Alternative Valentine's Day Ideas That Won't Break The Bank

Valentine’s Day - that wonderful day filled with chocolate, gifts and celebrating the love between you and your significant other. However, Valentine's day can also be expensive. A fancy dinner, a nice gift (traditionally flowers or jewelry) and possibly a new outfit for a fancy dinner. For those of us on a budget, this day of love can turn into a nightmare. It doesn’t have to be that way. We have a few ideas that you and your significant other can enjoy the day without breaking the bank.

Dinner for Two

Skip the stuffy, undoubtedly packed restaurant and make dinner together at home. Although this may seem obvious and bland, cooking together is a great way to connect and you won’t have to wait an hour to get a table. Also, cooking at home is less expensive. On average a chicken dinner out is about $14-$20 not including drinks, whereas the same dish cooked at home is about $6-$10 and you can take as long as you want to eat since there isn’t a waiter trying to turn over tables.

Creative Gifts

Okay, so dinner is planned - now about that gift… This is where you will have to get creative but if you don’t want to drop a large amount of money on one item, give them the gift of yourself. Make a coupon book for your significant other filled with fun coupons like “You win this fight” or “I’ll do the dishes.” This is a great gift for both men and women, plus there are many different websites where you can print the perfect customized coupons for your partner.

Thinking of You...

On Valentine’s Day, a lot of people have flowers sent to their special someone at their work. However, flowers and delivery are expensive. Here’s an alternative: Plan ahead, write a heartfelt letter to your love and mail it to them. Most people only get work-related mail at their office so this will be just as special and will let them know that you are thinking about them. Also, sending a letter is less than a dollar.

Tradition on a Budget

Still like the idea of a bouquet for Valentine’s Day? A normal bouquet of roses runs about $50, though can be much higher during valentine’s day, and are even more if they come with a vase. Our suggestion - look into alternative bouquets. Dollar stores offer a wide variety of balloons for, you guessed it, a dollar. These balloon bouquets are great and you are able to find the balloons to fit your partner.

If you are still insistent on buying the traditional chocolates and flowers, wait a day. Most stores have huge after Valentine’s Day deals that you can take advantage of. So talk with your love about postponing celebrating.

The most important thing when planning your alternative Valentine’s Day is to remember that the day is about celebrating the love you have for each other in your own special way. If you need more help with figuring out how much you can afford this Valentine's Day give Financial One a call at (763) 404-7600 or check out our website; we can help set you up with a budget and get you on the right track.

Money Saving Valentines Day Tips

Between the flowers, fancy restaurants and extravagant gifts, Valentines Day can end up being one of the most expensive days of the year. Making the perfect plans for you and your loved one can be nice to think about, but when you measure the costs, sometimes you can end up biting off more than you can chew chasing the movie-based romantic dream. This Valentines Day, keep in mind some of these money saving tips.

The Flowers:

Flowers are a quintessential part of the big day. When purchasing flowers, keep in mind that the longer they are kept cool, the longer they will last. Try not to buy flowers from venues that are outside, or kept somewhere too warm. Also, when buying flowers online, pick them up from the store. Most delivery trucks are not refrigerated and you never know which stop your flowers will be on. Look for tight bulbs in bouquets, cut the ends of the stems off after a day or two and use the food!

The Dinner:

Rule #1: stay away from restaurants! Most places are nearly impossible to get into without a reservation a month in advance, and when you do get in they can be crowded, loud, and anything but romantic. Instead, pick another area of your home to have dinner. Sprinkle some flower petals on the floor, light some candles, and even a delivery pizza will seem much more intimate and romantic (not to mention lighter on your wallet!)

When it comes to the dessert, go for something light after a big meal. A small sorbet does wonders. Also, most people do not know the difference between good champagne and bad champagne. If you really want that extra boost for the evening, go for it, but we say skip the fancy bubbly.

The Gifts:

In times when DIY is all the rage, try out some new gift ideas made with your own two hands. A card hastily picked out from hundreds of options at a grocery store won’t hold a candle to one written in your own handwriting with construction paper hearts pasted to it. If you do go for the extravagant route, research before you buy. Online sites may say they are certified, but you cannot be sure of what you are getting until it arrives.

This Valentines Day, try something a little different. Saving money doesn’t have to mean skimping on the one you love. Try something new as a couple that you have never done before. You just might end up making memories far more special and any “store-bought” day will never be able to compare.