Valentine’s Day is a day to show people how much you love them, starting with your spouse or significant other. But celebrating Valentine’s Day really has more to do with a genuine show of affection, and almost nothing with how much money you spend on special activities or gifts. You and your other half are a unique couple, and you know best what says “special” to each other. Some of the most romantic ideas don’t require an expensive trip, dinner, or present. It’s all about finding activities you can enjoy together. Yes, you can indeed celebrate Valentine’s Day in a special way that won’t break your budget. Need some inspiration? Try one (or more) of these suggestions:
1. Plan a Workday Lunch Date. If you spend the entire day apart from one another, take the opportunity to plan a special lunch date. We say “plan” because although there’s a lot to be said in favor of the element of surprise, you don’t want your love to make other plans and spoil your plans. You can book a table at your favorite restaurant (which will probably be a lot busier at dinnertime, so that’s one benefit of doing lunch instead!) but if you do, be sure to book enough in advance to be assured you get a table. It’s not a bad idea to call the day before and confirm your reservation. If the weather cooperates, you don’t need to go to a restaurant. Plan a romantic picnic in the park for your special Valentine’s Day meal.
2. Share the Love. Valentine’s Day can be very painful for someone who has recently lost a loved one or partner, or who has been alone for a long time. They won’t want to take away from anybody else’s special celebration of love, so they’re not likely to ask for attention, even if they desperately need it. If you’re single, try dedicating some time on Valentine’s Day to spread some love to someone else who really needs it. If you are part of a couple, both of you can do this as well and still have love left over for each other. Consider an elderly relative or neighbor — they might not receive a hug or kiss from anybody else on February 14th, but you can bring a little sunshine into their day and you and your partner, who are lucky enough to have each other, can give the world a little more of what it really needs.
3. Have an elegant pizza party. For an inexpensive date, dress up and set a candlelit table, but don’t tell your spouse what’s on the menu. Play some romantic music, get the children a babysitter, and have your favorite pizza joint make a pie in the shape of a heart with “love” written in pepperoni. Buy an inexpensive (but nice) bouquet of flowers at your local florist or even the grocery store, drop them at the pizza place (in a vase with water) and make arrangements for both pizza and flowers to be delivered to your home. Dance in the living room while you wait for the “unexpected” knock at the door. She will love you for it, and it won’t cost nearly as much as a nice dinner out at an overcrowded restaurant with all those other couples vying for a little romantic privacy. Don’t forget to show the pizza delivery person a little love with a nice tip!
4. Count the reasons you love her/ him. Take a cue from Elizabeth Barrett Browning who famously wrote, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” Use red paper hearts, red construction paper, or red sticky notes and write something on each one that gives a reason why you love your other half. Pick a favorite number for the two of you, like the day of the month you met, the number of days from Valentine’s Day to your anniversary if you’re married, the month (2), day (14), and year (20) = 36 of Valentine’s Day, or any number with significance for the two of you. Stick the love notes all over the house, car, garage, workshop, or wherever your love spends time, or fill a mason jar or ceramic container with the red hearts, and your special someone can pull one to read every morning to bask in your love for them throughout the day.
5. Give a unique gift. Although flowers and chocolates are the traditional Valentine’s Day gifts, the love of your life may appreciate something more personal, tailored to their unique personality. Is your sweetie a reader? Give them the gift of a book of love poetry or a romantic story with a happy ending. Does she love beautiful things? Take her to an art gallery. Is he a music buff? Find a free concert, symphony performance, or great live band and make a night of it. Are words his or her love language? Write a special poem expressing what makes them special and expressing your love for all that they bring to your life. For the artsy/ crafty person in the house, a homemade card with the king or queen of hearts from a deck of playing cards and the words “You are the queen/ king of my heart” is an easy and inexpensive way to show your love, and it will mean more than a store bought card, because you made it yourself.
Don’t feel pressured by all those big, bright “spend” signs everywhere. It isn’t necessary to spend a lot of money to show someone how you feel. Don’t start worrying that a warm smile and a handwritten card isn’t sending the message that you really care. Love isn’t measured in dollars and expressing it to your special someone doesn’t have to mean emptying your wallet. With a little imagination and a willingness to think outside the candy filled heart-shaped box, you can give a Valentine’s Day gift that will be cherished for years to come.