19 Practically Free Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day This Year
Hooray! It’s Valentine’s Day and you’re in love. Crap! It’s secretly a totally commercialized holiday designed to deplete your bank account. No worries, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the world’s schmaltziest holiday on the uber cheaps.
1.
Plaster the house in Post-its
Leave love notes on the bathroom mirror, on the laptop screen, inside the refrigerator, etc.
2.
Or hide them away
Tuck them into spots your honey will discover throughout the day (in his or her coat pockets, car, briefcase, etc.).
3.
Make red velvet pancakes
Wake up early and surprise your person with the best breakfast ever. (Bonus points if it’s heart-shaped.)
4.
Watch the sunset
Get home early, bundle up and enjoy over a bottle of bubbles. (Psst: Prosecco is a great, cheap alternative to champers.)
5.
Home swap with friends
Craving a romantic getaway? See if your pal with the beach house would like to “trade” for a weekend in the city.
6.
Give a “gift certificate”
Write a coupon for a 60-minute massage. Or closet reorganization. Or movie night of their choosing. (You get the idea.)
7.
Fake fine dining
Set the table in your best linens and china and recreate a favorite meal from your travels together. (Perhaps the surprisingly inexpensive Moules et Frites from your trip to Provence?)
8.
Make a mixtape
Mine your Spotify for all of “your songs” collected throughout your courtship, and send it to him at work.
9.
Craft a schmancy bath
Add bubbles, sprinkle with rose petals and light every candle you own. (So what if it’s a little cheesy.)
10.
Make chocolate fondue
In other words, DIY your own chocolate-covered strawberries for a fraction of the cost.
11.
Get all dolled up
...to go have a beer together at your local dive bar.
12.
Take a long nature walk
With travel mugs with spiked hot cocoa.
13.
Make a living room movie theatre
Stock up on popcorn, Milk Duds and soda, and watch an old rom com on Netflix.
14.
Play hookie
And stay in bed together all damn day.
15.
Channel your inner middle-schooler
And give your S.O. a handmade Valentine and nostalgic box of Sweethearts.
16.
Frame a photo
Print a great picture of the two of you (yes, people still do that) and put it in a frame for his desk or bedside table.
17.
Set up a scavenger hunt
Leave little clues containing cute memories and favorite candies around your home…then behold as your guy or lady goes scrambling to find that coffee mug you gave back in 2009.
18.
Write out a list of all the reasons for your love
#47: The victory dance he does when he’s done cleaning the kitchen.
19.
Or just celebrate the day after
Because all those giant teddy bears and heart shaped chocolate boxes will be 50 percent off.
