Filed under: Personal Finance, Savings
Well, gentlemen, it's officially that time of year again. Nope, not time for the Super Bowl (Go Steelers!), it's time for the female equivalent of the Super Bowl. That's right, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. And I've got your cheap Valentine's day ideas to get you through.
Assuming you're not one of those cheap and trifling brothers who routinely breaks up with a woman just before major holidays to avoid the inevitable financial outlay, you're gonna have to spend some money and you might be searching for some ideas. In this economy, every dollar counts, and since we can't all lavish our women with a pair of Louboutins, here's a few recession-friendly ideas to help you out. Cheap Valentine's Day presents can still be thoughtful and romantic.
2. Cook Something - Let's face it. Going out to eat for Valentine's Day is the ultimate hustle. Most restaurants charge a premium for meals and assorted libations, just because they can. Why not flip the script and cook your woman her favorite meal instead? If you don't cook, make an effort to figure out how. If this is still too daunting a task, order her favorite carryout, but serve it like a formal dinner. Set the mood with nice candles and music. Again, it's the thought (and effort) that counts most. That intimacy that you will share at home won't compare to anything you'd feel out in public. This is a cheap Valentine's Day gift that is more emotionally rich than the gift of eating out.
3. Buy Some Inexpensive Wine - The operative word here is inexpensive, not cheap. No, I'm not talking Boone's Farm Strawberry Wine, which is something you really should be done with after age 21. Pink by Yellowglen is a classy sparkling wine that's very affordable (about $10) and easy to find. Ménage à Trois Red is good stuff at just $12 a bottle. Sometimes a cheap Valentine's Day is a more romantic Valentine's Day if it means staying home and getting tipsy with the one you love.
4. Give a Cheap Yet Thoughtful Gift - Non-perishable items with sentimental value always give you the most bang for your buck, so why not get creative and make a gift that will actually last past the end of the month? With a little money and ingenuity, you can put together a nicely bound book of your most precious photos, create a custom calendar, or a make a mug featuring your mug at either KodakGallery or CafePress. You can also buy a customized, romantic Valentine's Day present on the classy site Red Envelope for as little at $25. The keyword is longevity in this case of giving a cheap Valentine's Day gift. Creating a momento of your loving memories will outlast perishable Valentine's Day gifts like candy.
5. Give a (Sorta) Pricey Gift - With the realization that people are po' these days, designers like Tory Burch, BCBG, Marc Jacobs, and Gucci now offer an array of affordable Valentine's Day gifts that will impress your loved one with the designer name sans designer price. You can buy trend accessories like toggle bracelets, cosmetic bags, statement rings, perfume, costume jewelry, and perfume for well under $100. If all else fails, lingerie is the gift that keeps on giving, and you can both reap the benefits. Sorta cheap Valentine's Day lingerie can be found at outlets like Lingerie Diva and Overstock.com.
These are merely suggestions, not a one-size-fits all list, of cheap Valentine's Day ideas. No two women (or men) are the same, so you should obviously give some thought to what your loved one likes best. With a little creativity and a lot of thought, you can treat your significant other to a memorable holiday, and save money for your Super Bowl bets or upcoming birthdays at the same time. Remember, it's the emotion, the romance and the intimacy that count on Valentine's Day -- not the money.
Got any other cost-conscious ideas for a great, cheap Valentine's Day?