15 frugal but romantic Valentine ideas
You don’t need to flatter your sweetheart with expensive gifts on Valentine’s Day.
While those who are financially strapped may want to keep up appearances among casual acquaintances, anyone who knows you well enough to be your sweetheart knows when you are on a budget and why.
Here are 15 frugal, but romantic, Valentine’s Day ideas:
- 1. Be selective on the candy. A prettier tin or better-quality chocolate will make a better impression than the biggest box of no-name chocolate on the shelf.
- 2. Buy someone a bag or two of favorite “candy bar” chocolates in Valentine packaging and put them in a glass jar or bowl that you found at the thrift shop.
- 3. Handmade cards and hand-written love letters are impressive. The cards don’t have to be as crafty as the ones I create with my array of papercrafting supplies. Go find a piece of red construction paper, a piece of white computer paper, a red or metallic color marker, a pair of scissors and some glue. Then make a paper heart card just like a first-grader would. It will be just fine.
- 4. Look beyond the holiday merchandise aisles for inspiration. Would she like a bottle of wine and two pretty red wine glasses? Would he like a warm fuzzy throw for his recliner? I usually get a Barbie doll for a Valentine’s Day gift. (Trust me, I love it.)
- 5. Ask your cake-making and candy-making friends and relatives if you can borrow their heart-shaped muffin pans, cookie cutters or cake pans. Use them to make heart-shaped pancakes, omelets, cookies, pizza or cake for the occasion. Baked goods can be made and frozen ahead of time if you are sharing pans and stencils. And instead of buying heart-shaped candies to decorate those treats, use red food coloring or sprinkle red sugar on top.
- 6. Do you have any restaurant gift cards that were Christmas gifts? Use them. Do not feel guilty about that gift card being your “Valentine date night” if you could not otherwise afford to go out.
- 7. Make a date for breakfast, lunch, appetizer or dessert instead of a dinner date. Because Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend this year, you might find smaller crowds when you stay away from Saturday night anyway.
- 8. Take advantage of the combo deals at your favorite restaurants. You can, for example, share an appetizer and dessert and then each pick from a selection of entrees at several restaurants. (We do those combo deals a lot in my family!)
- 9. Get out your pretty china, glassware, table linens and candles and serve a romantic dinner at home.
- 10. Limit the number of paper plates, paper cups and paper napkins you buy with a specific theme. Go for the solid color items instead. If you buy solid red paper plates now for a Valentine’s Day party, you can what is left of those plates at a Memorial Day picnic.
- 11. Set your mp3 player or iTunes to the romantic songs you’ve enjoyed as a couple over the year.
- 12. Get a favorite photograph made into a keepsake item such as a shirt or wall plaque. Many on-line photo labs can do this for you, but pay attention to the order and delivery times.
- 13. Mini scrapbook kits can be found at the craft stores. A stack of about 10 photos can be arranged into a small book in a couple of hours. Use the expensive stickers and paper diecuts sparingly – a colorful array of paper mats can dress up most pages.
- 14. Use your rewards points or rebate checks to buy gifts such as a romantic book or DVD.
- 15. If there is a NASCAR fan in the family, don’t try to compete with the Daytona 500. Yes, one the biggest car races of the season starts at 1 p.m. Feb. 14. You can, however, have some fun with this quirk of a date because I have seen NASCAR Valentine cards in the stores.
Continue reading 15 frugal but romantic Valentine ideas …
From Monroe on a Budget.
DetNews: Michigan retailers face chilly holiday season
The Detroit News focused on Michigan retailers in this Christmas shopping forecast story: Retailers face chilly holiday season.
A snippet:
Gift cards, free shipping deals on the Web and no-frills presents such as books and music are expected to see an upswing this holiday season.
But the steep markdowns on electronics, clothing, sporting goods and furnishings that shoppers enjoyed last year aren’t likely to be found. Saddled with extra merchandise after last year’s banking collapse, retailers have scaled back inventory dramatically.
The shift in merchandise specials toward lower-priced items is not entirely a bad thing.
For years, shoppers would be buzzing about expensive gifts that weren’t in my budget even with a Black Friday deal. But this year, I’ve noticed good prices and promotions for items that are usually on my Christmas shopping list or worth considering: Christmas cards, boxed chocolates, movies, books, Christmas tree ornaments and iTunes cards.
So if you are the frugal sort to begin with, it looks like the 2009 deals are made for you.
You’ll find the promotions I’ve found so far for stores in the Monroe, Mich., area under sales and deals and Black Friday 2009.
Continue reading DetNews: Michigan retailers face chilly holiday season …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Start Planning Christmas Gift Shopping – Frugal Challenge
It may seem a bit early to be thinking about shopping for Christmas gifts, but, if you’re like me, trying to save as much money as I possibly can, you should probably start today. Planning a more affordable Christmas this year doesn’t have to mean cutting out all the gifts, decorations, food, and fun. You just need to start early, use your creativity, and base your shopping on good judgment.
Christmas time is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration. If you are burdened with debt because you overspent on gifts, your heart will not be light and full of good cheer. Those expensive gifts can become a burden that strips away the joy of the season.
Let’s look at some basic strategies for slashing the overspending that can occur at Christmas time.
Plan Your Gift Budget – This is so basic you would think that most people already do this, but many don’t, and that is where the trouble starts. Don’t start with a gift list, start with writing down exactly how much you can afford to spend on Christmas gifts this year. Don’t forget that you’ll need to budget for the rest of your Christmas expenses, too. Things like decorations and food need to be budgeted for, so keep the total expense in mind.
Make Your Gift Recipient List – Write down everyone you normally buy a Christmas gift for.
Remove Some People From That List – This may seem a bit difficult, but you are almost guaranteed that after you go through your list, you’ll find someone that you really don’t need to buy a gift for this year. If it makes you more comfortable, just move their names to the bottom of the list so you can remember to do something for them, even if that doesn’t involve buying a gift.
Plan Dollar Amount For Each Recipient – Write a dollar amount behind each name that you now have on your list, then add it up. Are you outside your budget for gifts? You’ll need to go back then and rethink each amount and adjust the figures until it fits within your gift budget.
Make Your Gift List – Now you can go through your list of names and start jotting down ideas for each person. Because you’ve created a budgeted dollar amount for each individual, your ideas now have a limit. The problem most people get into when they shop for gifts is that they create a gift list with gift ideas first instead of dollar amounts first. To save your budget, always start your gift list with the dollar amount to be spent for each gift recipient.
Start Your Shopping Early – Yes, there are some great bargains to be found as you get closer to Christmas, but the panic that sets in usually ends up costing us more than we planned. Last minute shopping narrows your choices.
Re-Think Gift Shopping – Consider more inventive options for at least some of the names on your list. Shop smart and thrifty by looking through bargain basements and resale shops. Yes, even a trip through the second-hand stores may prove to be rewarding. You’ll never know what kind of fun and funky finds you’ll come across. For instance, you might find great vintage jewelry that would be just right for a teenager. You may even stumble upon some antique books. And, what little princess wouldn’t like a big box of sparkly gowns to play dress-up in? You’ll find racks of bejeweled, lacy, and shimmery dresses on the bridal and special events racks in most larger thrift shops. Check it out before you head to the mall.
Homemade Gifts – If you are creative, if you can follow a pattern, if you can cook, or if you just have a desire to make something nice, put your skills to work and make a gift. Something as simple as a pretty jar filled with bath salts can be just the right gift to give a friend in need of a relaxing moment. Gifts made from the heart are always appreciated.
Leave Yourself Off Your Gift List – If you’re tempted to buy yourself stuff while you’re shopping for gifts, you’ll need to give yourself a stern talking to! There are so many lovely things out there in the store aisles and they all seem to be calling your name. That is what is called “marketing to the impulse shopper.” If you have no control, give your list to someone else who has more self-control and is willing to do your shopping for you. Know yourself and avoid this pitfall. Your budget can’t take it!
This is my frugal challenge to you. Hold onto the joy of Christmas gift giving by setting your gift budget within your means. Don’t go into debt in order to give gifts that you cannot afford. Your family and friends would not like it if they knew their gift caused you a hardship.
Continue reading Start Planning Christmas Gift Shopping – Frugal Challenge …
From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.