Not Made Of Money

An impending Valentine’s Day can make any frugal-minded sweetheart more than a little anxious. Although you don’t want to seem like a cheapskate, you also don’t want to break the bank. How do you make your love one feel special without spending more than you can afford? By thinking out of the box when you make your holiday plans, you can plan a magical date that you and your sweetheart will enjoy.

Have a candlelit dinner at home. Imagine the typical restaurant dinner on Valentine’s Day. The restaurants are crowded, so you’re rushed through your meal. The waiters are stretched thin, so getting service is harder than normal. Neither of these factors creates an intimate feeling.

Now imagine a candlelit dinner at home. You have all the time you want to enjoy your dinner. Forget about the dishes for the night; they’ll still be there tomorrow. Finally, even the most expensive foods and drinks are more affordable when you’ve done the prep work yourself.

Leave dinner out of your plans. Consider skipping dinner altogether. If you live in a warmer climate (or the cold doesn’t bother you), go camping. What could be more romantic than a night alone under the stars? Or, if you live in a colder climate, you could spend the evening in front of the fireplace together playing games. You could even play board games with a romantic theme. How about a game of Scrabble where you are limited to “romantic” words or the board game Mystery Date?

Stay away from roses. Not every girl likes roses. A large bunch of any flower will have more visual impact than some of the sad rose bouquets that are abundant on Valentine’s Day. The demand for roses is just too high on that day for florists to adhere to their usual standards. And then, they charge way too much for them. Find your honey’s favorite flower and you’ll show her that you pay attention to her. An even better idea is to buy a plant. Now you have something that isn’t going to wither to give to your loved one.

Give a small, meaningful gift. The traditional Valentine’s Day gifts can be generic and expensive. Sure, every girl loves jewelry, but if giving her that necklace means that you won’t be able to do anything else for the rest of the month, she’s not going to enjoy her gift. Likewise, ladies, if you buy your guy that expensive watch and then stress about the cost, he’ll feel guilty.

Skip all of this angst by purchasing a personal gift. If your significant other mentioned a few months ago that he wanted to learn more about wines, you could present him with a book about wines and a couple of bottles of wine that he hasn’t tried yet. Perhaps your girlfriend told you that she was always disappointed that she didn’t get the Strawberry Shortcake valentine she wanted during her elementary school Valentine’s Day parties. Guess how sweet she’ll think you are when you give her that coveted valentine on the big day. A special Valentine’s gift doesn’t have to make sense to everyone; it just has to mean something to the two of you.

As you make your Valentine’s Day plans, pay attention to the things that matter to each of you. Sharing a special moment and knowing that your loved one notices the things that make you smile are all you really need to make this Valentine’s Day the best one yet.

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