Valentine’s Day is coming up. Bring on the candlelight dinners at the best restaurant in town, dozen of red roses, high-end chocolate, and expensive jewelry that that lady in that commercial just gushed over. Right? Right??!!?!
Wrong.
When you’re on a tight budget, those things just aren’t practical or even possible. Many couples on a budget just choose to forgo celebrating all together. If you and your significant other want to celebrate Valentine’s Day but don’t have the money to drop on an amazing night on the town, you might feel frustrated. Before you throw in the towel and go for boxed mac and cheese and reruns of old TV sitcoms, check out this list of budget-friendly Valentine’s Day dates.
Dinner…Another Night
This one has two things that make it more affordable. The first is that the entree specials on Valentine’s Day are often not as great a deal as they want you to believe. Or the things that are on special are really high end and still out of the budget. Going on a night other than the 14th can make a big difference with that. The other reason to go on another night is for the use of coupons or rewards programs. Obviously, not all restaurants that you may choose to go to make use of these types of things. However, if the restaurant you would like to go to does, they often state on the coupon “not valid on February 14th” or something similar.
Rent a Movie
Let’s face it. It’s more comfortable to watch a movie at home than in the theater anyway. You can pause it when you want, put your feet up, and wear your PJs without funny looks from other movie goes (also, no other movie goers). To make it more special for Valentine’s Day, make a special snack and be sure to keep off all other electronics. Nothing ruins a date like a phone or a computer. Plus, renting is usually under $5 whether you use a Redbox or stream it and the snacks are a lot cheaper than at the movie theater.
Wander a Thrift Store
This one may sound strange but hear me out. Sometimes you find amazing stuff at thrift stores. Sometimes you find hilariously ridiculous stuff there. Either way, it can be a fun time. You can definitely turn a trip to Goodwill into a date. My husband and I liked to do this in college. We’d split up for a little while then meet back up at a designated time to compare what crazy thing we found. We’re both a bit competitive so it was really fun. Even if you’re not competitive, it can be fun to wander a thrift store together just to see what you find.
Date Night at Home
Date night boxes are all the rage right now…for good reason. For less than $40 a month (for most boxes), you have a date planned out for you. With Datebox, you fill out a questionnaire with lots of different questions and they tailor a date for you. It comes with snacks, activities, and the items needed for your date. It could be a game, it could be crafty, it could be a cooking adventure, or it could be any number of other things. The point is the surprise and the fun with your significant other.
Datebox is $39.95 if you want to do just one month but you can save $10 off with this link. If you like it, you can get it for as low as $32.96/month with a longer commitment. That’s a pretty cheap date! And it’s the gift that keeps on giving instead of just one date. You won’t have it in time for Valentine’s Day this year but it does make an excellent Valentine’s Date gift for your special someone.
Take a Drive
Chances are, there is something near you that is pretty and worth a drive. Whether it’s a lookout or a water feature or some pretty buildings, there’s something. Pick up some cheap food or pack some from home and just go for a drive. If you time it right, you might be able to see a beautiful sunset. Gas may not be super affordable but a fast food dinner or snacks and the gas to go for a drive can still be a fair amount cheaper than a more traditional dinner and a movie.
Budget-friendly Valentine’s Day dates don’t have to be boring. With a little thought, you can make them fun, special, and as romantic as fits your relationship. If you’re in a more fun and goofy relationship, wandering a thrift store may be perfect for you. If you’re more romantic, going for a drive might be more your speed. Whatever you choose, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a budget buster.
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