Cheap and Fun Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day
February 1, 2010 | Jen Smith
We all know that between a dozen long-stem red roses and a Godiva heart-shaped box of chocolates that Valentine’s Day can be expensive, but when you factor in books, rent and meal plans, the budget for romance gets even smaller. Still, ditching the typical clichés for a more creative approach to Valentine’s Day can not only save you some cash, but also make your sweetheart feel extra special.
Fish in the Sea
Buy a dozen or so common goldfish from the pet store, and one special fish you think your partner would like. With some careful budgeting, this should tally somewhere around $15. When your sweetheart isn’t home, fill the bathtub with water (make sure it is the right temperature for the fish) and put the fish in the bathtub. Write a sweet card for your significant other about how they are the only fish in the sea for you and leave it on the edge of the bathtub where they can see it. Decorate with candles, Christmas lights, or whatever you happen to have around to set the mood. Lead your valentine into the bathroom with a trail of rose petals, sweet notes with arrows or even by hand with a blindfold. They get to keep the fish you bought specifically for them and you can give the other goldfish to your friends or family as a fun Valentine’s Day present.
Celebrate Like It’s 1929
Take your valentine back to February 14, 1929 – a time before market crashes and money woes. You don’t have to spend a fortune to recreate the extravagance of the Roaring Twenties, however. Take your partner to a high-end café. Bring a tablecloth, candles and make sure you both dress the part in fancy cocktail garb. Splurge about $30 on fancy coffee, wine or desserts. To play up the 1920s vibe, bring Monopoly and spend hours playing with your sweetheart, buying up hotels and spending “money” like you don’t have a care in the world. You can even make an erotic wager about the winner of the game.
A Work of Art
Making a piece of art for your valentine holds a lot of sentimental value and doesn’t cost a lot of money. In fact, there is a program you can download for free that you can use to make a mosaic for your partner. You can use pictures of the two of you together, erotic pictures of yourself, pictures of things significant to your relationship or all three. Simply download AndreaMosiac and follow the instructions. Put it on the wall of your sweetheart’s bedroom, and cover it with wrapping paper. Hold an art unveiling with a cheap bottle of wine and mood music. Bonus points if you make the CD for them as an extra Valentine’s gift.
Secret Garden
Find a botanical garden near you. Usually, there is an admission charge of about $10 per ticket. Tell your sweetheart to meet you at the address without telling them what it is. Go there early and plant secret clues to lead them through the garden to you. Set up a picnic at the most beautiful spot and wait, sending them a text to set them along the trail to find you. When they get there, be ready with a bunch of handpicked flowers. From there, you can spend the rest of the day wining and dining in the garden.
