Frugal Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is a huge commercial holiday. Americans spent about $17 billion on the holiday last year. That's approximately $120 per person, including children. The money is spent on chocolates, flowers, wine, stuffed animals, cards and jewelry. Jewelry is the only item that lasts much longer than the holiday... not counting what the chocolates do to the hips. I don't think the amount of money spent includes the romantic meals as the numbers came from the retail industry. Regardless, that's a lot of money.

So, if you don't spend over $100 on your honey, you look like a schmuck. Right? Wrong. Unless, you have a high-maintenance honey. In which case, you really shouldn't be reading a frugal living blog.

We all like to feel special and loved. That feeling can be created without spending a lot of money. It will take some planning and some creativity. That's why I'm writing about it today. You have three weeks to plan and create a special day for the one you love.

I live in a small town without too many fine dining options. Finding babysitters on Valentine's Evening is difficult. As a result we began the tradition several years ago of creating a fine family feast for the festivities. Traditionally the meal includes rock lobster tail and filet mignon. Rock lobster tail is smaller, less expensive and sweeter tasting than regular lobster tails. Usually this portion of the meal costs about $4 - $5 per person - remember it's a special occasion!

To this base we add any number of side dishes from salad to twice baked potatoes... it just depends on what we're in the mood for that year. And, my honey always makes a very decadent dessert for the occasion. The table is set nicely, with candles and the good china. As our daughters grew to become young ladies, they now invite their sweethearts to join us for this special meal. This is a tradition I love.

Other special ideas:

Create your own conversation heart cookies. Make heart shaped sugar cookies. Glaze them with pastel colored frosting and use a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper to create a cone, place frosting in and write words on the hearts. Fill a basket full of them and deliver to your sweetheart, use for place "cards" at your special meal, let the kids pass them out for their special friends.

Make your own box of chocolates. I picked up some chocolate molds in all different Valentine's motifs at a craft store clearance sale several years ago. They are re-usable. I like to use the Ghirardelli melting chocolate, it's not waxy. Look for interesting things to add to the chocolate to make it special. A couple of drops of cinnamon oil can make a yummy chocolate.

Knit a nice scarf, it's cold outside. Can't knit? Get a Nifty Knitter and some yarn.

Make a photo collage, or a scrapbook, or create a nice frame for a picture of you.

Write a poem and frame it.

Create a memory box. Decorate a box (can be a cigar box, shoe box, shirt box...anything) with a collage of images and phrases. Place momentos inside - movie ticket stubs from the first movie you saw together on a date, the cork from the bottle of wine, etc.

Burn a cd of music.

You can force tulip bulbs to bloom in a pot (it's a little late for this project this year... it takes about 8 weeks, but keep it in mind!).

If you just have to have flowers, get an in-expensive mix a few days before Valentine's day or order bulk online and arrange them yourself. Most of us have a ton of flower vases and by picking them up a few days in advance, you will save money. Arranging them yourself will save some of the costs as well. You can turn that $5 or $10 bouquet into one that looks like it cost much more. My honey will sometimes find interesting twisted twigs or pretty foliage to add that makes them even more special.

I like receiving a gift certificate for a rose bush of my choosing to be added to my garden at the appropriate time. Or, several packages of flower seeds. Yes, I'm just that kind of girl, some of us are. I like looking at the flowers all summer and I do think of my sweetie when I cut them and arrange them. I also really like it when he cuts them and surprises me with a bouquet on the table.

If you start looking and thinking now, there are a lot of creative, romantic, special ideas to show the one you love how special they are to you... without spending $120 or more.