Five tips on saving money for Valentine’s Day

Getty Images

Valentine’s Day is the pinnacle of romantic holidays — today’s the day you get to show all the love you have for your significant other in the form of gifts or experiences. It’s a bit materialistic yes, but everyone loves feeling special and being showered with presents! However, if your budget’s a bit tight, it can be hard to show your partner you appreciate them. So, we’ve compiled a list of five tips you can use to ensure that you have an amazing Valentine’s Day without spending that holiday money.


1. Make sure you buy flowers the right way

Giphy

Don’t get cheated and buy your flowers online for delivery — even if they’re ensured fresh and come with discounts, shipping trucks don’t come with refrigerators. So if you order from a company with a warehouse far away from you, they might be wilted by the time your SO sees them.

Instead, get your flowers from grocery stores or the florist — both will keep their flowers cold until pick up time and some florists would even deliver in a chilled van. Be sure to ask for flowers that haven’t quite open yet — that way they’ll bloom in the hands of your SO and will keep for days.

2. Don’t skimp where it doesn’t count

Giphy

A definite no-no is buying flowers from the side of the road — even though they’re the cheapest, they definitely won’t last more than a day. These flowers also won’t come with flower food nor replacements if they turn out to be spoiled.

Regarding dinner, don’t order cheaper foods just because you need to save money — worrying about money every step of the date will definitely spoil your night.

3. Eat at home

Giphy

Come to think of it, spend your special night at home instead of a kitschy Valentine’s Day restaurant. Even if it doesn’t seem that special, eating at that dining table you never use or in front of the fireplace, or even in bed will give it that special feel.

Light some candles, throw around a handful of rose petals and put on some Frank Sinatra — your SO will give you brownie points for your thoughtful DIY.

4. Order smart

Giphy

If you’re bent on going out for dinner, you can totally pull that off too — one tip is to go for the cheapest champagne or Prosecco. No one can really tell the difference between expensive and cheap champagnes so there’s really no use ordering the one that’s going to break bank.

If the night is going to end in romance, be sure to order light. Not only will it stop bloating, but lighter dishes will also be less expensive — choose fish over steak, or sorbet over chocolate mousse.

5. Do your research with jewelry

Giphy

Look online for the jeweler with the best prices, but never buy online — it’s much better to go in store to make sure that ring or necklace looks the way it’s supposed to. Also be sure to check its certificates — this is to make sure the piece will last for a long time, not something you should obsess over.

Now that you’re equipped with all these tips, enjoy your day of romance with your SO — and don’t forget that this holiday is for love first and foremost. Even though you’re encouraged to splurge a bit, losing sight of the spirit of Valentine’s Day will screw you over.

string(5201) "

Valentine's Day is the pinnacle of romantic holidays — today's the day you get to show all the love you have for your significant other in the form of gifts or experiences. It's a bit materialistic yes, but everyone loves feeling special and being showered with presents! However, if your budget's a bit tight, it can be hard to show your partner you appreciate them. So, we've compiled a list of five tips you can use to ensure that you have an amazing Valentine's Day without spending that holiday money.


1. Make sure you buy flowers the right way

Giphy

Don't get cheated and buy your flowers online for delivery — even if they're ensured fresh and come with discounts, shipping trucks don't come with refrigerators. So if you order from a company with a warehouse far away from you, they might be wilted by the time your SO sees them.

Instead, get your flowers from grocery stores or the florist — both will keep their flowers cold until pick up time and some florists would even deliver in a chilled van. Be sure to ask for flowers that haven't quite open yet — that way they'll bloom in the hands of your SO and will keep for days.

2. Don't skimp where it doesn't count

Giphy

A definite no-no is buying flowers from the side of the road — even though they're the cheapest, they definitely won't last more than a day. These flowers also won't come with flower food nor replacements if they turn out to be spoiled.

Regarding dinner, don't order cheaper foods just because you need to save money — worrying about money every step of the date will definitely spoil your night.

3. Eat at home

Giphy

Come to think of it, spend your special night at home instead of a kitschy Valentine's Day restaurant. Even if it doesn't seem that special, eating at that dining table you never use or in front of the fireplace, or even in bed will give it that special feel.

Light some candles, throw around a handful of rose petals and put on some Frank Sinatra — your SO will give you brownie points for your thoughtful DIY.

4. Order smart

Giphy

If you're bent on going out for dinner, you can totally pull that off too — one tip is to go for the cheapest champagne or Prosecco. No one can really tell the difference between expensive and cheap champagnes so there's really no use ordering the one that's going to break bank.

If the night is going to end in romance, be sure to order light. Not only will it stop bloating, but lighter dishes will also be less expensive — choose fish over steak, or sorbet over chocolate mousse.

5. Do your research with jewelry

Giphy

Look online for the jeweler with the best prices, but never buy online — it's much better to go in store to make sure that ring or necklace looks the way it's supposed to. Also be sure to check its certificates — this is to make sure the piece will last for a long time, not something you should obsess over.

Now that you're equipped with all these tips, enjoy your day of romance with your SO — and don't forget that this holiday is for love first and foremost. Even though you're encouraged to splurge a bit, losing sight of the spirit of Valentine's Day will screw you over.

"

MONEY JOURNAL: A Marketing Specialist Living On $75K A Year In Chicago

Chicago Theatre - Night | Photo by Pixabay

In this month’s Money Journal, Celia is organized and disciplined yet enjoys her life “to the Max” Welcome to Money Journal, a monthly Paypath series that examines how Americans really handle their finances. Our participants keep a journal of their earnings, spending, and savings (if any), then share what it’s like to live in their

How to Get Out of Your Gym Membership Without Paying a Penalty

Gym Jumping Woman - Image by StockSnap for Pixabay

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

Living la Vida Frugal – Spend Less With Frugal Living

Tiny Home Image by Clay Banks_Unsplash

Everyone says the economy’s healthier than ever, but some of us still find it necessary to make that paycheck stretch…and stretch…and stretch. The better we understand our spending habits, the better we can manage them. Living frugally can benefit you in many ways. You’ll grow more self-reliant, creative, and resourceful as you learn to make

Holiday Credit Card Debt is Out of Control. Can You Enter The New Year In the Black?

holiday spending

Photo by Tessa Rampersad on Unsplash

You’ve heard it a thousand times before. The holidays are about two things: giving and family…more specifically, giving to your family. And no one wants to be the Grinch. So we lavish gifts and good tidings on our families and friends. And it feels incredible when it comes to gift-giving — I’m insatiable. Spending on

When Grown-A** Kids Won’t Leave The Nest

Family Home - Photo by Phil Hearing for Unsplash

Most parents welcome visits from their grown-up children. But what happens when the kids head back home when life gets rough and then never leave? This scenario is playing out more and more frequently as 20-something adults try to cope with – or hide from – skyrocketing costs in an increasingly expensive world. Lou Carloza

The TRUTH About The Trad Wife Trend

Nara Smith, Lucky Blue Smith, and daughter Rumble Honey

Matthew Brookes / Oliver Peoples

Imagine this: you marry the man of your dreams. You have two beautiful children with another on the way. You spend your days cooking gorgeous, nutritious meals for your family…. from scratch. You get paid to share your daily life and meals with people around the world. But here’s the catch: half of those people

The Motherhood Penalty

Photo by Sai De Silva (Unsplash)

You Lose $20K Each Year Just For Being a Mom You may not know this, but there was a time when smoking was considered “liberated” behavior for women. There was a cigarette company Virginia Slims that was created specifically to attract female smokers during the bad old 1970s. The slogan was “You’ve come a long