My fiance and I are trying to save for our wedding so this year we're going to exchange homemade cards and then make dinner together and (weather permitting!) go skating...inexpensive but still romantic and fun!
My husband and I usually just rent a good movie, make popcorn and cuddle while we watch. We have outgrown the pricey dinners out and the sappy gifts, we just share what we love about one another and hope for many more years together!
Tisha these tips are really good. Prioritizing is an absolute must, and as you're figuring out everything you must do and in what order to do them in, you can figure out what tasks from the list can be delegated. They go perfectly together.
Of course, as you're learning to say "no" you'll have more time to unwind... hmm. I think I need to learn how to say no more often. I never really considered myself a "yes" person, but now that I think of it, I do have a hard time telling people or businesses that I can't possibly take on anything else. Thanks for the reminder that I can improve my health and general well being by learning to say no a little more often.
I always think of Valentine's Day as Amateur Night, sorta like New Year's Eve. :)
This year, instead of celebrating in a restaurant, we'll make a great dinner at home and Netflix a movie. (This seems to be the theme of most of the posts...)
If you purchase Valentine's Day gifts during the Christmas season or before that, you'll save a lot of time and maybe money, as stores seem to charge more during these holidays. Problem is with things that expire quickly. Using coupons also helps too,
I make my own Valentine's Day gifts. This year I'm dating a girl that has a couple minor health problems and has to take some pills every day to keep them under control. I decided to do a whole play on the love is a drug idea.
I got an old pill bottle, and I am writing up a "prescription" for "Love" and will paste it on the bottle. I plan to fill it with little heart shaped chocolates or candies of some sort. I plan to make my own card with something about how the FDA would outlaw love if it actually were a drug, if possible, I'll get a doctor's prescription pad to write the card on.
For VDay, I do something for my wife that I don't necessarily do all the time but that I know makes her happy, like put the baby to bed without being asked or give her a foot massage. She comes to bed in lingerie. :)
My husband leaves me love notes on my desk through out the day (post-its are so much cheaper than cards), as well as emails through out the day. He has also written a love poem for me and translated it into Italian. super inexpensive, but definitely meaningful and cherished. We also do a homemade dinner in; something that we both love but hardly ever make - that way it's a bit more special than every other home-cooked meal.
Sometimes the Way to your Heart is in your stomach.... My husband made me a delicious, romantic Valentine's Dinner. It was so wonderful, and made with so much love.
I am going to make dinner for my girlfriend and enjoy our time alone together. I anticipate laughter and slow dancing to her turntable (we found some 50's ballroom music that we like to...well it is funny to us) while I cook and that is all I really care about. I will get her some flowers, but not roses. I find them to be unoriginal. I think I am going to take the advice of a website and purchase a book on flowers so she can look through to see exactly what the type of flowers mean.
We will have fun.
Hopefully I can surprise her with an IPOD Touch as well. But that is up to my favorite website: WiseBread.
I recently failed to record a check I wrote, resulting in me thinking there was more money in our checking account than actually was there. My wife and I were out of town for the weekend, and bought gas a couple of times, ate at a restaurant, etc. We ended up with more in overdraft fees than I care to mention. Totally my fault, but I still called the bank and asked if there was anything they could do for me. It happened to be the branch manager that answered the phone (rather than one of the tellers that knows me). I explained the situation and she told me their standard policy was (if asked) to refund only the first fee. That's $30 back in our account - not a lot compared to how many charges I racked up with my inattentive money tracking, but it's better than nothing!
This one worked for me last year: I had him pick out a movie he wanted to watch (we have Netflix) and then I went and bought his favorite candy and made popcorn and bought his favorite beer. He felt like a king and it was super easy and cheap!
It can be, but it's really kind of surprising just how low you can push your expenses, on an emergency basis, as long as you don't have debts that you need to service. The amount of money that it takes to put a healthy diet on the table is really quite small. The problem for most people trying to spend less than they earn is not the cost of food, but rather the whole cost structure of their household finances.
This February 14th will be our first as a married couple. As young newlyweds passionately working our way out of student loan debt, we're definitely headed toward a frugal V-day. Needless to say, reading everyone else's own frugal tips and traditions has been immensely helpful.
For us, however, Valentine's Day will be spent revisiting our recent wedding and honeymoon -- an evening filled with cards, pictures, videos, vows, and most of all, intensely wonderful memories.
I'm definitely going to do the candy heart one with my students! And the candy bar idea is a great thing to put in my coworkers' mailboxes. I'm going to have so much fun with these! :-D
I have worked with retail floral establishments every Valentine's day since I got married, so I am too tired to go out to a fancy dinner on the holiday. So instead we usually opt for a nice breakfast out on President's Day the Monday after the holiday. Eating breakfast out is always cheaper than dinner. This year Valentine's is a Saturday so it could be a great excuse to change things up and try breakfast instead of dinner--or even cheaper make breakfast in bed. Ah, the romance.
Second tip is at the flower shop. Almost everyone has a vase and often times it is a beautiful crystal one that is sitting empty in a curio cabinet. If you don't have one yet go to a discount store like Ross or Marshall's to pick one up (the flower shop I work at buys vases at those stores and marks them up considerably). Then have the florist arrange something besides red roses in the vase. Seriously, so cliche. If you have to have roses then ask the florist about making something with short/medium stem roses, which will often save $20-$30!
My fiance and I are trying to save for our wedding so this year we're going to exchange homemade cards and then make dinner together and (weather permitting!) go skating...inexpensive but still romantic and fun!
My husband and I usually just rent a good movie, make popcorn and cuddle while we watch. We have outgrown the pricey dinners out and the sappy gifts, we just share what we love about one another and hope for many more years together!
Tisha these tips are really good. Prioritizing is an absolute must, and as you're figuring out everything you must do and in what order to do them in, you can figure out what tasks from the list can be delegated. They go perfectly together.
Of course, as you're learning to say "no" you'll have more time to unwind... hmm. I think I need to learn how to say no more often. I never really considered myself a "yes" person, but now that I think of it, I do have a hard time telling people or businesses that I can't possibly take on anything else. Thanks for the reminder that I can improve my health and general well being by learning to say no a little more often.
I always think of Valentine's Day as Amateur Night, sorta like New Year's Eve. :)
This year, instead of celebrating in a restaurant, we'll make a great dinner at home and Netflix a movie. (This seems to be the theme of most of the posts...)
A nice breakfast in bed of crepes, berries and cream and champagne sets the day off wonderfully! Simple, special and relaxing.
If you purchase Valentine's Day gifts during the Christmas season or before that, you'll save a lot of time and maybe money, as stores seem to charge more during these holidays. Problem is with things that expire quickly. Using coupons also helps too,
I make my own Valentine's Day gifts. This year I'm dating a girl that has a couple minor health problems and has to take some pills every day to keep them under control. I decided to do a whole play on the love is a drug idea.
I got an old pill bottle, and I am writing up a "prescription" for "Love" and will paste it on the bottle. I plan to fill it with little heart shaped chocolates or candies of some sort. I plan to make my own card with something about how the FDA would outlaw love if it actually were a drug, if possible, I'll get a doctor's prescription pad to write the card on.
Feel free to steal this idea ;)
Thanks for the great heads up!
Nix the baby's breath, ferns, and additional greens. Nuff' said. ~THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU~ I really needed this tip!
For VDay, I do something for my wife that I don't necessarily do all the time but that I know makes her happy, like put the baby to bed without being asked or give her a foot massage. She comes to bed in lingerie. :)
Put the kids to bed and enjoy some mommy and daddy time! ;) A little baby oil heated up makes a great massage oil.
My husband leaves me love notes on my desk through out the day (post-its are so much cheaper than cards), as well as emails through out the day. He has also written a love poem for me and translated it into Italian. super inexpensive, but definitely meaningful and cherished. We also do a homemade dinner in; something that we both love but hardly ever make - that way it's a bit more special than every other home-cooked meal.
My tip is to wait until Feb 15 and take advantage of all the Valentine's Day merchandise and treats on sale, and go crazy!
Sometimes the Way to your Heart is in your stomach.... My husband made me a delicious, romantic Valentine's Dinner. It was so wonderful, and made with so much love.
I am going to make dinner for my girlfriend and enjoy our time alone together. I anticipate laughter and slow dancing to her turntable (we found some 50's ballroom music that we like to...well it is funny to us) while I cook and that is all I really care about. I will get her some flowers, but not roses. I find them to be unoriginal. I think I am going to take the advice of a website and purchase a book on flowers so she can look through to see exactly what the type of flowers mean.
We will have fun.
Hopefully I can surprise her with an IPOD Touch as well. But that is up to my favorite website: WiseBread.
Michael
I recently failed to record a check I wrote, resulting in me thinking there was more money in our checking account than actually was there. My wife and I were out of town for the weekend, and bought gas a couple of times, ate at a restaurant, etc. We ended up with more in overdraft fees than I care to mention. Totally my fault, but I still called the bank and asked if there was anything they could do for me. It happened to be the branch manager that answered the phone (rather than one of the tellers that knows me). I explained the situation and she told me their standard policy was (if asked) to refund only the first fee. That's $30 back in our account - not a lot compared to how many charges I racked up with my inattentive money tracking, but it's better than nothing!
This one worked for me last year: I had him pick out a movie he wanted to watch (we have Netflix) and then I went and bought his favorite candy and made popcorn and bought his favorite beer. He felt like a king and it was super easy and cheap!
My wife and I are going out on a different day to save money.
You have hit on the "domino effect" of poor financial choices . . . good post!
@ Linda:
It can be, but it's really kind of surprising just how low you can push your expenses, on an emergency basis, as long as you don't have debts that you need to service. The amount of money that it takes to put a healthy diet on the table is really quite small. The problem for most people trying to spend less than they earn is not the cost of food, but rather the whole cost structure of their household finances.
This February 14th will be our first as a married couple. As young newlyweds passionately working our way out of student loan debt, we're definitely headed toward a frugal V-day. Needless to say, reading everyone else's own frugal tips and traditions has been immensely helpful.
For us, however, Valentine's Day will be spent revisiting our recent wedding and honeymoon -- an evening filled with cards, pictures, videos, vows, and most of all, intensely wonderful memories.
I'm definitely going to do the candy heart one with my students! And the candy bar idea is a great thing to put in my coworkers' mailboxes. I'm going to have so much fun with these! :-D
THANKS!!!
I have worked with retail floral establishments every Valentine's day since I got married, so I am too tired to go out to a fancy dinner on the holiday. So instead we usually opt for a nice breakfast out on President's Day the Monday after the holiday. Eating breakfast out is always cheaper than dinner. This year Valentine's is a Saturday so it could be a great excuse to change things up and try breakfast instead of dinner--or even cheaper make breakfast in bed. Ah, the romance.
Second tip is at the flower shop. Almost everyone has a vase and often times it is a beautiful crystal one that is sitting empty in a curio cabinet. If you don't have one yet go to a discount store like Ross or Marshall's to pick one up (the flower shop I work at buys vases at those stores and marks them up considerably). Then have the florist arrange something besides red roses in the vase. Seriously, so cliche. If you have to have roses then ask the florist about making something with short/medium stem roses, which will often save $20-$30!
If you're single, get together with friends, or at the very least treat yourself to something nice!
It's clearly something designed to bring in traffic daily, and they do have a section for affiliates.