By Kelly Hodges
Valentine’s Day may cause hearts to race faster this year, for reasons other than love of your sweetheart! The flowers, jewels, and extravagant nights out that go hand in hand with this “holiday” aren’t always ideas that fit into the budget. I am all for romance and don’t endorse ignoring February 14 altogether, so instead I offer here some practical alternatives to celebrate with the one you love without busting the budget.
1. Cook Together. It’s no secret that you’ll spend more going out to a restaurant than preparing a meal at home. This year choose a meal you’ll both enjoy and then prepare it together. If you want to go all out then do it- steak, lobster, whatever floats your boat! You will still pay far less to prepare it yourselves than to have someone else do it for you. Get a nice bottle of wine (which will probably cost the same as a glass of wine at the restaurant) and savor your time together throughout the process. Light a candle for ambiance as you eat, and best of all there will be no need to leave a tip when you are done!
2. Rent a Movie. Ditch the theater and opt to watch a movie from the comforts of your couch this year. Enjoy the movie that you first saw together as a couple, or opt for a classic love story like Casablanca or Sleepless in Seattle. Pop some popcorn (make sure to add butter), and snuggle up on the couch together and enjoy. It’s a way cozier idea than sitting in those stiff theater chairs!
3. Give a Shared Gift. Flowers are lovely (but they will die). Chocolate is delicious (but it will be eaten). Jewelry is dazzling (but you only have two ears). Instead of the cliché gifts this year, decide on something that is important to you as a couple, and fund that instead. It can be something small (getting tickets to the new art exhibit), something practical (new carpeting for the stairs), or something major (finally going on that cruise you’ve always talked about). Whatever your circumstances are, choose a gift idea that is important to both of you, that you can enjoy together, and that won’t just wilt and be tossed away in a few weeks.
Whatever you decide to do to celebrate, make sure you tell your Valentine that you love them. After all, that’s what this day is really all about!
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Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author, and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of her employer or any other person or entity.
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