Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive to be meaningful. These affordable Valentine’s Day ideas show simple and thoughtful ways to celebrate love without spending too much.
So, I have something to confess. Are you ready?
I don’t really like what my husband and I call “signature vacations.” Of course, I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but deciding on a big to-do on Valentine’s Day isn’t my thing.
This is not because I don’t like to show my husband and family how much they mean to me. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I think it’s foolish to reserve roses and hearts and love notes for just one day of the year. Instead, I think we should celebrate Valentine’s Day every day of the year because every day is a day to show love to the wonderful people in our lives.
With this in mind, instead of sharing fun and cute ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share some frugal but super meaningful ways to actually celebrate Valentine’s Day, or any time of the year. If you are not married or in a relationship, you can adapt these ideas to apply to your children, friends, or other relatives.
An affordable way to celebrate Valentine’s Day
1. Write a love note
When was the last time you wrote a note to your Valentine telling them how much you appreciate, admire, and love them? This may be one of the simplest ideas in the book, but writing a love note is also one of the most lasting and appreciated.
Notes don’t have to be long. And it doesn’t even have to be handwritten. Send a text, spell it out in Scrabble letters, type a note, write an email, or write on your bathroom mirror using a dry-erase marker. The way you write it is less important than the fact that it comes from your heart. To make things a little more fun, consider hiding notes in unexpected places or leaving a trail of little love notes around the house.
2. Express your gratitude
We all need to hear how much we are appreciated more often. May I suggest that you look for something to be grateful for every day on Valentine’s Day?
Whether it’s running errands for you, picking up your socks, helping you with a project, or just faithfully standing by your side through thick and thin. You never know how much a word of gratitude can make someone’s day.
Why not take this a step further? Instead of just thanking someone for something they do, praise the person for the thank you. Tell your Valentine how much you admire their perseverance, hard work, and amazing abilities.
Don’t flatter or lie. However, you can think of compliments for just about anyone. Look for it and then let them know. It probably means the world to them!
3. Cook a love-themed meal
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by giving their favorite foods a creative Valentine-themed twist. For example, cut strawberries into heart shapes for fruit salad and shape them. Homemade pizza with pepperoni in the shape of a heart (or make a heart-shaped pizza), make heart-shaped pancakes, or cinnamon rollas well as Valentine-themed bacon.
Blog reader Abby winstead wanderings Suggest that you can also recreate the meals you enjoyed when you first started dating or getting married. This is such a fun idea!
4. Give a “choose your own adventure” date
For Jesse’s 45th birthday last year, I gave him a “Choose Your Own Adventure Day” and it was so much fun.
I came up with different options for where we could go and what we could do, and he got to choose between them. It included lots of delicious food and time together, and I loved it too.
Choosing your partner’s favorite food or activity on Valentine’s Day can make it extra special, especially if you usually enjoy a variety of things. And you might be surprised at how much you enjoy it too.
5. Make sure you have time alone
For busy parents, alone time to recharge is precious. Giving your Valentine the gift of a quiet walk, some unnecessary time, or the chance to sit quietly with a cup of coffee and a good book conveys the feeling, “I know how much you’re giving. You’re important, and you deserve a little rest.”
6. Talk A Walk Down Memory Lane
This idea comes from Abby. winstead wanderings. “If your relationship is anything like mine, it has evolved over the years. The new, exciting love of the early days has given way to a deep, stable love that comes from facing the raw realities of life together. That change is natural and necessary.”
“I wouldn’t trade the lessons we’ve learned and the growth we’ve grown for each other for anything, but it’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life. Sometimes it’s good to remember the people you fell in love with… This February 14th, dig out your old photo albums and love notebooks. Remember why you fell in love.”
If you’ve lived in your area for a while, you can also reminisce about when you first fell in love and how far the two of you have been together by driving past your old home or visiting special places you frequented in the early days of your relationship.
7. Speak the language of love
I don’t like to put people into specific categories, but each person has their own characteristics. love language. This is how they feel most loved.
If you’re not sure, 5 love languagesThey are words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. Often there is a mix of several of these, but there is almost always one that is dominant. Not sure what your love language is? Take this quiz here (And make sure your Valentine gets one too!)
Once you know what your partner’s love language is, you’ll be able to show them your love in the most meaningful way. For example, my primary love language is words of affirmation. When Jesse tells me how much he appreciates me and how proud he is of me, it means the world to me. This shows me so much more love than just buying me something.
Jesse’s love language is quality time. It’s very important to him that we spend time together and just be together without me seeming like I’m in a hurry or acting like I’m busy. As a Type A person who doesn’t have the love language of spending quality time, it was a learning experience for me to understand that just being with him meant so much to him.
So, if you want to congratulate Jesse, express your desire to just spend time together without making any plans. And we will see it through to the end. This means more to him than any previous gift or act of service.
8. Plan a frugal date.
Going on a date on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, many of our most special and memorable dates have been the simplest, especially during our early years of marriage and law school when budgets were very tight. We learned how to enjoy time together without spending money.
Coffee dates, library visits, walks, leisurely conversations, and laughing together at home can strengthen a marriage just as much as an expensive meal out, and are often more memorable.
That’s why I created this free printable — 65+ Frugal Date Night Ideas for Couples! Download simple, fun, and frugal date ideas that you can practically apply to real life, whether you’re spending the entire evening or just a few minutes after the kids go to bed.
No matter how you celebrate Valentine’s Day, remember that a little intention and a lot of love go a lot further than a hefty price tag. With love and creativity, you can have a truly memorable Valentine’s Day that’s budget-friendly.
More affordable Valentine’s Day inspiration:
- Free date ideas to help you stay connected (without spending money)
- The real story: When it’s hard to prioritize marriage
- Answer hot questions about marriage
- How to effectively talk to your spouse about money
- Get your teen a Valentine’s Day gift with these deals!
- Frugal ways to make Valentine’s Day special for kids
What are some affordable Valentine’s Day ideas?
Want a Valentine’s Day plan without the price tag?
Get this free printable with 65 low-cost and free date ideas. A nice and simple way to enjoy time together all year round.
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
