Valentine's Day Ideas That Won't Leave You Broke

Good ole Valentine’s Day. What used to be the peak selling time for overstuffed bears has somehow transformed into second Christmas, and we oblige even though none of us are sure if we even like the holiday. Or support it. Wasn’t it created to up the profits of greeting card companies or something??

I’m actually not a skeptic. I love Valentine’s Day because it’s a holiday that’s focused on the person you’re married to or dating or have sort of liked since 3rd grade. You get to make a nice card and go on a long date and celebrate something, even if the something is a made-up holiday.

But it’s matured into this great expectation of financial investment. Do you even know how much roses cost?? More than the Ramen I’ll be eating for the rest of the month after buying them, that’s for sure.

So…let me help you out. Let me encourage you in the spirit of the holiday while consoling your softly weeping wallet. Here’s a couple Valentine’s Day Ideas That Won’t Leave You Broke:

1. Watch a movie somewhere weird

Grab your laptop, something with Leonardo DiCaprio in it, and some blankets. Find a quiet place under the stars, huddle up on the banks of the river or Lake Dunlap, set up camp on the Faust Bridge, whatever. Pick a place that looks cool but is otherwise boring when it’s cold outside (unless you like swimming in this kind of weather), and muse about why Leo hasn’t won an Oscar yet. Make it more like the movies by stocking up on sugar – just swing by a Pit Stop Food Mart or Fischer’s Market on the way to her house for some Snickers and hot chocolate. The small screen and okay-ish volume won’t matter because it’s just for the two of you anyways!

2. Go for a trip

It could be a day trip or a weekend trip, but plan something out of town and make it a surprise. Go to Enchanted Rock, Wimberley, Fredricksberg, Blue Hole, Jacob’s Well, the Austin Greenbelt – it doesn’t have to be this massive undertaking of time and effort, but go somewhere fun. When you get wherever it is you’re going, make a campfire, go exploring, play Frisbee (if you’re coordinated enough for that), paint something together, serenade one another with the mandolin you just happened to bring along. Stop by a Pit Stop Food Mart for gas and goodies (think: s’mores supplies), then drive off into the sunset.

3. Not a gift, but a finishing touch: Car washes

As someone with a chronically dirty car, I had to throw this in. Would I be thrilled to have this as “the thing” you wanted to do for me for Valentine’s Day? ...I mean, thrilled is a strong word. BUT, I would feel really loved and thankful if, prior to going to dinner, I discovered a sparkling PT Cruiser in the driveway because you had taken my car through the car wash! Pit Stop Food Mart has the car washes with the rainbow soap that smells like strawberries…just think about it.

#valentinesday #savingmoney