Valentines Day – The cheap way
Love is in the air, everywhere you look around. Ah, Valentines Day- potentially the most stressful day of the year, for those in love and those out of it. For those out of love, the temptation to spend three week’s pay on presents for yourself (comprised mostly of chocolate and alcohol) is strong. If you’re in love, there’s the pressure to pull out all stops and mark the date (and your enduring love) with presents, dinner and nice champagne.
There are couples that don’t subscribe to the Valentines Day circus (and plenty of singles who claim they don’t either). If you don’t want to spend a fortune on Valentines Day- this is your cheapest option. Talk about it with your partner and say you don’t believe in the consumerism of it all. That way you look principled, even though essentially you’re just dodging costs. If you genuinely don’t like the idea of Valentines Day, say so and choose another day every year to celebrate.
If you suspect a non-consumerist position won’t get you any gold stars, then here are a couple of other ideas for a Cheapskate Romantic.
Go epic
For the cost of a couple of rented movies and some dusted-off fairy lights, you can have yourself a romantic Valentines Day for close to nothing. Put some fairy lights around the room, a couple of candles on the table and rent Casablanca and Gone with the Wind. If you have a favourite movie in common, put it on. If you’re stuck for an idea, Roman Holiday tends to be a winner every time.
Cook up a storm
I cannot think of anything more awkward than a restaurant on Valentines Day. Call me a cynic, but my impression of those evenings has always been a restaurant of couples making stilted conversation in wake of the feeling that they should be demonstrating just how in love they are. If you feel pretty comfortable in that knowledge, then cooking at home is just as good. Make the meal simple, so whoever is cooking doesn’t stress out over it. February is still gorgeous in Australia, so make your romantic meal a picnic. Cook all your favourite things and head out to a National Park. Go camping if you’re feeling genuinely adventurous.
Go teenage
You remember the days when you were young and first getting into the whole romance business. Get into it again just for one day. That’s right- grab a car and drive out to a spot overlooking the ocean, or a lookout, or a park. Grab a couple of hamburgers, or fish and chips, and a couple of bottles of Passion Pop. Make a mixtape of all the songs that were on the radio when you were first together.
Everyone says it, and yet no one seems to remember it- Valentines Day is all about hanging out with the person you’re keen on. Make a present, or go to a cheap concert down the road. If you like the monumental romance of the movies, stage it at home.
There are, of course, a million websites giving advice on cheap Valentines ideas, why not Google it and find some good ideas?
My personal favourite idea out there?
Fingerpainting a picture of your beloved, an idea that could go very well or very badly!
What are your cheap Valentines Day plans?
We would love to hear your ideas, the quirkier the better!
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