10 ways to keep the cost down this Valentine’s Day

Photo by: terren in Virginia
Photo by: terren in Virginia

By Ema Brewer 

Not to worry, here’s 10 ways for you to enjoy the festivities but not break the bank at the same time.

10. WHY GO OUT? 

Going out on V-day can sometimes be a nightmare. Expensive fancy restaurants with queues flooding out the door, everything suddenly double the original price, the same love songs stuck on repeat and countless other couples everywhere, creating masses of couple envy. Why don’t you and your other half opt for a cosy night in instead?

Photo by: Jenn.
Photo by: Jenn.

9. EATING IN DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE EITHER

If you can already hear your bank card crying at the thought of overly expensive restaurants, find the whole scenario a massive cringe or maybe just a terrible cook – don’t fear! Supermarkets such as Waitrose seem to be pulling out all the stops to aid your Valentine anxieties.

3 course romantic dinners are available from £10, as well as money-off selected champagne and sparkling wines. Tesco are also offering a meal for two for £9, which includes a main dish, side dish, dessert and a bottle of wine. If you shop about enough, you’re bound to come across some really decent bargains.

8. OR, HAVE A PICNIC? 

Photo by: Noah M.
Photo by: Noah M.

This one is super sweet and really easy to do. Bored of all the cliche, table for two malarky? Grab a picnic basket and fill it full with their favourite treats. Sandwiches, pizzas, chocolate, jellies, cake, chicken wings, some favourite soft drinks and maybe a couple alcoholic ones too.

Pick somewhere to share your picnic, a park or the beach, or even somewhere personal to you both as a couple – even your living room. Lay out a blanket, light a few candles, get cosy and enjoy!

7. CREATE A THEMED MOVIE NIGHT

Pick a theme, maybe just surrounding romance or a favourite film of yours, then plan a movie night with snacks that match that theme. To make it even more fun you could plan and make the snacks yourselves. Maybe even make some home-made themed cocktails?

Movie nights are pretty standard activity for couples, but they’re even more fun on Valentine’s Day, so why not mix them up a little bit? Use old ingredients that are lurking in the back of your cabinets or pick them up for cheap at your local supermarket.

6. GET CREATIVE WITH CARDS 

You could spend £5 on a gimmicky, mass-produced card or you could get your hands dirty and experiment with your creative side to add that personal touch.

Pick up some card for £1, or other arts and crafts bits and bobs, for pennies from shops such as Paperchase or even the £1 shop. Regardless if it ends up looking like a 3-year-old made it, they’re bound to love it and it shows a lot of time, thought and effort.

5. MAKE A MEMORY BOX 

Photo by: Evan Blaser.
Photo by: Evan Blaser.

This could be slightly more time consuming but will be worth much more than tacky, stuffed toys and cheap chocolates.

Find a nice box, or use a shoe box (you can paint it/stick photos on it/etc.) Fill it with sentimental memories you have both shared as a couple, such as tickets to theme parks, receipts from favourite days out, flight tickets, a rock from a beach day out, good luck charms, a teabag from your favourite coffee shop, a phone bill from when you engaged for hours on the phone, photo’s, a letter or maybe just a list of everything that makes them great.

You get the idea! You can even keep adding to it on birthdays, christmas or next V-day.

4. GO ON AN ADVENTURE 

Photo by: Khánh Hmoong.
Photo by: Khánh Hmoong.

Do something the pair of you have never done before. Maybe plan a long walking route, go roller skating, swimming, or DO something silly like karaoke or a pub quiz.

It’s the simple things that make the best memories!

3. DISCOUNT WEBSITES ARE YOUR BEST FRIEND 

Sites such as Groupon, Wowcher, Gumtree, and Lastminute.com are your best friends!

You can get mega savings on goods, holidays, spa days, meals – everything! They’re definitely worth having a look.

There’s often some dispute as to whether it’s acceptable to use discount vouchers on Valentine’s Day, but I think both parties will appreciate the bargain. You could also get a redeemable voucher for your partner to activate themselves!

2. IF YOU’RE BUYING JEWELLERY, WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE BIG DAY’S OVER

Photo by: Seth Lemmons.
Photo by: Seth Lemmons.

Demand for jewellery goes way down after February 14, so retailers often put on big discounts to attract customers.

However, it’s probably best mentioning this before Valentine’s day actually arrives to avoid disappointment and awkwardness. If your partner loves everything sparkly and also loves a bargain then surely they’ll understand.

You could even go together to pick it out!

1. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY!

Photo by: Jonas Foyn Therkelsen.
Photo by: Jonas Foyn Therkelsen.

It’s not about who can flash the most cash, expensive fine dining or uploading photo’s of your new diamonds to Instagram to brag – remember to have fun!

Make your own traditions. Put your own ‘extra’ in to the ‘ordinary’.

Maybe, you both have an inside joke, something silly that happened on your first date? Or something you have done before on Valentine’s Day, such as getting lost and having to eat in a random drive-through somewhere? Play on that and continue the tradition on. Be creative and have a laugh!

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