Money Saver: 5 Ideas for a Budget Friendly, Romantic Valentine's Day

Living in temporary housing, I have a lot of "opportunity" right now to watch a lot of television. Did you detect that hint of sarcasm?

Since I've watched so much television recently, and I'm not equipped with a DVR for fast forwarding through commercials, I've seen a great deal of advertising, specifically for Valentine's Day. It seems like an endless cycle of profiting from every holiday imaginable, and that's difficult for folks attempting to live on a tight budget.

It's important to note that despite all the ads for 2 dozen roses and expensive diamond jewelry, there are other, and in my opinion, better ways to sweep your love off of his or her feet.

Tips for a Budget Friendly Valentine's Day... without cutting back on the romance.

1. Cook and serve dinner at home

I don't know about other women, but I would prefer a dinner prepared with love by my husband over an expensive steak dinner at a fancy restaurant, or dinner at any restaurant at all. This is something you ladies can do too. I prepared my husband's favorite dinner for our anniversary one year - the dinner and a card was all there was, and it was a wonderful, romantic, and memorable day.

2. Picnic in the park

Prepare a simple picnic, and have it on the ground in front of a tree (weather permitting, of course). If the weather is cold or lousy, a picnic on a blanket on the floor indoors is wonderful too. If you have a fireplace, this adds to the mood. Purchase some tasty french or italian bread, some cheese, fruit, or anything you can feed to each other. Carve your names into a tree for some additional cheesy romance. ;-)

3. Volunteer together

There are few things in this world that will bring a couple closer together, and none of them include expensive vacations, fancy dinners, or expensive jewelry. Simple things like doing the dishes together or working together for a cause that's important to both of you are the memories that you will cherish forever. What cause gets your heart pumping? Perhaps you can volunteer with Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a family in need. You can volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen for the day. If you don't have children, you can volunteer to babysit the children of a couple that never go out together because they can never afford a sitter.

Speaking from experience here, my husband and I, before we were married and had kids, would babysit for friends together from time to time. It was a wonderfully rewarding experience for our relationship, watching each other with the kids, and seeing us eventually in the role of husband and father, wife and mother.

4. A romantic movie at home

Personally, I detest a crowded theater. I've always enjoyed curling up on the couch under a warm blanket watching a movie at home. For those of you who disagree, allow me to convince you. First, to take your love to a movie theater, surrounded by people isn't romantic at all. It's crowded and you're surrounded by people you don't even know when you're attempting an intimate moment. You have no privacy. When you need to use the bathroom, you miss part of the movie. If you want to stop watching because, perhaps the sparks have started flying and you wish to spend some time doing other things together (wink wink, nudge nudge), you can't do it without leaving and missing the movie. Then you've wasted somewhere around $15.00 plus the outrageous cost for snacks and drinks.

However, you can rent a movie or watch an old favorite from your personal collection for much cheaper while snuggling comfortably on the couch or in your bed, pausing the movie whenever you need a break or the night becomes more...intimate...

Think about it. Do you really want to have to wait for a drive home once you're both in the mood, or would you rather be able to have your quality time right here and now? ;-)

5. A single rose with a kiss

I'm sorry, but when I see a dozen or more red roses, I'm overwhelmed. It's too much, it's gaudy, and unnecessary. Don't get me wrong, I would be very happy if my husband brought home a dozen roses on Valentine's Day, but I would be just as happy with a single red rose and a kiss on the cheek. In fact, a kiss on the cheek and a simple "Happy Valentine's Day, Honey," would make me the happiest woman on earth.

Don't forget, it doesn't have to be a rose either. Any lovely flower will do, even one picked outside and brought home between your fingers - just so long as you don't pull it out of anyone's garden.

Remember, you don't have to spend a lot of money to say, "I love you." In fact, you don't have to spend anything. Just say, "Happy Valentine's Day. I love you." That's all the love of your life should ever need from you.