If you've had a
hard time finding something just right that fits into your budget, or maybe Valentine's day snuck up on you.....I've got some
great last minute ideas for you!
Something small and intentional (and even
free!) can mean so much more than the over the top gestures or spending big money! Here are a few ideas to show your love -
good for Valentine's day or any day!
First, here are a few recent posts with fun super savings for Valentine's day:
Be Thoughtful - you know your
loved one best. Just
think for a minute about what makes them
tick.....would a cozy evening at home make them feel loved, or a fun
evening out.......does a gift make them swoon, or would taking over dinner
duty or a nice foot rub be more their style?
Everyone feels loved in
different ways, and if you
find out what your loved one really needs,
it's so much easier to show your love in a way that they can receive (
"The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts" by Gary Chapman
is a tremendous book that helps you understand how people give and
receive love best - vital for any marriage or relationship....my husband and I both wholeheartedly recommend it!!).
Also
show that you're listening to what they want or need - if my
husband has been telling me for weeks that his back has been aching that
should give me a clue that he might really appreciate a back massage -
it could be free if I do it myself or I could spring for a gift
certificate. If I've mentioned that I'd love our wedding pictures to
finally be put into an album or on a DVD instead of in a box in the
basement (from 13 years ago!), he'd bless my socks off by trying to make
that happen and would show that he cared enough to really listen.
Write a Love Letter - While
Hallmark can make some really touching cards, your own words can be
so much sweeter. You don't have to be a poet or a wordsmith to write a
love letter either - just write down what's in your heart. What do
they mean to you? How do they make you feel? What about them makes
you smile or makes you a better person?
(Here are some
great tips for writing a love letter!)
Make a "Why I Love You" jar/box - This is similar to a love
letter in that it shows them what you love about them, but may be less
pressure than feeling like you have to compose a beautiful letter.
A
couple years ago I wrote down lots of things I love about my husband
(what character qualities I admire, what he does that make me smile, how
much I appreciate the wonderful dad he is.....) and typed them up on
slips of paper and tucked them into a small box with the title "Why I'm
Glad I Said Yes...." inside the lid. He said it was
one of his favorite
gifts he ever received and he still keeps it out.
Write a Love Poem - Make it serious and romantic if you'd like,
or if your relationship is filled with humor make your rhymes silly and
celebrate your love with laughter.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries - These are delicious, romantic, and even though they look amazing
they're so easy to do! And strawberries are usually on sale around this time of year -- for only a few bucks, you can really wow! I've made them before for my husband and they're always
such a hit! I've
brought them to gatherings with friends too and
people always think
they're store bought.
If you've never made them before,
check this out for easy directions
(stems are not necessary, I just hold it by the leaves). The
contrasting chocolate on top (milk on white, white on dark....white and
milk on dark....) is what really makes them look gourmet!
Make a Personalized Puzzle - I found a website where you can
make your own crossword, word search, cryptogram, etc. for free.
I made a crossword for my husband with important words in
our relationship (where we met, "friendship", "love", our childrens names,
the name of "our" song.....things like that). It was so easy to make,
but I think it will be fun for him to do and will be a sweet reminder of what means the most to us.
Make a Coupon Book - This may be a common go-to, but it doesn't
have to be boring! It can be as unique and fun as you want it to be.
Handwritten or typed up on the computer.....it can be silly or steamy.....romantic or practical. Coupons for back rubs, dishes, a day with no
diaper changes ;), or movies of their choosing (with no complaints!)
extend the love throughout the year. You can make them usable at any
time or valid at certain times (for example: a bubble bath or foot rub
once a month, a promise to plan a kid-free date every other week....).
Make it special to the two of you by using some of your inside jokes or
knowing what would be important to them ("I'll watch football with
you/go shopping with you without complaining once"). ;)
Cuddle Up With a Romantic Movie -
Staying home for a movie can be much sweeter than going to a theater
and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg! Grab a cheap old favorite at the
store or check out your local library for a selection of old
and new movies. Stop by a Redbox and pick out a movie that your
significant other would like to see for just over a $1 (get a
FREE Redbox DVD rental here *exp).
Dine In - Making a
yummy Valentine's dinner and dessert can be a a really
thoughtful way to show you care and doesn't have to be any more
expensive than your normal meal! Make their favorite food,
a favorite treat and put a
little effort into the table. It can be simple and sweet or go all out -
it's up to you! Use nice dishes, set out a candle or two, make the
presentation a bit nicer than normal (instead of using those plastic
Taco Bell cups, drink out of wine glasses - even if it's only water!)
Just
make sure you clean up too! ;)
Dine Out for Cheap - If you want
to go out to eat, check out Restaurant.com first and get 80% off gift
certificates for local restaurants when you use the code "SWEETIE" at
checkout (through 2/14). So after the code
a $25 gift certificate is only $2!! Each
restaurant has their own restrictions, so just be sure to read the fine
print.
(You can make this even better by going through
ShopAtHome
for an extra 35% cashback from your purchase....or 30% back from
Mr.Rebates - making the $25 certificate less than $1.50!! And if you're new to
those cashback sites, you get a $5 credit in your account too!
Ebates is only 15% back, but if you're new, it might make more sense to take advantage of the sign up bonus there! *cashback amounts vary, so check first)
Happy Valentine's Day!!
*Reposted from archives and updated.
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