Ask the Readers: How Do You Save Money on Valentine's Day?
Editor's Note: Congratulations to Mary W, Michael, and Kelli for winning this week's contest!
Fancy dinners, lavish gifts, exotic trips — there are many ways to splurge on Valentine's Day, but frugalites know that you don't have to spend a lot of money to show your love.
How do you save money on Valentine's Day? What "traditional" Valentine's Day gifts — flowers, chocolate, a nice dinner, etc. — are worth a splurge for you? What are you plans for Valentine's Day this year?
Tell us how you save money on Valentine's Day and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
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We buy discount candy the day after, so we save that way. We also find it more fun and romantic to make dinner ourselves, so we just stay in.
I save money by using coupons when eating out on Valentine's Day
I am using coupons and my Rewards card to get free food on Valentine's Day!!
skip the gifts and have a nice homemade dinner by candlelight and then cozy up and watch a movie on your sofa. Much cheaper and more romantic than going out!
My boyfriend and I are saving money by cooking our own gluten-free food for Valentine's Day since I have celiac disease instead of going out to an expensive restaurant. He's surprising me with the choice of foods, and says he has other plans to make it more romantic.
We save money by making our own cards for each other. We even make our own flowers out of paper. I make candy at home put in a cute Valentine's bag. Then we do dinner at home and I always use coupons when I shop. By making everything ourselves it just makes the day more heartfelt! Happy Valentine's everyone!!
We look for restaurant coupons.
We look for restaurant coupons.
I look for coupons to save money for going out to eat and for flowers or chocolate watch the sales in the ads.
We opt for a personal and very intimate evening in: order take-out sushi and eat it on the coffee table with candles, a bottle of inexpensive wine, and an easy chocolate dessert. We also typically watch a romantic movie from RedBox or a streaming service. Great evening in!
Hubby used rewards points from the exercise program run by his health insurance to get me a fitbit HR. We usually make a heart-healthy dinner at home. Too much of a zoo to out!
I try to save money on Valentine's Day by looking into Valentine's Day deals at resturants. I also use coupons to buy flowers.
The way I save for Valentine's day, is by making a meal at home. it's easier and actually a lot less stressful than going out to eat. Yes, going out to eat is nice... but not on the most popular day of the year for couples! So, as long as hubby gives me a nice backrub, I'm happy.
The way I save for Valentine's day, is by making a meal at home. it's easier and actually a lot less stressful than going out to eat. Yes, going out to eat is nice... but not on the most popular day of the year for couples! So, as long as hubby gives me a nice backrub, I'm happy.
(my previous reply said something about captcha error... so is this is a duplicate, please delete!)
We don't usually go out since every restaurant is packed on Valentine's Day. We often just get a pizza and enjoy it at home, play board games or watch movies, just relaxing, casual, inexpensive stuff. We will sometimes buy a good dessert to share at home, something from a bakery or some fancy chocolates, but that's about it. We stopped exchanging gifts for holidays many years ago, since we prefer to save up for vacations instead of material goods.
I save money by using coupons and buying items on sale.
We dvrd "Grease" and are planning on picking up Chinese takeout.
I save money by just buying a card.
We're visiting the local $1 movie theatre! Second-run movies, but we don't care!
I make a special dinner at home and we turn it into a date night with a romantic comedy movie. We agreed a long time ago, no flowers or chocolate or jewelry on Valentine's Day.
Simple, we don't really celebrate it. Just a home cooked meal like always!
We don't usually go out on the day of Valentine's day - too crowded - so save money by staying at home or going out on another night of the weekend. We also don't exchange gifts but rather save our money for a trip or something for the house.
Instead of giving gifts we give coupon booklets for foot rubs, etc
We don't go out to eat and don't spend money on flowers.
My husband and I go to the card store together and pick out our cards, hand them to each other, read them and then put them back....no need to spend 10 dollars
We avoid celebrating on the actual weekend, and opt for before or after.
We like buying a special cut of meat or fresh seafood and cooking together at home. Great food and great company make for a special day.
We often eat dinner at home instead of going out to save money.
Skipping the gifts, after you've been together for awhile you don't want them anyway!
We don't buy each other gifts we just go out for a romantic night out :)
We use coupons when we go out to dinner
We use a groupon for food or a coupon from the Entertainment book.
We're married 30 yrs, so don't go big on Valentine's day. We'll stay home, maybe order or pick up food, watch a movie. We no longer do V Day gifts. Very cheap night!
Combine birthday/valentine's celebration into one - all discretionary calories go to booze instead of spending more on dessert.
A lot of years, my husband and I only buy each other cards--or even make them, and don't give each other any other gifts.
I think flowers are worth splurging on but even then you can find better deals than a traditional florist. My husband discovered a great resource in the floral department at our local grocery store. The main lady running this department tells him when fresh shipments are coming in, what's on sale and really helps the bouquet looks its best. And I have always found that flowers from this particular store look just as wonderful as any other source.
Good quality dark chocolate is always worth the splurge to me, though the packaging doesn't have to be red or pink or Valentine's Day branded. Since Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year, I think I'll make a nice breakfast and bake a special dessert and maybe we'll go see a movie later in the day. Making some meals at home helps to save money, especially on a holiday like Valentine's.
I buy something really good to eat and cook at home. Flowers are from the local Publix unless Whole Foods does their 2 dozen roses for $19.99.
We have a romantic dinner at home or if we go out we use a coupon
Dinner at home and I'll bake a cake for the hubby too!
We often used gift cards received at Christmas paired with a discount coupon to enjoy our dinner out together.
Costco restaurant gift cards saves us a little.
We have a cozy dinner at home
Gone are the days when useless expenditure use to be made for impressing your valentine, rather people under the current scenario thinks of saving their hard earned for buying things of better use or takes the help of payday loans to fulfill their wishes.
We are having a home cooked meal with homemade decorations and a bottle of wine that was a Christmas gift.
I save money by cooking a meal at home. We celebrate a few days after Valentine's day. My parents watch my son so we get a kid-free night.
Sadly, won't be celebrating this year, so I guess I'll be saving that way. Otherwise, I would look for coupons or do something at home!
To save money for Valentines day I always watch for great sales, and shop ahead when I can!
I guess I save money on Valentine's Day by not celebrating it haha.
I save money by taking advantage of coupons and deals especially when it comes to a restaurant night out.
We eat dinner at home with candlelight.
By staying in and playing video games LOL
We stay in and have a nice night together.
I definitely don't put a lot of weight on Valentine's Day - I'm more likely to make homemade cards for friends than buy any presents for a significant other.
Buy on sale with a coupon.
We only bought one small package of chocolate for Valentine's Day. Hubby said he suspected I'd be hitting the sales today (day after) so he didn't need to get me anything :)
Cards instead of gifts.
I use coupons for candy.