Valentine's Day Guide

FOCUS-GLOBAL.CO.CC-Valentine’s Day is a wonderful holiday to show your partner how much you love and care for him or her. The one thing you can give that doesn’t cost anything all year ‘round, including this holiday, is love. Valentine’s Day gifts and meals do not have to cost a lot to show you truly care. Listed below are some ideas on how to have a frugal Valentine’s Day, as well as some gift ideas.

Instead of going out to dinner for Valentine’s Day, stay in and make a delicious home cooked meal. Some ideas for a nice homemade Valentine’s dinner include entrees like chicken parmesan, steak, stuffed chicken or pork, pork or beef roast, lasagna or some other type of pasta with cheese and sauce. You could easily add a salad with any of those entrees as an appetizer or side dish to the entrée.

Make some simple Oreo truffles by crushing Oreos, mixing them with cream cheese and forming into a ball then dipping into melted chocolate chips; allow the chocolate to cool and harden. Make simple chocolate dipped fruit by dipping fruits such as bananas, strawberries and apples into melted chocolate chips and letting them cool.

If you would much rather go out to dinner for Valentine’s then choose to go right before or right after Valentine’s Day. Some restaurant’s charge a premium price on Valentine’s Day for a special menu available that day only. Also, many restaurants may not allow you to use coupons or gift certificates on holidays. Another advantage of going to dinner before or after Valentine’s Day is that there will likely be fewer people dining out at restaurants as opposed to on Valentine’s Day.

Use coupons if any are available to your chosen restaurant. Remember to purchase a gift certificate from Restaurant.com if the restaurant you would like to dine at participates in their program, which can allow you to pay only a few dollars for gift certificates to many local restaurants.

Now some frugal gift ideas:

Flowers. You can get coupon codes for flowers or flower arrangements to FTD at FTD Coupon Codes.

Gift basket. Put together a personal gift basket or purchase a pre-made gift basket at a local retailer.

Roll-on perfume by Pacifica Perfume for only $12. You can find it at Sephora in Regency Square.

Chocolate or favorite type of candy or snack.

Valentine’s Day card. Purchase or make a card with a special heartfelt personal message or poem written inside.

Jewelry gift set from Avon. For example, the Sparkling Leaves three-piece gift set (includes earrings, bracelet and necklace) for only $19.99

Chocolate covered fruits. Make your own chocolate covered strawberries or other fruit or you order a box of fruit or an arrangement from Edible Arrangements and use the coupon found on the website to receive $3 off your order when ordering in-store or find coupon codes when ordering online.

Valentine love box. Create a decorative box by following the instructions found here.

Photo collage or digital photo collage. Create a personal memento.

Indoor rock climbing. Try it together for just $17 per person at Peak Experiences in Midlothian.

Maid or cleaning service for a month. Give your significant other time off from housework and cleaning. Spend the extra time together doing something you both enjoy.

Massage. Give your significant other a massage—rub their back, legs, arms and feet.

There are many other frugal options as well. Remember to take into account your partner’s favorite things, likes and dislikes, when purchasing a gift for him or her. Some people do not exchange gifts for Valentine’s Day and simply celebrate by having a romantic dinner together, sharing some kind of an experience or adventure together or by simply writing each other a note detailing their feeling and love for each other.