Valentines Day On The Cheap


valentines_canada

Well, it’s that time of year again. If you haven’t already gotten out your pocketbook you better.  It’s almost Valentines Day. A special day invented by Hallmark.  Time to spend tons of money on frivolous purchases of chocolates, flowers, fancy dinners and all perhaps some sparkly shiny things.

Hold on wait.

Is this truly what Valentines  is supposed to be about? As the Black Eyes Peas sang so horribly at the Superbowl “Where is the love?”  Every holiday has become so commercialized can we not go back to the root of things where it didn’t have to cost hoards of money to show you love someone? (Ok men, the standing ovation really isn’t necessary.)

Here are some frugal ways to say “honey I love you but, i’m kinda broke.”

-Make her a mixed tape (cd) put your songs, mushy stuff even wedding dance on it. Avoid such songs as Baby Got Back Sir-Mix-Alot  and Confessions by Usher.

-Make dinner wearing only an apron.  *Please note this is not advisable if you have children or are having company for dinner.*

-Drop small candies into balloons and arrange them on your table as a beautiful centerpiece, and dessert.

– Give your honey a massage, yes a real one. Not a fake 2 minute one.

– Rent a chick flick, grab a bag of popcorn and spend some quality time with the one you love

Make your own fortune cookies, with special memory messages inside and wrap them in cello.

-Come home from work on time. (Ok, so this one if for my husband.)

-Bake a cake and if you have kids let your kids decorate it. Everybody loves cake. If you don’t well.. thats another blog.

Feel free to add to my list.

If all else fails? Give her a hideous charm bracelet and tell her you went to Jarrod.

Happy Valentines Day!


32 responses to “Valentines Day On The Cheap”

  1. matrix82 says:

    That is a pretty good list. I also just wanted to add to the making dinner in just an apron..please if you have roommates don;t do that..lol.

    – If you have snow, writing I Love You, in the snow by a window :).

  2. sally says:

    Great idea, Matrix! Men, she did not mean in pee!

  3. recessionisnotfun says:

    lol, too cute Sally 🙂 Happy V day to you!!

  4. matrix82 says:

    Haha, Sally. Thanks for putting that editors note…lol…no pee.

  5. tudorchick says:

    there’s alot you can do to avoid spending loads of cash. buying ingredients to make dinner at home,would cost you way less than going out,and you don’t have to worry about being overcharged.buying flowers the day beforehand saves on those roses that are likely to be marked up on the actual day.i am not one for having my husband spend alot just for that day anyway. he does usually get me something.but i dont like the idea of him going overboard for something he can get half price the day after.

  6. MommyC says:

    make Valentines cards with your DD & DS. It is not only cheaper but it gives them a chance to be creative and wacky. It is also a family bonding activity. Just be careful if you have a 3 year old DD like mine. We did our cards this morning and told her we need to hide them first untill Monday to surprise Daddy. But oh boy, I was surprise! When daddy came home, the first thing my DD said, “Daddy we have a Valentines card for you. Get it, get it!”. We just looked at each other and laughed so hard…

  7. N says:

    Make love coupons at home.

  8. olivercat says:

    I usually buy some of those ‘kids’ packs of valentine cards and place them all over the house where I know my hubby will find them as he goes through the day! I email him too! Last year I got little ‘heart’ people–small toys things at the dollar store and did the same thing adding a note to each! He loved it!

  9. caroman says:

    just say ‘i love you” and give each other a kiss. that’s what it’s really about.

  10. Eric says:

    agree with caroman. plus where’s the list for women to men, huh? I’ve always been the more romantic one between the wife and I.

    Either way, this year we’ll be going to a local bar for karaoke, so our “gifts” if you will will be serenading each other while half-tanked. Wonderful fun.

  11. annaed says:

    We are having a candle light dinner at home with the kids. They love eating by candle light (sometimes we do it for no occassion at all). Lovely table cloth, candles, wine glasses . . maybe some V candies sprinkled down the middle. Also making an ice cream cake for dessert. Got an idea from a site to make big paper hearts and write something you love about each family member on each one. Oh, and maybe will hide some Hershy kisses for the kids to hunt and fine.

  12. Theresa says:

    LOL…too funny! Great ideas.

  13. CarlyinCanada says:

    Great ideas! Happy Valentines Day! 🙂

  14. g_skywalker says:

    cheapest way I know is the way I do it, tell your wife on your second date you think V-day is evil and that you will never celebrate it. Then love your wife everyday and do special things for her all the time. My wife is very happy now that she has 4 kids to celebrate it with her and I still love her, make her dinner and treat her like the love of my life on that evil, evil day.

  15. linguistar says:

    We celebrated last night. I made a pizza in the shape of a heart. Had a Valentine’s Day tablecloth & some minor decorations from the dollar store. I wrote him a song which I played the piano to. Also, I found this website that has all kinds of free Valentine Day craft ideas for children, but adults can do them too:) It’s http://www.kaboose.com I made many of them.

    Like other people said it’s not about the money, but the time you put in and the effort. Spending time is key!

  16. Damaskito says:

    I cut some love words from some magazines and stick them all over the house, and we are gonna have a romantic home diner… i still got flowers but in a pot, so they last forever, like my love.

  17. willowsprite says:

    Love your comment, g_skywalker! 😀
    Yes, it’s true this dumb “holiday” was created by money grubbing manufacturers to get your hard-earned cash. What do people buy on Valentine’s Day? Garbage. That will end up in the landfill eventually, or on your butt if it’s garbage food.
    If you truly love someone, you would tell them, and show them, every single day. Every day would be special if you’re sharing it with them.

  18. tudorchick says:

    love it eric..that sounds fun! i would take a wing night at the pub over a fancy little piece of overpriced meat anyday!

  19. Andie says:

    We actually celebrate Feb 21st because for our first date he actually asked me out for Valentine’s Day – but it was so so obvious he had no idea that ‘Friday’ equalled ‘Valentine’s Day’ that year. I kind of laughed and said ‘sure, but good luck getting a reservation.’ When he realized he was a little flustered (first date, VD, no pressure!) but we decided to go to Chinatown where we figured it would be less obvious. In the end there was a huge blizzard that day and he couldn’t even get into Toronto (he lived out of town) and we went out the following Friday instead. So that’s when we “officially” celebrate – which is just dinner out, always. 🙂

    however, on Monday this year, I WILL be making a nice steak dinner, with individual lava cakes for dessert. Probably a nice bottle of wine. probably candles.

    I have no real problem with a day that makes you slow down and show your love a little more overtly (to SOs, children, friends). But i don’t think it’s about gifts or money. Never have thought that, really.

  20. Skippy says:

    The wife has me, what more could she want?
    Actually we buy Valentines Presents on boxing day, as the candy will keep
    until then.

  21. meguwo says:

    What’s wrong with charm bracelets 🙁

  22. sally says:

    The ones from Jarrod on tv Meguwo. Have you seen that commercial?

  23. operabob says:

    Used the Get 2 Fries, Pop $ Sauces for $5.50 for Valentines coupon at New York Fries.

    But I also paid for it with one of the free $5 GCs I got at NYF at Christmas.

    Total after HST: $1.16 or $0.58 each.

    Quality time for my Buffy! 😉

  24. dfsfs says:

    valentines gay. its just a lame excuse to make guys whipped and girls less “slutty” for putting out. PLUS! If you really “love her” why do you wait until Feb 14th to actually treat her like a woman!

  25. Autumn_Lili says:

    that’s nice dfsfs… spreading a little hate for valentines day.

  26. serenebean says:

    Matrix I’d like to add another exception to the cooking in only an apron thing. Do not do this if you have for some reason decided to cook bacon, or any other really greasy food, for dinner. That will just not end well…

  27. dfsfs says:

    @lili

    truth hurts

  28. sally says:

    Maybe your girlfriend dfsfs, but us Sc ladies are a lot classier then that. 😉

  29. Zay says:

    Thanks for the great ideas, happy valentines to all and don’t forget about valentine wishes for your parents and grandparents too!

  30. Jen says:

    LOVE !!!! ” a real massage, not a 2 minute one …. ” – Don’t men usually use the “massage” as an excuse to grope?

  31. hondamanic says:

    thanks for the suggestions!!!

  32. Skippy says:

    SC ladies Rock!


















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