Valentine’s Day is a few days away, and according to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer will spend more than $115 for Valentine’s Day this year – up more than 11 percent from last year. Coupled with the money spent during the holidays, many will carry extra expenses over the coming months – particularly if a credit card is the chosen method of payment.
On Valentine’s Day, we all like to do things for our significant other to make them feel loved. But while buying a beautiful piece of jewelry or spending a fortune on dinner may make them feel special, creating a mound of debt in the process is not very loving. Today, we will look at creative ways to keep that date cheap without being a cheap date.
Is it OK to Scrimp on Valentine’s Day?
For Valentine's Day, you might feel the need to pull out all the stops, but it's not necessary. Sure, some people want to celebrate the holiday in a lavish way, but others prefer to go the low-key route. Whether you fit into these descriptions or fall somewhere in the middle, there are a romantic date ideas for Valentine's Day or the weekend before that suit every budget.
The Least Expensive Way to Spend Feb 14th
After a home-cooked meal, snuggle up with your honey and enjoy a movie night on the cheap. Now through Feb. 14, Redbox is running a special promotion: rent two items at once from a kiosk and get a promo code for a free one-night rental. The code expires one week after you receive it. “The Romantics,” a romantic “dramedy” will be released Tuesday, but you can also watch the love story “Letters to Juliet” or the tear-jerker “Toy Story 3.”
Flower Power
When it comes to flowers, you usually get what you pay for and one way to cut costs is to hand deliver, this can save anywhere from $8 to $20. You could look at www.groupon.com which has been offering $20 for $40 worth of flowers with FTD. Another option is to grow some flowers by planting some or getting a potted bowl of blooms that she will see everyday. Treat them right and they will survive all year or longer for the price of cut flowers.
One kind of fun option reminds me of one of my favorite romantic comedies, “Kate and Leopold” and that is to give flowers with specific meanings. Go to TheFlowerExpert.com to find out the meaning of different flowers. For example, red roses mean romantic love while a bouquet of mixed roses means “I don’t know my feelings about you yet, but I’m sending you roses anyway.” Carnations are a less expensive option and a red carnation conveys love pride, beauty and admiration. Daisys are also inexpensive and convey “loyal love.” A sunflower symbolizes pure thoughts and it’s one that my 16 year son is getting his special friend-who-is-a-girl. So you can select a cheaper flower if, and only if, you write a note explaining the meaning of the flower and why you chose it for your true love.
Dinner and a Show
Going out for dinner seems to be a Valentine’s Day mainstay and dinner for two can range anywhere from $20 to $200 or more. How to you have a nice meal without sending a signal to your mate that you want to spend as little as possible? After all, aren’t they worth a splurge on Valentine’s Day?
There are quite a few ways to save a lot in this area and still have a nice time together. Lunch or brunch can be half the price of dinner and you could go on the Sunday before the big day. In fact, some restaurants are offering prix fix menus for the weekend or entire Valentine week. Go to your favorite restaurant’s twitter or facebook page and see what specials they are offering to get the best value. Some of these values are only offered to social media friends.
You can also go to www.restaurant.com where gift certificates have gone on sale this week. You can get a $25 gift certificate for your favorite restaurant for as little as $2. Check community billboards at your local chamber of commerce website. For example, in our area, a local Greek center is offering a romantic, candlelight dinner for two with champagne, flowers, dinner and dancing for $50 a person. While this may not seem like a bargain at first, when you add up the cost of the individual items like the food, flowers, bottle of bubbly and a cover charge you would have to pay to dance, it’s an all inclusive deal that is sure to please. Plus, you can learn how to dance the Kalamatianos, a traditional Greek dance.
Great Dates that Double As A Great Gift
Right now, there are some great deals to be had at www.travelzoo.com such as a quick, 2 night getaway on a $99 cruise, with an oceanview room. Bob and I took a cruise this way and really loved it. This week, there are also really nice hotels from Orlando to Seattle that range from $49 to $99 a night. Or, if you want to get up, up and away, there’s a $125 two hour helicopter ride featured. Don’t forget signing up for your local Groupon.com or equivalent such as www.seizethedeal.com, www.livingsocial.com, and www.mamapedia.com. The current offerings include $49 for a discovery flight, great spa deals for only $39, or two tickets to the opera for $39.
The Really Big Show
Going to a show or a museum is also a fun date for a lot of couples. Go to www.broadwaybox.com or www.goldstar.com to find great prices on tickets. Remember that you don’t have to attend on Valentines week for it to count, you only have to have purchased the tickets and presented them as a gift! We saw Phantom on Broadway for 50% off and got great orchestra seating. Or, if you want to give a gift that will cost less each time you use it, buy a season’s pass to a museum at www.museumca.org and not only can you visit your local museum whenever you want for the year, but you also have reciprocal privileges at 400 other museums. The same applies to zoos and aquariums, go to www.aza.org (association of zoos and aquariums.
More to come in a couple of days when I answer YOUR questions!
Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
On Valentine’s Day, we all like to do things for our significant other to make them feel loved. But while buying a beautiful piece of jewelry or spending a fortune on dinner may make them feel special, creating a mound of debt in the process is not very loving. Today, we will look at creative ways to keep that date cheap without being a cheap date.
Is it OK to Scrimp on Valentine’s Day?
For Valentine's Day, you might feel the need to pull out all the stops, but it's not necessary. Sure, some people want to celebrate the holiday in a lavish way, but others prefer to go the low-key route. Whether you fit into these descriptions or fall somewhere in the middle, there are a romantic date ideas for Valentine's Day or the weekend before that suit every budget.
The Least Expensive Way to Spend Feb 14th
After a home-cooked meal, snuggle up with your honey and enjoy a movie night on the cheap. Now through Feb. 14, Redbox is running a special promotion: rent two items at once from a kiosk and get a promo code for a free one-night rental. The code expires one week after you receive it. “The Romantics,” a romantic “dramedy” will be released Tuesday, but you can also watch the love story “Letters to Juliet” or the tear-jerker “Toy Story 3.”
Flower Power
When it comes to flowers, you usually get what you pay for and one way to cut costs is to hand deliver, this can save anywhere from $8 to $20. You could look at www.groupon.com which has been offering $20 for $40 worth of flowers with FTD. Another option is to grow some flowers by planting some or getting a potted bowl of blooms that she will see everyday. Treat them right and they will survive all year or longer for the price of cut flowers.
One kind of fun option reminds me of one of my favorite romantic comedies, “Kate and Leopold” and that is to give flowers with specific meanings. Go to TheFlowerExpert.com to find out the meaning of different flowers. For example, red roses mean romantic love while a bouquet of mixed roses means “I don’t know my feelings about you yet, but I’m sending you roses anyway.” Carnations are a less expensive option and a red carnation conveys love pride, beauty and admiration. Daisys are also inexpensive and convey “loyal love.” A sunflower symbolizes pure thoughts and it’s one that my 16 year son is getting his special friend-who-is-a-girl. So you can select a cheaper flower if, and only if, you write a note explaining the meaning of the flower and why you chose it for your true love.
Dinner and a Show
Going out for dinner seems to be a Valentine’s Day mainstay and dinner for two can range anywhere from $20 to $200 or more. How to you have a nice meal without sending a signal to your mate that you want to spend as little as possible? After all, aren’t they worth a splurge on Valentine’s Day?
There are quite a few ways to save a lot in this area and still have a nice time together. Lunch or brunch can be half the price of dinner and you could go on the Sunday before the big day. In fact, some restaurants are offering prix fix menus for the weekend or entire Valentine week. Go to your favorite restaurant’s twitter or facebook page and see what specials they are offering to get the best value. Some of these values are only offered to social media friends.
You can also go to www.restaurant.com where gift certificates have gone on sale this week. You can get a $25 gift certificate for your favorite restaurant for as little as $2. Check community billboards at your local chamber of commerce website. For example, in our area, a local Greek center is offering a romantic, candlelight dinner for two with champagne, flowers, dinner and dancing for $50 a person. While this may not seem like a bargain at first, when you add up the cost of the individual items like the food, flowers, bottle of bubbly and a cover charge you would have to pay to dance, it’s an all inclusive deal that is sure to please. Plus, you can learn how to dance the Kalamatianos, a traditional Greek dance.
Great Dates that Double As A Great Gift
Right now, there are some great deals to be had at www.travelzoo.com such as a quick, 2 night getaway on a $99 cruise, with an oceanview room. Bob and I took a cruise this way and really loved it. This week, there are also really nice hotels from Orlando to Seattle that range from $49 to $99 a night. Or, if you want to get up, up and away, there’s a $125 two hour helicopter ride featured. Don’t forget signing up for your local Groupon.com or equivalent such as www.seizethedeal.com, www.livingsocial.com, and www.mamapedia.com. The current offerings include $49 for a discovery flight, great spa deals for only $39, or two tickets to the opera for $39.
The Really Big Show
Going to a show or a museum is also a fun date for a lot of couples. Go to www.broadwaybox.com or www.goldstar.com to find great prices on tickets. Remember that you don’t have to attend on Valentines week for it to count, you only have to have purchased the tickets and presented them as a gift! We saw Phantom on Broadway for 50% off and got great orchestra seating. Or, if you want to give a gift that will cost less each time you use it, buy a season’s pass to a museum at www.museumca.org and not only can you visit your local museum whenever you want for the year, but you also have reciprocal privileges at 400 other museums. The same applies to zoos and aquariums, go to www.aza.org (association of zoos and aquariums.
More to come in a couple of days when I answer YOUR questions!
Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
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