Your Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to cost lots of money
By Denise Nape The Shopper February 10, 2011 10:48AM
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM
Valentine’s Day is upon us and I’ve looked around for some fun ways to show your love. It doesn’t have to cost a lot to mean something. The nicest thing is just to feel appreciated.
Unless roses are your valentine’s favorite, skip them and opt for something more creative. The price of roses is hiked up anyway for the holiday. You can get 30 Sweetheart Tulips for $39.97 or the Valentine’s Day Blooms for $29.99 at Proflowers.com. They are also offering a free $25 gift card from restaurant.com with certain flower arrangements. If you were planning on going all out, a good choice is one of their bundles of flowers, candies and a stuffed animal.
Does your loved one have a favorite meal at a local restaurant? If the prices on the menu are above your budget, replicate their favorite meal at home and provide romance with a small fresh flower arrangement and a few candles.
Many recipes for dishes similar to restaurant favorites can be found on the Internet. After dinner, make sure to follow through and clean up the kitchen. And for a nice end, rent their favorite movie.
Is marriage or a new home in your future? Check online listings or the newspaper for open houses in your area and treat her to a day of house shopping. Start the day at her favorite coffee shop to plan your route and for the price of her favorite latte, you can spend quality time together planning your future.
For some fun gifts, I found a site called fortunecookiesoap.com. They have very reasonably priced and unique gifts. I like this because they are fun and useful and you don’t have to break the bank.
The fortune cookie soaps start at $2.75. They are 2.5 inches and weigh approximately 1.5 ounces. Examples of fortunes are: “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.”
So what do you do if you are on your way home from work on Valentine’s Day and you’ve got to pick something up quick? Avoid the lines at the florist, the department store, and the chocolatier, and run into one of these stores for unconventional Valentine’s Day gifts instead: Go to a toy store and buy Twister, or go to Home Depot and pick up an orchid that’s potted and ready to give, or Walgreens for some massage oils.
Shopper’s tip: Last minute doesn’t have to cost a bundle. Just put a little thought into it and that will mean the most.
