Five Valentine’s Day Ideas (On The Cheap)

1. The surprise factor – Score points for no price by talking up your plans! Simply making the plan and telling him or her its a surprise adds mystique, excitement and guess what? It costs nothing but time and talk! Make sure to follow the rest of the steps so you don’t talk too big and under-deliver on the surprises.

Example: Call your Valentine one week prior to your date. Let them know that you are planning something special and they need not do a thing. That is the first gift…the gift of your time and effort. You’re also adding a fun sense of anticipation. If they ask what you’re planning, tell them just enough to get their imagination going. Suggest appropriate clothing, tell them to come hungry (if you’re eating) and be ready to have fun.

2. Make a card by hand. Its a gesture that goes a long way. You don’t need to spend more than you would on a store-bought card. Just go to the drug store into the school supplies section and pick up glue, markers, construction paper and whatever else you might use. Another option is to buy kid-style Valentines like you used in grade school.

3. Multiple little gifts over time — When you first pick up or see your date, offer a single or a few flower(s). Be different! Don’t go with a bouquet of roses! Why not a single Gerber daisy or a few Black-eyed Susans? Flowers are simple beauty and less is more!

After dinner, or after some part of your date, have a second small, but meaningful gift. Choose something like his or her favorite candy bar. Tell him or her that you noticed they liked it and remind them of a movie date. It may not be candy and a movie, but think of something that relates to a fun experience you had together.

Toward the end of your date, have one last special gift. Don’t spend too much money on it. Make it about what your date likes to do. If she or he likes to write, buy a nice journal or pen…a book if they like to read, movie tickets, knitting needles or cookie cutters. Frame a picture of you together! Let her/him know that you like to see them doing what they are happiest doing. The thoughtfulness of these little gifts will mean more than if you spent twice as much on a box of chocolates that they may not even eat.

4. Bake or cook for your date – If you can, make dinner for your date. Pasta, sauce a salad and bread is a simple option for those who are kitchen-challenged! Taking the time to shop, prepare and serve a meal to your Valentine is a sweet way to say you love them. The value of your time will not be overlooked.

If you decide to go out for dinner, be sure to bake your Valentine some chocolate chip cookies or whatever their favorite may be. For those of you who cannot bake, it still counts if you buy cookie dough in the fridge section of the grocery store and simply cut them up and bake them. Your date will know you don’t normally bake, and will find it thoughtful that you tried anyway for them.

5. Compliments, chivalry and favors – Be sure to pepper your Valentine’s Day experience with romantic details such as specific compliments (”I love that shirt…you look cute in that”). Chivalry will always be appreciated. Offer him or her things (”can I pour you another glass of wine?”). Anticipate what your date wants or needs a step ahead of them and provide it, no matter how small it seems (its chilly in here, do you want to change tables?).

None of these things will break the bank, but they’ll wow your date and guarantee a romance-filled Valentine’s Day. Customize the details to reflect your love for him or her, your memories together and your future possibilities.

Do I hear wedding bells?