, flowers, and dinner. If you want to spend a little something, pick one or two of those and go with that. For me, I’m lactose intolerant so I can’t eat chocolate (unless I take about 79 lactaid), and even if I took lactaid on Valentine’s Day, I’m not going to take one every single day of the week to finish a box of chocolates, so that gift would be a waste for me; in turn, my boyfriend doesn’t bother with chocolates, he sticks to roses and dinner.
Think about what your S.O likes and go from there. This day is all about being personal and thoughtful, and nothing screams thoughtful more than tuning into what your partner truly wants. I guarantee you that they will not care if they don’t get all of “the big three”, they’ll just be thankful you got something for them in the first place.
Opt for dinner at home
It’s easy to get caught up in drinks, the atmosphere, food, and conversation on a night out; and before you know it, you’ve had one too many glasses of wine and the bill has doubled. One the easiest ways you can save money is by not going out—but you don’t have to make your night in boring.
If you don’t want to cook, grab some takeout and enjoy a nice meal in the comfort of your own home in your PJ’s. You’ll save money on drinks this way, and the dinner will be much more affordable. On the other hand, if you’re a big fan of cooking, then make your partner a dinner they’ll never forget! It’s always nice to have someone cook for you. Either way, grab some wine or champagne, pick out a movie, and enjoy some good food; it’ll lead you to an unforgettable evening.
Get creative
There’s no rule book for how you should celebrate Valentine’s Day, so don’t be afraid to put your own spin on it. Creative gifts are always nice and extra special because they show your S.O just how much you care. Some creative gift ideas include:
- Scrapbook: print out all of your favorite pictures of you and your S.O and make a scrapbook out of them! Years from now, you two will be able to look back on the memories together.
- Detailed letter: I’m personally a huge fan of letters. My boyfriend and I have been writing them to each other for birthdays, holidays, and at random since the beginning of our relationship, and we’ve both kept all of them to this day. Long, thoughtful letters lay out how you really feel about your partner, and sometimes writing your thoughts down on paper helps express all of the things you’ve never said out loud. Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerability—your partner will appreciate and remember it.
- Slideshow/video compilation: Valentine’s Day 2016, my boyfriend surprised me with this video, and to this day, it’s still probably one the most thoughtful things anyone’s ever done for me. In turn, for his birthday this past year I made a slideshow for him showcasing different memories throughout our relationship (I used the Splice app), and he loved it! A slideshow or video compilation is not only super thoughtful, it highlights the best moments of your relationship and love for each other!
Have fun
At the end of the day, it’s up to you how you spend Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re single or taken, just enjoy it! Either way, it’s good to remember that you don’t need a designated night every year to show your partner how much you love them or have a romantic evening together, you can do that whenever you want.
