Some weekends are minefields, and for lovers, this coming Valentine’s holiday is one of them. Expensive candies, flowers, dinners and trinkets can add up to a credit card hangover in a hurry. While it’s easy to think that spending more money will help you win affection from your significant other or love interest, maybe there are ways to impress that special someone without draining your wallet.
There are a few secrets to spending less money. Think about other assets to spend on your relationship than money. Consider spending time, being creative and sharing experiences. If you start with those ideas instead of just taking out your wallet, you’ll find that your hard-earned money can stay in your pocket and you’ll still express yourself without looking cheap.
Here are five great ways to make Valentine’s less expensive while maybe even making the holiday more special than if you’d overspent.
1. Create homemade cards with photos of the two of you together. Woo your Valentine by taking the time create a card that includes photos of the two of you and maybe a phrase you found online. I always throw away generic, store-bought cards without thinking about the printed message. However, if my Valentine took the time to write out a simple, heartfelt note? In that case, I’m excited and thrilled.
2. Instead of cut flowers, how about a trip to the place where the flowers grow? Hiking, walking or (if the weather is warm), a bike ride together can be a fantastic gift. Sure, there aren’t flowers in most places during winter months, but my Valentine and I used to take long winter hikes talking about our plans and dreams and enjoyed the fresh, crisp air. Here’s how to supersize the idea: Find a way to hide a picnic, special snacks or a small gift to present halfway through the hike. Too snowy? Head out sledding and pack hot chocolate. Is it warm where you live? Find a new trail or nearby town you haven’t visited to explore.
3. Bestow random acts of kindness on strangers. Here’s an idea for those of you who think Valentine’s Day is a sinister act by greeting card and chocolate companies to get us to empty our wallets: Make the day about someone else completely. Isn’t Valentine’s Day about showing love? Well then, here’s a unique idea. Enlist your special someone to help you complete helpful tasks for other people. Run errands for shut-ins. Make dinner for the family who just had a baby. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Make Valentine’s day unique by both showing the world how fun it is to help other people who are less fortunate than you. While the actual events of the day might not sound romantic at first, you’ll both be glowing with the thrill of giving back when it’s over.
4. Cook a special meal for two (or more) at home. Expensive restaurants are nice, but the thought that you worked hard on a meal goes farther and can be much less expensive and healthier. Find out your Valentine’s favorite meal, light some cheap candles, load up your iPod with romantic songs from their favorite artist and you’ve just beaten the expensive restaurant soundly. Plus, for many, there’s nothing more romantic than taking the time to cook something special that’s exactly what they wanted … even if you burn it a little. Trust me.
5. Spend the day together at home playing board games. Valentine’s Day is even special for nerds, and if your special someone is as nerdy as we are, nothing is more romantic than spending time together. While it’s not a surprise that a list I put together ends in board games, the point is to spend time together doing an activity at home that you both enjoy instead of showering each other with expensive gifts. I understand that not everyone’s a board game nerd, but at our house, spending time with just the two of us enjoying each other’s company and maybe a little Tokaido or Ticket to Ride? That’s something we don’t get to do often enough. For you, it might be reading books or watching Netflix. The point is, if you’re busy, get un-busy enough to notice that special someone.
Overall, no matter what you like to do, there are a few keys to pulling off a successful and inexpensive Valentine’s Day. While spending money might make an impression, spending richer assets like time and energy to create something unique can turn another “Hallmark holiday” into something truly special for both of you.
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5 Romantic Ideas That Won’t Break Your Wallet (Much) originally appeared on usnews.com
