Disclosure: We’re letting you know that this post contains sponsored links which The Smart Wallet receives compensation for, which may impact their order of appearance. This site doesn’t include all available offers.
Ahh, the day of love is here once again! Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14th every year. It’s a day to spread love, reminding the ones you care about that they matter. Although, it’s pretty easy to go overboard and spend way too much money. From gifts like jewelry, fancy dinners, chocolates, red roses, and more, the financial cost of Valentine’s Day can really add up quite quickly. If you’re not careful, cupid’s arrow might just take a direct hit on your wallet.
This year, we’re all feeling the pinch of rising prices and inflation across the board. So why not celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone on a budget? Here are seven creative and fun ways to express your love and appreciation without breaking the bank:
1. Stargazing
What could be more romantic than laying out a blanket and gazing up at the night sky? Stargazing is a fun, relaxing, and FREE activity you can do on Valentine’s Day. The best time to go out and stargaze is after sunset and before sunrise. So it could be a nice activity after dinnertime! Whether it’s from your backyard at home, from a rooftop if you live in an apartment building, or even from the open moonroof of your car: this is a romantic date that’s sure to be a memorable one.
2. Have a Dance Party
Are you and your SO dance lovers? Then this is certainly a budget-friendly, Valentine’s day date night. Just follow these three easy steps:
1. Queue up your favorite songs on Apple Music or Spotify.
2. Make sure to connect to a Bluetooth speaker or smart home device.
3. Let your favorite queued tracks play on shuffle.
4. Get your groove on!
Dancing together is the perfect way to create memories and have fun while not spending a single dollar!
3. Write Secret Love Notes
This is the most sentimental at-home Valentine’s Day activity on the list: you can each write out some “secret love notes” to each other. The secret part, you ask? You can sneak them into your partner’s pockets, briefcase, purse, backpack, etc., so they’ll find them during the day. You’ll leave them smiling and with the feeling that they’re important to you, even when you’re apart!
4. Movie Night at Home
Were you thinking about a night at the movie theater this Valentine’s Day? Think again. There’s nothing better than curling up and watching a movie with your loved one; no need for pricey tickets to the big screen!
Better yet, why not take advantage of existing streaming services you probably already pay for like Netflix or Amazon Prime, to watch these movies at home? Think about it: you won’t spend ANY additional money on this activity! If you don’t already have a subscription to Amazon Prime, you can start a free 30-day trial and check out some popular flicks on the streaming platform (oh, and you’ll also get 30 days of free shipping, too!).
5. Make Dessert
Nothing says “I love you” more than dessert. This is definitely a stress-relieving and delicious activity for the foodies at heart! You and your bae can both pick your favorite desserts and make them together. It’s a totally fun date that will most likely end with your taste buds tingling, and your sweet tooths satisfied. Check out these 71 Valentine’s Day desserts from Delish– there’s something in there that you’d definitely both love to make together!
6. Look at Old Photos Together
If you want to impress them, break out your photo albums or digital photo collections and walk down memory lane together. A picture is worth a thousand words as they say, but it certainly doesn’t cost a thousand dollars!
A great idea is to look through all the photos you have together sequentially. In other words, look through the photos of your first date all the way to Valentine’s Day 2022. You can’t get much more sentimental and economical than that- it’s a double win.
7. Simply Take the Time to Tell Them You Love Them
Last but CERTAINLY not least, simply take the time to remind your spouse, partner, or significant other that you love and care about them this Valentine’s Day. Hopefully, this is something you’ll be able to do face to face but you can always make a phone call or mail a card, too. No other activity means more- after all, the true meaning of this day is love!
