There are two people in this world. People who love Valentine’s Day, and people who think it’s a made-up Hallmark holiday. But my parents own Hallmark stores, so I am obligated to write this post. This one’s for you, Mom and Dad!
Odds are, if you’re reading this, you plan on doing something this Valentine’s Day.
Even better odds are, your loved one deserves to feel special.
But, while a new necklace would be lovely, there are other things that would mean so much more, and cost a lot less.
Here are 8 things to make your special someone feel the love this Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank.
8 Make them a meal
Make their favorite meal, or recreate their favorite restaurant dish. Breakfast in bed is also a classic.
Maybe you make a dessert instead? Everyone needs chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Bake a cake, cookies, or homemade ice cream. Have you tried fondu? You don’t need a fondu pot. Try taking some chocolate chips and melting them in the microwave (slowly, and be sure to stir). Dip in strawberries, bananas (really, any fruit), marshmallows, pretzels, anything that sounds good. Feel free to experiment with what you think would be good with chocolate (the answer is everything).
Ever tried making homemade bread? Class it up by making a spread. Present it with jam, honey, oil and balsamic vinegar, Nutella, cheese, apple slices, dried fruit. What do you already have? Go ahead and use that. You can even skip the bread and present it with crackers.
Not into cooking? Make yourselves a new, fun mixed drink. Our favorite is the drunken monkey. Look it up!
7 Write a note
This is the one I use the most in my home. Notes are insanely free and a super easy way to make someone feel special. And it doesn’t even need to be Valentine’s Day for to leave a cute note. Go get your pen right now!
You could get fancy and buy a card, but all you need is any old piece of paper to write down something sweet. Maybe it’s a simple sweet thought, or a full-blown love letter (when’s the last time you wrote out all your mushy feelings?).
Try your hand at writing a poem. Knowing full well it’ll likely suck, but it’ll make your loved one smile.
One of my favorites is the post-it note. I like to write silly or sweet messages and post them on places they will find all day. My personal favorite is “you turn me on” on the light switch. Or the underside of their mouse. When they get frustrated and flip their mouse over to see why it isn’t working, they’ll see “Just thinking of you”
You can use a whiteboard marker to write on the mirror. “Hello Beautiful”, “Lookin’ Good!” or the classic “Happy Valentine’s Day”
6 Pictures
Memories are powerful (and FREE).
A great cheap and thoughtful present is a picture frame. Pick your favorite memory, something special with a lot of positive memories, and frame it. If you can’t pick, why not print multiple and stack them all in the back of the frame? This way your loved one can switch it out when they want to spark a new memory.
A lot of us have documented many of our happy times, so why not make a whole picture book? Tell the whole story of your relationship, leave notes, write captions, add mementos.
If you’re really crafty, take it a step further and make a scrapbook.
5 Make an effort to do something the other person enjoys.
Or ask them to teach you something they are good at.
For my husband that might be video games. For me, it would be doing something crafty or painting together. This could also be going shopping together… although that doesn’t fit the cheap-to-free category we’re going for here. However, I do love it when my husband comes clothes shopping with me. Most of the time he doesn’t want to, but occasionally he’ll make the effort to have fun with it because he knows it’s more fun for me when he’s there.
Think about something the other person enjoys or is good at that you don’t usually do with them.
The key here is to have a positive attitude and make it fun. Anything can be enjoyable with the right person.
4 Make time to do something together
Some examples of this might be going on a hike, going to the park to play your favorite sport, having a movie night with popcorn, a board game night, a nighttime stroll, or cooking together.
This doesn’t even need to be crazy, any extra time you can spend together is special.
Maybe it’s as simple as pulling your computer into the same room and working side by side, or laying in bed and reading together. My husband is the type who enjoys just being in the same room, so I find myself making these small gestures all the time.
3 Set the scene
Set up something special.
This could be as easy as adding flowers in a vase to the dinner table. Adding a string of lights, rose petals, busting out the fancy champagne glasses, or the fancy tablecloth that you never use.
Anything to show extra effort and thought.
You might try setting a scene by laying out pillows and blankets on the roof/patio/backyard with a little table to have dinner at (a cardboard box works great). You can also set up a laptop to watch a movie while you eat dinner and snuggle under the stars. I’m in Arizona, so I realize not everyone can go outside in February. Instead, you can try the guest room, your office, or the living room floor.
Flowers are expensive! Instead, get the same effect by finding your own flowers, to cut and put in a vase. Or, go pick some pretty leaves from the bushes outside. Don’t underestimate how pretty greenery can be on its own, and hand-picked will mean more than store-bought.
2 Try something fun or new in the bedroom
I debated if I should go into detail on this one, and decided I’m going all in.
Try starting with a massage, bust-out candles, and massage oil.
You might experiment with your senses, using a blindfold, or feathers.
Bust out some lingerie (no need to buy something new, I promise it hasn’t lost its effect). Even knee-high socks, stilettos, or an old costume wig will add some playfulness to the night. Use what you have.
Take a bath together. Bring some whipped cream or chocolate syrup to the bedroom. Role play, or try something new.
That’s as far as I’m going, we’re not that kind of blog.
1 Scavenger hunt
Put together a scavenger hunt. I like cross-town hunts.
Send them to Starbucks to pick up their favorite coffee. To their mom’s house with flowers. To their kids with a secret password. Send them to the first place you met, had your first kiss, got married, or said I love you.
You don’t have to hide the hint at the location ahead of time, you can hand it to them when you get there.
This is a great way to pull all the ideas above together. Maybe you write their first clue on the mirror in the morning. Send them to the park to play your favorite sport with them. Attach a poem to the dog’s collar. Lead them to the garage where you wrapped your picture frame for them to find. End by setting the scene in a special location. With hand-picked flowers and the special dessert that you made for them.
BEWARE!
Using all these ideas in one day may create the best day of their lives.
Higher expectations may occur.
I am not responsible for what happens at the end of the night, nor do I want to hear details.