With valentine’s day around the corner, couples are anticipated to pay on average anywhere from $187 to $193 for their significant other, roughly making Valentine’s day 10% more expensive than 2022! What is worse is that 20% of Americans believe getting a valentine’s day gift is worth it even if it means they have to increase their credit card debt, according to WalletHub.
Here are 5 ways to save money on food and 5 ways to save money on gifts / activities for valentine’s day without breaking the bank:
Food
- If you must eat out, schedule a reservation at a restaurant known for their food rather than their ambience AND try to schedule the reservation NOT actually on valentine’s day if you can! (Let them know that you made the reservation and that you remembered!)
- Be creative and cook him/her a special meal of their favorite foods at home, while picking up dessert at a local bakery. This is the best of both worlds (in case you are not a great cook)! You will get brownie-points for trying to be thoughtful and creative and if the food is horrible, at least you will have a fancy dessert without having to shell out a lot of money at a restaurant during valentine’s day.
- Instead of dinner, go out for brunch instead. This is a secret that many long-time couples have taken advantage and my wife and I have personally preferred this over dinner! Going for lunch or brunch can be a great way to celebrate Valentine’s day and depending on the cuisine and restaurant, lunch can be anywhere from 10-20% cheaper than dinner.
- Look for deals on wine. Many local wine shops have special deals / promotions on bottles of wine for Valentine’s Day! Another option is to order the bottle of wine online and have the wine bottle label personalized for your significant other, such as the ones offered by Personal Wine.
- If you are ordering take-out online via Seamless, UberEATS, DoorDash, avoid the delivery fee and tips! Go to the restaurant to pick it up and you could save up to 30-40% of the cost!
Gifts and Activities
- If you are purchasing gifts on valentine’s day, look for items online instead of in-store. If you must purchase in-store, look for coupons or sales / clearance items in advance before valentine’s day or go to outlet stores for deals.
- Talk to your significant other about agreeing on a budget and cap for the gift! Don’t try to “outspend” each other. The best gifts are usually ones that have sentimental value or are thoughtful, such as gifts that he/she can use everyday to make their days less stressful.
- Consider purchasing items for a DIY project at home or order something that is a custom print on Etsy that is more memorable and that way, you avoid the gross markups on chocolates and roses. Generally, you can expect to see markups of 50-100% on Valentine’s Day!
- Spend the day together doing a free or low-cost activity that you both enjoy. Some examples may include museums, hiking, parks, music concerts or live music, or art galleries.
- Sponsor game night at home to make him/her laugh. Whether it is playing your favorite card game or playing dance/dance/revolution, it’s important to relax and have a bit of good-natured, competitive fun. This will help create new memories and make it easier on your wallet!
The key to saving money on Valentine’s day is to plan AHEAD (e.g., don’t frantically run out to the nearest jewelry store or local flower shop at the last minute if you can!) and show that you love your significant other rather than spending excessive money to compensate for forgetting!
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