If you want a romantic dinner
For a cheap Valentine’s Day date, stay in. You automatically spend more money when you go out because you pay for service and atmosphere plus your entrees. Luckily, you can recreate that romantic ambience at home for free. For a fun and cheap Valentine’s Day idea, switch up the feng shui and eat in a room other than your kitchen. Have a picnic by the fireplace or dozens of candles. (Mood lighting is everything.) Sprinkle rose petals around the floor. Make your menu mean something. If you got Chinese food on your first date, eat Chinese. End with a light dessert, like sorbet garnished with mint.
Here are a range of cheap and cheerful gifts to keep you in the good books..
If you want to get away
Websites like tripadvisor and Airbnb let you travel across the country (or just across town) without exorbitant hotel prices. Or you can give your home that clean resort feel by cleaning up the clutter.
If you want the perfect gift
For a cheap but meaningful Valentine’s Day gift, you’re better off buying an experience rather than a present you can wrap, according to science. Researchers at San Francisco State University found that people were happier when they bought experiences rather than material objects. Lucky for you, Groupon, RedBalloon, and many other sites have deals for different Valentine’s Day date night experiences, like wine tastings, glass blowing and BYO paint nights.
Here are 10 reasons why you should celebrate Valentine’s Day.