By Stephanie Hamilton
Well, it's almost that time of year again: Valentine's Day. A day when we're expected to express our love with extravagant jewelry, fine wine and chocolates, and equally extravagant flower bouquets. Last year, U.S. consumers spent more than $12 billion on gifts for spouses and loved ones. And why wouldn't we? The commercials (and society) tell us that the amount of our love is equal to the dollar amount of our gift.
But one of the most important aspects of gaining (and maintaining) control of our finances is to step away from societal expectations and do what's best of our wallets and our financial futures. Though the jewelry, candy and flower stores would have you believe differently, it is entirely possible to say "I love you" in profound, but inexpensive ways. Here are eight suggestions:
Hand-written notes
Instead of spending money to buy a love note written by someone else, take time to write one of your own. Or better yet, tell your loved one that Valentine's Day marks the beginning of your "One Year of Love Notes" commitment. Instead of waiting until Valentine's Day to tell your loved one how you feel, commit to telling him/her on a regular basis, through sweet and simple hand-written notes. It's personal, romantic, and will only cost you paper, pen, and a little time.
Breakfast in bed
An oldie but a goodie. And it requires little extra effort or money. You and your loved one have to eat breakfast anyway, right? Plan to make your loved one's favorite breakfast food, whether it's Belgian waffles or cereal. Put it on a nice serving tray, include a single flower in a simple vase, and voila!
Find a beautiful, quiet place and make it your own
Take your loved one out exploring, and find the place that will become "your place;" that favorite romantic spot you go to again and again to simply be alone and enjoy each other's company. If you're lucky enough to live in a region where the weather permits, pack a picnic and make a day of it.
Buy flowers, but keep it simple
Flowers are a great way to let people know you're thinking of and love them. But this time of year, there is societal pressure (mostly fueled by floral advertisements) to spend big on an elaborate display. Instead of spending a lot of money on flowers that will be delivered by a stranger, buy a simple bouquet and deliver it yourself. It's a great, and personal, way to surprise your loved one.
Throw stones
Ok, this sounds cheesy, but it can be a pretty sweet, romantic gesture. Stand outside your loved one's window (yes, even if you live together) with a simple bouquet of flowers, and throw stones (small ones!) at her window to get her attention. Cheesy? Yes. Romantic? Totally.
Read to each other
It's not just for little kids. Reading is a great way to spend time together and share things that are important to you. Pick your favorite novel or poet, have your loved one do the same, sit together and read them to each other. It might feel a little awkward at first if you've never done it before, but that feeling fades away quickly. Not only is reading aloud to each other a great opportunity to share, but it helps you slow down and enjoy being together. Often, our lives are so hectic that even when we're in the same room with people we love, we're not really there with them. Reading facilitates a deeper, more intimate connection.
Create something together
Couples, especially those who live together, can spend a lot of time working on projects together: painting, cleaning, fixing. Those activities are necessary, but not necessarily fun. For Valentine's Day, take a break from the Honey Do list and create something fun. Build a gingerbread house, do a paint-by-numbers of a favorite work of art, try your hand at sculpting. The creation itself doesn't matter as much as your doing it together.
Tell a story
Rather than reading a fictional story to your loved one, tell a story of your own. Share your favorite memory from your relationship - the first time you met, your first date, when and how you first knew you were in love, what you appreciate about her intellect or his sense of humor. These are, of course, just a few suggestions to get you thinking. The possibilities really are endless. Valentine's Day can be special, but it doesn't have to be expensive.
There are lots of way to say "I love you" that cost little or no money. And best of all, you can do them all the time instead of just one day a year.
Related Articles:
- The Elderly Are Getting Richer; The Young, Not So Much
- Avoid Scaring Potential Home Buyers; How to Get Rid of Pet Odors
- Rise of the Hypermiler; How to Save Money on Gas by Changing the Way You Drive
- What the Heck Is Credit Utilization?
- Leave It to the Pros: Q&A with Personal Finance Author Kathy Spencer
13 comments