14 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Ironically, there are a lot of broken hearts on Valentine’s Day. Those of us in relationships often have high expectations of our partners, and when they fall short of what we think we should receive on February 14 or how we should be treated, well, the result is often the antithesis of what Valentine’s Day is supposed to signify.

This year, hedge your bets by keeping the money you spend to a minimum while kicking the thoughtfulness up a notch. Here are 14 ideas that are easy on your wallet:

Celebrate the Day Before — or After

It’s no secret that there are serious markups on flowers, activities, and dining out on Valentine’s Day. To avoid the hike, plan your celebration a day before or — better yet — a day after. Waiting until February 15 will save you a bundle via return-to-normal pricing on dining and hotel stays and upwards of 50% on extras like discounted post-holiday cards, flowers and candy.

Get Clever

There are innumerable ways you can show your love with inexpensive just-for-you Valentine’s gifts this year, like creating a custom crossword using Crossword Hobbyist. It takes about 20 minutes to create a crossword of clues and answers about your partner.

Keep Your Getaway Local

When you can’t afford an expensive vacation, consider a local getaway. Look around for no-frills hotels and motels and inquire about deals and specials. Bonus point if you can locate the increasingly elusive vibrating bed. That’s bumpin’ old school, baby.

Attend Free Activities

Check your town’s online bulletin board along with regional publications to see what’s up for free on February 14.

Go Out by Staying In

If you’re a dress-up for dinner, champagne, and dessert loyalist, consider these tips from TheGroceryGame.com CEO Teri Gault on how to duplicate that fancy night out, in:

• The Invitation: Send an invitation on Evite, with time, attire (semi-formal or formal), and…
• New Location: To make it new and special, set up a table in a different room. Dim the lights, and pull out the candles, tablecloth, your best china, crystal stemware, champagne on ice, and a single red rose in a vase.
• Easy Money-Saving Dinner: Shrimp, lobster, crab, and steaks are often on sale in supermarkets at up to 67% off, which means savings of 85% to 90% off restaurant prices. Opt for Prosecco, the Italian version of French ‘champagne’ for better than half-off without compromise.
• Entertainment: Play dinner music, and have a movie and popcorn ready for after dinner. And rent or buy an on-demand movie to avoid expensive movie-theater prices. Or, better yet, borrow a romantic movie from the library.

Focus on Experiences

“Instead of buying jewelry, go to a nice local restaurant and use Restaurant.com to get $15 off the price of your dinner,” explains Paul Moyer, founder of SavingFreak.com. “Also, check websites like LivingSocial or Groupon. You may be able to score as much as 50% off activities or day spa services. Spending time together getting a couples’ massage or doing a cooking class is a memorable way to celebrate your relationship.”

A word of caution, however: Check for any blackout dates by calling the service provider in advance.

Consult Your Apps

There truly is an app for everything. Edit a sweet video for your S.O. using Splice, customize a greeting card via Punkpost, or search the App store for more ideas.

Look for Candy Deals

You can find affordable Valentine’s sweets at your local dollar store, and Walmart has a few festive exclusives this season, including Strawberry Chocolate M&Ms, Dove Milk & Dark Chocolate Hearts, Minis Mix Valentine’s Party Bag, and Reese’s White Hearts.

Try a Staycation

When London, Rome, and Paris are out of reach for a jet-setting love-fest, embark on a staycation with foreign flair. Travel blogger Katie Matthews offers a few tips:

“Start with a Parisian-themed meal or cheese and fruit plate, paired with a bottle of Champagne,” she suggests. “Cue up Paris-themed movies, such as An American in Paris or Amelie. If you’re more artistically inclined, pick up a travel-themed coloring book, and share your creativity while coloring in, say, the Eiffel Tower or a Paris street scene.”

Enjoy an At-Home Movie Marathon

Instead of making a selection of sappy films for your in-house movie marathon, create a screening list of new and favorite horror and sci-fi flicks that’ll bring you two even closer.

Serenade Your Lover

I’ve never had a bad time at a piano bar; they’ve become increasingly popular over the past decade or so, and you may be able to find one near you that’s hosting a Valentine’s event with a little research. In New York City, the Shake Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos Show offers a three-hour all-request performance for $20 per person so you can serenade the night away.

Celebrate V-Day at Brunch

“Breakfast and brunch often cost much less than dinner, though you can expect some breakfast restaurants to have special Valentine’s Day menus,” says Kendal Perez, savings expert at CouponSherpa.com.

Have Dinner In and Dessert Out

“If you or your mate isn’t a breakfast or brunch person, it’s good to know that a popular Valentine’s Day spot like The Melting Pot will charge upwards of $200 per couple for their premium Valentine’s Day dinner, but you can choose to enjoy their delicious dessert fondue for under $40,” Perez says.

Get a Helping Hand

I’ve saved the best for last.

If you send a properly-prepared greeting card addressed, stamped and sealed in a larger envelope to the lovely folks in Loveland, Colorado, they’ll add a few sentimental finishing touches before sending it off to its intended recipient. Loveland is home to the nation’s largest Valentine Re-Mailing Program, and 2020 marks the 74^th year of stamping special messages on more than 160,000 cards during the Valentine season.

Photo Credit: MSVG