Have a Frugal Valentine

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

18 Jan 2007 08:32 AM

Now that the holiday decorations are all put away (or almost all put away, depending on how much time and or holiday spirit you have), it is time to think of hearts and flowers. Valentine's Day is such a pretty holiday, with its pinks, reds and whites.

There are plenty of ways to decorate and celebrate your Valentine's day without breaking the bank. There is no need to spend a fortune at the card store. The key is to getting creative and using whatever you have on hand. One year, I used the luminaries (paper bags with cut outs that have tea light candles in them) from our wedding to line the walk of our home. It was a nice romantic surprise for my husband when he came home from work. Think about items you have left over from your wedding that won't be used but are too precious to get rid of. Put them to work. Sure candles are perfect, but what about an aisle runner?

Here are some more creative ideas to get you started in having a frugal Valentine's Day.

Replace your christmas tree decorations with hand-made wooden or paper hearts and mini doilies.

Have the kids cut out red, pink and white hearts from construction paper.

Make tissue paper or toilet paper flowers.

Make an old-fashioned paper chain in valentine colors.

Make an old fashioned valentine out of construction paper, doilies, glitter, beads, stickers, whatever you have on hand. This could be a project for the kids, too. It is guaranteed that a homemade valentine will be more treasured through the years than a witty store-bought card.

After the kids go to bed, have a picnic on the living room floor, complete with candles, romantic drinks and food.

Make heart shaped pancakes for breakfast. This isn't as hard as it sounds. If your batter is thick enough, you can hand-pour a decent shaped heart. Or use a mold, if you have it.

The heart theme can extend to dinner, too. How about a heart shaped pizza? If you don't want to make one yourself, ask your favorite pizza place for a special order. Who knows, they may even make it part of their regular Valentine's day menu (ours did).

For desert, cut heart shapes out of strawberry halves.

Find a pretty container or glass (I used a little wooden treasure box I had on hand) and fill it with notes about why you love your spouse. Make smaller ones for the kids, too.

Make a gift coupon book filled with promises for back rubs, a special meal, use of the remote control for an entire night, etc.

Write a love letter. Make it as tame or explicit as you like.

Make a music CD filled with love songs.

Do you have any frugal Valentine's Day ideas to share?

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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