Dollar Tamer Helping you tame your money

With the economy tight, everyone is looking for more cost-effective ways to celebrate holidays and Valentine’s Day is no exception.  There are plenty of ways to celebrate your love for each other without making large donations to Hallmark (Americans spent $17 Billion on the holiday in 2008).  The possibilities are endless, but here are a few to get your mind rolling:

• The good old-fashioned homemade card.  A card you make yourself takes more effort and can be more appreciated than one that took a few minutes grabbing at a store.
• A home-cooked candlelight dinner.  Spaghetti is inexpensive, but it can also be romantic with the right lighting.  Your kid might even enjoy being a waiter for the evening!
• Decorate a box and fill it with leftover Halloween candy.  No, it’s not chocolate, but it’s still sweets for your sweet. You could even dust off the cookie sheet and fill the box with some homemade cookies.
• Grab a tent and hit a campsite.  Or if it’s too cold in your area of the country, make a tent in your living room with some kitchen chairs and a blanket.
• Use the VCR to record a movie that’s on TV that you’d both enjoy. Pop some popcorn, turn down the lights, and enjoy your own private movie theatre.
• Take a trip out to the park and take a walk, hand in hand.  Take along a picnic basket and have a quiet lunch under a tree.  You could even take a day off work and not have to worry about a babysitter!
• Keep an eye out for low-cost, or even free music events.  Universities often have great opportunities to enjoy live music.

The important part is showing your loved one how much they mean to you. Be creative and put some thought into it, make the evening different than a typical evening.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, it only has to be meaningful.

Have you tried something that wowed in the past? Post in the comments!

Posted under Spending