Last year I gave my family and friends homemade fudge & heart shaped cookies along with valentines I made using a card making kit and photos printed from my computer. The valentines had a handwritten message telling each person why I loved them. All of this took more time than money.
We have never spent a pile of money on Valentines. I would rather go out for a nice dinner on my birthday than share a special day with everyone else and fight the crowds just cause someone says it is the day to say "I love you". I like to get something small but special for each of my kids. Last year I baked and decorated a heart shaped cake and I plan on doing something like that again this year.
We have six kids so Valentines has to be done on the inexpensive side. Every year my husband and I make "Coupon books" for our kids for Valentines. Each book is unique for the specific child. The oldest gets coupons for $5 gas in her car, Dad's help with an oil change, a use any day to skip school.
The younger kids get a free movie rental, an ice cream cone, help with their chores
We have even given coupon books to each other.
The kids look forward to their coupons, not only do they get some one on one time with one of us, but they get something fun.
Like the other site you wrote about, this one is also a waste of time for individuals who are professionally trained writers and who research and write original articles. (Not just rewrite, revise and basically copy other stuff on the Web, which is what a lot of the stuff on these sites offer up.)
This is a worse insult to real writers than the paltry pennies per word that some businesses now pay since everybody now thinks they are writers. (Just because you can type and/or post online, doesn't mean you can write. Look at the junk that fills the Web to see why professional writers don't even bother trying to get work anymore. If people who are hiring can't tell the difference between what is out there and professional work, and many cannot, it's no wonder they won't pay for it.)
Writing for page views? That's not writing folks. That's a method of payment, set by people who do not write.
Just because someone clicks on a page to see something, doesn't mean it's read or even worth reading.
Professional writers and/or those with something to say, would do better off with their own blogs and taking some form of advertising.
The amount of time and energy needed to write articles worth reading is in no way compensated by these types of online companies.
My parents always go to the nearest Hallmark store on Feb. 14th..
pick out a card... hand them to each other, read them then put them back. If that isn't frugal, i don't know what is !!
When we got married, my husband and I started a two-person journal. First entry was our wedding vows and memories of the wedding. Instead of writing cards to each other for every holiday and birthday, we write a little note in the journal. A lot less clutter and really fun to keep a record of special thoughts. No special Valentine's celebration; we celebrate February 2 at a good (not expensive) restaurant, as it is the anniversary of our first date and much easier to get reservations.
Even if you have no garden at all it's possible to grow some food: think balconies, windowsills, apartment rooftops or community gardens. They are all examples of small urban gardens.
make it a valentine's day of free services that you will do for each other. Hand make cute coupons and promise to do the jobs by a specific time/date. Get creative!
Instead of an expensive meal out I cook my husbands favorite meal along with a heart shaped cake or cookie. I bought a heart shaped pan many years ago and use it every year..semtaylor(at)yahoo(dot)com
Make your own Valentine cards at home-the sentiment is more heartfelt and bake and decorate either an angel food cake(with pink icing or make a large heart shaped chocolate chip cookie and decorate.
With restaurant prices soaring for the holiday, much less expensive to eat at home. Even buying filet mignon to cook on the grill, and making fresh asparagus and a home-made dessert wouldn't cost as much for a romantic dinner for two.
In our early "not a penny to our names" days we would go to the nearest Hallmark store, each pick out the perfect Valentine card, exchange them, gently read them & return them to the rack. Probably not what Hallmark had in mind when they said "When you care to send the very best!", but it worked for us.
If you like to go out for Valentine's Day you can always go on a different day. It's easier to get a reservation and less crowded.
For a frugal valentine's day (and one that still lets you go out rather than celebrate at home) it might be fun to go to the planetarium - romantic and inexpensive.
To make valentines day special, my husband and I each toss a little something extra in the grocery cart. For instance, I wouldn't normally buy the Starbucks coffee, but for Valentines we treat ourselves. We might pick up a dvd movie we've been wanting to see, and upgrade our Ale to a premium micro brew.
Stay at home, cook a wonderful dinner together, clean up together and rent or buy his and her favorite movies. Sit on the couch watching them together without any complaining, fidgeting or eyerolling, preferably saving the most romantic one for last. And spend the night in each others arms, treating each other as if your partner was the only other person in the universe who matters to you.
If you can carry this over into the next day, you're guaranteed to have Valentines day everyday.
I have some friends over and we play dominos. I make homemade chili, cookies, and little pizzas. I also get a child's package of valentines with treats and I give them out to all my co-workers. They get a real kick out of it.
Hubby and I had a tragic loss in our family about 11 years ago just before Valentines, so now, what we do, is buy a bag or two of chocolate hearts and go downtown and give them out to whomever looks like they need a little bit of our chocolate love.
It costs just a few dollars and really it makes us feel wonderful! (and I hope whomever we give them too feel wonderful also)
It's simple, but I always make my husband's favorite dessert, chocolate pudding, from scratch. I do add some chocolate chips for an extra touch. We take the dessert over to the couch to eat and just enjoy each others company.
Last year I gave my family and friends homemade fudge & heart shaped cookies along with valentines I made using a card making kit and photos printed from my computer. The valentines had a handwritten message telling each person why I loved them. All of this took more time than money.
We have never spent a pile of money on Valentines. I would rather go out for a nice dinner on my birthday than share a special day with everyone else and fight the crowds just cause someone says it is the day to say "I love you". I like to get something small but special for each of my kids. Last year I baked and decorated a heart shaped cake and I plan on doing something like that again this year.
We have six kids so Valentines has to be done on the inexpensive side. Every year my husband and I make "Coupon books" for our kids for Valentines. Each book is unique for the specific child. The oldest gets coupons for $5 gas in her car, Dad's help with an oil change, a use any day to skip school.
The younger kids get a free movie rental, an ice cream cone, help with their chores
We have even given coupon books to each other.
The kids look forward to their coupons, not only do they get some one on one time with one of us, but they get something fun.
Like the other site you wrote about, this one is also a waste of time for individuals who are professionally trained writers and who research and write original articles. (Not just rewrite, revise and basically copy other stuff on the Web, which is what a lot of the stuff on these sites offer up.)
This is a worse insult to real writers than the paltry pennies per word that some businesses now pay since everybody now thinks they are writers. (Just because you can type and/or post online, doesn't mean you can write. Look at the junk that fills the Web to see why professional writers don't even bother trying to get work anymore. If people who are hiring can't tell the difference between what is out there and professional work, and many cannot, it's no wonder they won't pay for it.)
Writing for page views? That's not writing folks. That's a method of payment, set by people who do not write.
Just because someone clicks on a page to see something, doesn't mean it's read or even worth reading.
Professional writers and/or those with something to say, would do better off with their own blogs and taking some form of advertising.
The amount of time and energy needed to write articles worth reading is in no way compensated by these types of online companies.
My parents always go to the nearest Hallmark store on Feb. 14th..
pick out a card... hand them to each other, read them then put them back. If that isn't frugal, i don't know what is !!
When we got married, my husband and I started a two-person journal. First entry was our wedding vows and memories of the wedding. Instead of writing cards to each other for every holiday and birthday, we write a little note in the journal. A lot less clutter and really fun to keep a record of special thoughts. No special Valentine's celebration; we celebrate February 2 at a good (not expensive) restaurant, as it is the anniversary of our first date and much easier to get reservations.
Will make my DH a big heart shaped Chocolate Chip Cookie (fill a pizza pan sheet!!)....will pipe border around cookie and a heart-felt greeting
Even if you have no garden at all it's possible to grow some food: think balconies, windowsills, apartment rooftops or community gardens. They are all examples of small urban gardens.
I just don't celebrate. Can't get much cheaper.
We like to cook a wonderful special meal at home together and share a nice bottle of wine.
make it a valentine's day of free services that you will do for each other. Hand make cute coupons and promise to do the jobs by a specific time/date. Get creative!
Instead of an expensive meal out I cook my husbands favorite meal along with a heart shaped cake or cookie. I bought a heart shaped pan many years ago and use it every year..semtaylor(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like the Take photographs together and of each other tip! very good idea!
Make your own Valentine cards at home-the sentiment is more heartfelt and bake and decorate either an angel food cake(with pink icing or make a large heart shaped chocolate chip cookie and decorate.
With restaurant prices soaring for the holiday, much less expensive to eat at home. Even buying filet mignon to cook on the grill, and making fresh asparagus and a home-made dessert wouldn't cost as much for a romantic dinner for two.
In our early "not a penny to our names" days we would go to the nearest Hallmark store, each pick out the perfect Valentine card, exchange them, gently read them & return them to the rack. Probably not what Hallmark had in mind when they said "When you care to send the very best!", but it worked for us.
If you like to go out for Valentine's Day you can always go on a different day. It's easier to get a reservation and less crowded.
For a frugal valentine's day (and one that still lets you go out rather than celebrate at home) it might be fun to go to the planetarium - romantic and inexpensive.
To make valentines day special, my husband and I each toss a little something extra in the grocery cart. For instance, I wouldn't normally buy the Starbucks coffee, but for Valentines we treat ourselves. We might pick up a dvd movie we've been wanting to see, and upgrade our Ale to a premium micro brew.
Stay at home, cook a wonderful dinner together, clean up together and rent or buy his and her favorite movies. Sit on the couch watching them together without any complaining, fidgeting or eyerolling, preferably saving the most romantic one for last. And spend the night in each others arms, treating each other as if your partner was the only other person in the universe who matters to you.
If you can carry this over into the next day, you're guaranteed to have Valentines day everyday.
I'll bake a pink cake with pink frosting and sprinkles instead of buying all kinds of chocolate.
I have some friends over and we play dominos. I make homemade chili, cookies, and little pizzas. I also get a child's package of valentines with treats and I give them out to all my co-workers. They get a real kick out of it.
Hubby and I had a tragic loss in our family about 11 years ago just before Valentines, so now, what we do, is buy a bag or two of chocolate hearts and go downtown and give them out to whomever looks like they need a little bit of our chocolate love.
It costs just a few dollars and really it makes us feel wonderful! (and I hope whomever we give them too feel wonderful also)
Thanks
don't play the horses
It's simple, but I always make my husband's favorite dessert, chocolate pudding, from scratch. I do add some chocolate chips for an extra touch. We take the dessert over to the couch to eat and just enjoy each others company.
Instead of some big expensive dinner out, I cook up some goodies, and we have a picnic in the living room.