Hi Guest. You don't have to sign up through my referral. I make it clear that it is a referral. Additionally, not everyone can be professional writers, so I don't think it hurts for people to have a place to express themselves and also earn a little bit of cash. Finally, Wise Bread is a blog that shares ad revenue in its forums and on the blog itself and I don't think we are degrading online content.
I've decided recently, that I will try to make all my gifts by hand (for all holidays, but especially Valentines day). This year I took up some projects in sewing, illustration and printing. By doing the work myself, I saved a ton of money (essentially, I made 6 of these sewn items for less than the price of one at the store), I put alot more heartfelt effort into it, and the outcome is more meaningful for both myself and the recipient, not to mention that I learned alot about those fields of craft along the way. I designed and printed my own vintage style greeting cards. In this way, I could have not only my own design, but my own messages as well, and Printing cost me much less than the price of similar cards at the store (The cards at Borders were about $3.99 each, I got 7 printed for $6, cut for an extra $5, and they look wonderful).
Also, I always try to write a letter or note to that special someone, as it is just another heartfelt, personal gift.
It's only a few spoiled apples that ruin the bunch... or something like that. The problem is;unlike fruit, you can't visibly tell if a bum is a con artist or a bum. Chances are, if they are turning down food because they are addicted to alchol, they don't deserve my paycheck. Sometimes we have to be cold in order to be warm. The person who mentioned giving money to charity I think has the right Idea.
-Check out a DVD you both want to watch from your local library. Set aside a "date night" to watch it together. Combine that with a fun meal at home (or even take out) on the couch, and you have a cozy, fun evening planned.
-Put those candles you inevitably have lying around the house to good use: make dinner special (and interesting) by dining by candlelight.
-Change out your plain, ordinary bedroom light bulbs for red light bulbs. Turn off all the other lights in the room, and you have a very interesting mood set for a little one-on-one time.
-If you ever went on a special vacation together, was there one thing about the vacation that stuck out in your mind? A fun, tropical drink from a trip to Jamaica? A unique pizza from Chicago? Try to replicate the experience at home to take you both back to that special time.
We live in the Northeast, and my significant other loves the outdoors regardless of the season. This year we've planned an afternoon of snowshoeing, and will pack a thermos of decadent hot cocoa to take along. Being outdoors, enjoying nature and having fun with each other, then going home for a cozy night in makes for a perfect Valentine's Day for us both. When we do things like this together, it brings us even closer.
My fiance and I both hate Valentine's Day - it's so dumb to have one arbitrary day on which you show your love for your partner. Shouldn't you show your love your partner all year long?
We exchange Valentine's presents that cannot be purchased in a store. We're handy people, so there's that, but there are a lot of things that you can do for your sweetie that don't involve buying something.
We decided this year that we would make a "love box". Everytime we "make whoopie" (so to say) a dollar goes in the box. Next year we will take the money and use that to celebrate V day!
my husband ever gave me was a multiple picture frame (has spaces for 16 photos) that he filled with pictures of the 2 of us from different trips we've taken. There are photos from NZ, India, Bonaire, El Paso, Madison, DC, Ireland, NJ, and Napa. Every time I look at it (it's hanging on the wall) it just makes me smile and remember all the wonderful places we've been together.
A couple years back I learned about a bracelet kit that you can order online. It come complete with a cd and photo paper in order to take pictures of yourself, family members etc. The photos are cropped to a specific size and then get glued onto the bracelet. The bracelet is sterling silver and looks very nice once you are finished. My wife loves it as it has photos of our kids and is something I helped created.
My husband and I celebrate our Valentine's Day by remembering how we have come a long way. We reminisce on the day that we first got together, when we did not have a lot of extra money, how we got our first apartment and we literally only had 5 pillows, 2 blankets, and a borrowed television set. We did not even have enough money to furnish our place. And we owned a rickety car which we named "Betsy." And so now, we make it a point to go back to that day and remind each other how we truly appreciate the fact that we have held on to one another, knowing that whatever happens, the love we have for each other will always sustain us.
Don't forget free health care. Sadly, we're in the middle...too rich to get Medicaid, rich enough to get health coverage through our jobs, but too poor to pay the co-pays and/or the rejected coverage like doctor visits because of "pre-existing condition" rules.
A few years ago, they did a story on the news about this local woman who is on welfare with subsidized housing. Every morning she would go to the mall and panhandle. When they did the calculations, it seems that she was easily pulling in $70k a year with all the government benefits and the panhandle.
When I was in college, in front of the coffeehouse, there are usually a couple of panhandlers. I always give them whatever change I have. But one time, I saw this guy with a sign asking for money while he was playing with his gameboy. He was too lazy to even ask or look at you. After that, I stopping dropping my change because I realized that he was probably making for more money than my minimum wage job just sitting in front of the coffeehouse.
I don't give money anymore to panhandlers. If they have kids with them, I might buy them a sandwich, but even then, it depends. My donations go to a charity.
1. Make your sweetie a list of the 14 reasons why you love him/her.
2. Follow up with a second list, detailing 14 things you will do in the next year in the name of love. Examples: Cook a romantic dinner, promise weekly back-rubs, starting a new hobby together, etc.
Some women may like to be pampered the entire night, some may like more creative or intellectually stimulating things. I plan to segment each portion of my night with things I know my girlfriend likes. First, this year, it's on a Saturday. Usually, I would focus on destressing her after a weekday, but the weekend makes that not so much a priority. I can have us do something slightly active during the day but not so much that it tires us out later (i.e. bike riding through the park, playing in the playground, generally doing really kid-like activities). We can shop for some choice items at the grocery to cook later; It's always fun to cook with 1 or 2 ingredients you're excited about. At night, I'll cook for her and focus the meal around salmon since she loves it. Then we'll have some ice cream and play around with some Shrinky dinks (a childhood passion of hers) that I've ordered online ($7). Afterwards, it'll be the perfect time to have all that happiness and sentiment focused on me. I'll put on some salsa music (her fav), dance with her a little bit, then .. oh you know the rest.
Hey Kimberly (and other singles) - don't dis the fantastic opportunity arriving in about 2 weeks. I have it on good authority (I haven't done this, but a good friend has), the V-Day is Shopping Heaven.
Make use of one or more of those good get-the-best-deal-by-investigating/learning-about-your-intended-purchase tips on the day that all the Hallmarkians are stuffing the restaurants. The stores are empty, clerks are bored. Thinking of replacing a major appliance or the like? Finally getting around to that big comparative shop at the local Macy's or Nordstrom, to see what looks good and why it looks good, so you can score the corresponding knockoff at a discount or thrift store?
That's the evening. You can fire a cannon through a mall and not hit anybody. (Unless you aimed at a restaurant.) Even if it's just the usual errand-running, boy can you save time by doing it then.
The best Valentines gift I gave my husband was our first Valentines day, a few months after we started dating. I found out he never had a teddy bear growing up, or any sort of stuffed toy.
That just bothered the heck out of me! "EVERYONE should have a teddy bear!", I thought.
Since I was going to college at the time and living with my Mom, I didn't have a lot of money, but I wanted to give him a very special teddy bear for his first. I had a matching pair of stuffed bears that I received for Christmas from my Mom when I was 12. The bears were about 2 feet tall, VERY huggable with shaggy hair and magnets in their hands and faces so their hands could "pray" or go up to their faces and look like they were hiding their eyes. My Mom gave me permission to give one of the bears to my then-new-boyfriend.
I gave him the boy bear, which has a little red bow tie, and I have the girl bear that doesn't have the bow tie.
He loves that bear like a little kid would! He also likes the fact that I have a matching one and it was something special of mine that I gave to him. It was the perfect gift.
My husband and I are going to make a few appetizers for a light dinner and then go to a Hindi/English a capella competition. The tickets were only $8 a piece and it will surely be a unique experience!
One loyalty that I questioned was the landline phone. I realized that I kept it only because I wanted to make cheap international calls. So I replaced it with a phone card.
The sad fact remains most "bums" you see have major substance abuse problems no amount of money is going to cure.
Since most of them do have such problems I'd never give them money, only food.
There are plenty of charities to donate your money that help the homeless.
Hi Guest. You don't have to sign up through my referral. I make it clear that it is a referral. Additionally, not everyone can be professional writers, so I don't think it hurts for people to have a place to express themselves and also earn a little bit of cash. Finally, Wise Bread is a blog that shares ad revenue in its forums and on the blog itself and I don't think we are degrading online content.
I've decided recently, that I will try to make all my gifts by hand (for all holidays, but especially Valentines day). This year I took up some projects in sewing, illustration and printing. By doing the work myself, I saved a ton of money (essentially, I made 6 of these sewn items for less than the price of one at the store), I put alot more heartfelt effort into it, and the outcome is more meaningful for both myself and the recipient, not to mention that I learned alot about those fields of craft along the way. I designed and printed my own vintage style greeting cards. In this way, I could have not only my own design, but my own messages as well, and Printing cost me much less than the price of similar cards at the store (The cards at Borders were about $3.99 each, I got 7 printed for $6, cut for an extra $5, and they look wonderful).
Also, I always try to write a letter or note to that special someone, as it is just another heartfelt, personal gift.
Cheers!
It's only a few spoiled apples that ruin the bunch... or something like that. The problem is;unlike fruit, you can't visibly tell if a bum is a con artist or a bum. Chances are, if they are turning down food because they are addicted to alchol, they don't deserve my paycheck. Sometimes we have to be cold in order to be warm. The person who mentioned giving money to charity I think has the right Idea.
-Check out a DVD you both want to watch from your local library. Set aside a "date night" to watch it together. Combine that with a fun meal at home (or even take out) on the couch, and you have a cozy, fun evening planned.
-Put those candles you inevitably have lying around the house to good use: make dinner special (and interesting) by dining by candlelight.
-Change out your plain, ordinary bedroom light bulbs for red light bulbs. Turn off all the other lights in the room, and you have a very interesting mood set for a little one-on-one time.
-If you ever went on a special vacation together, was there one thing about the vacation that stuck out in your mind? A fun, tropical drink from a trip to Jamaica? A unique pizza from Chicago? Try to replicate the experience at home to take you both back to that special time.
We live in the Northeast, and my significant other loves the outdoors regardless of the season. This year we've planned an afternoon of snowshoeing, and will pack a thermos of decadent hot cocoa to take along. Being outdoors, enjoying nature and having fun with each other, then going home for a cozy night in makes for a perfect Valentine's Day for us both. When we do things like this together, it brings us even closer.
My fiance and I both hate Valentine's Day - it's so dumb to have one arbitrary day on which you show your love for your partner. Shouldn't you show your love your partner all year long?
We exchange Valentine's presents that cannot be purchased in a store. We're handy people, so there's that, but there are a lot of things that you can do for your sweetie that don't involve buying something.
We decided this year that we would make a "love box". Everytime we "make whoopie" (so to say) a dollar goes in the box. Next year we will take the money and use that to celebrate V day!
my husband ever gave me was a multiple picture frame (has spaces for 16 photos) that he filled with pictures of the 2 of us from different trips we've taken. There are photos from NZ, India, Bonaire, El Paso, Madison, DC, Ireland, NJ, and Napa. Every time I look at it (it's hanging on the wall) it just makes me smile and remember all the wonderful places we've been together.
The best gift I ever got for Valentine's Day was getting my car cleaned out. I am terrible at getting around to vacuuming it, so this was awesome.
The best gift I ever got for Valentine's Day was getting my car cleaned out. I am terrible at getting around to vacuuming it, so this was awesome.
A couple years back I learned about a bracelet kit that you can order online. It come complete with a cd and photo paper in order to take pictures of yourself, family members etc. The photos are cropped to a specific size and then get glued onto the bracelet. The bracelet is sterling silver and looks very nice once you are finished. My wife loves it as it has photos of our kids and is something I helped created.
My husband and I celebrate our Valentine's Day by remembering how we have come a long way. We reminisce on the day that we first got together, when we did not have a lot of extra money, how we got our first apartment and we literally only had 5 pillows, 2 blankets, and a borrowed television set. We did not even have enough money to furnish our place. And we owned a rickety car which we named "Betsy." And so now, we make it a point to go back to that day and remind each other how we truly appreciate the fact that we have held on to one another, knowing that whatever happens, the love we have for each other will always sustain us.
Don't forget free health care. Sadly, we're in the middle...too rich to get Medicaid, rich enough to get health coverage through our jobs, but too poor to pay the co-pays and/or the rejected coverage like doctor visits because of "pre-existing condition" rules.
A few years ago, they did a story on the news about this local woman who is on welfare with subsidized housing. Every morning she would go to the mall and panhandle. When they did the calculations, it seems that she was easily pulling in $70k a year with all the government benefits and the panhandle.
When I was in college, in front of the coffeehouse, there are usually a couple of panhandlers. I always give them whatever change I have. But one time, I saw this guy with a sign asking for money while he was playing with his gameboy. He was too lazy to even ask or look at you. After that, I stopping dropping my change because I realized that he was probably making for more money than my minimum wage job just sitting in front of the coffeehouse.
I don't give money anymore to panhandlers. If they have kids with them, I might buy them a sandwich, but even then, it depends. My donations go to a charity.
1. Make your sweetie a list of the 14 reasons why you love him/her.
2. Follow up with a second list, detailing 14 things you will do in the next year in the name of love. Examples: Cook a romantic dinner, promise weekly back-rubs, starting a new hobby together, etc.
Some women may like to be pampered the entire night, some may like more creative or intellectually stimulating things. I plan to segment each portion of my night with things I know my girlfriend likes. First, this year, it's on a Saturday. Usually, I would focus on destressing her after a weekday, but the weekend makes that not so much a priority. I can have us do something slightly active during the day but not so much that it tires us out later (i.e. bike riding through the park, playing in the playground, generally doing really kid-like activities). We can shop for some choice items at the grocery to cook later; It's always fun to cook with 1 or 2 ingredients you're excited about. At night, I'll cook for her and focus the meal around salmon since she loves it. Then we'll have some ice cream and play around with some Shrinky dinks (a childhood passion of hers) that I've ordered online ($7). Afterwards, it'll be the perfect time to have all that happiness and sentiment focused on me. I'll put on some salsa music (her fav), dance with her a little bit, then .. oh you know the rest.
Try just being with your loved one.
And stay away from the big box guilt Isles.
even if it is five minutes of holding (or other things) it is the sentiment that is important not the stuff.
Hey Kimberly (and other singles) - don't dis the fantastic opportunity arriving in about 2 weeks. I have it on good authority (I haven't done this, but a good friend has), the V-Day is Shopping Heaven.
Make use of one or more of those good get-the-best-deal-by-investigating/learning-about-your-intended-purchase tips on the day that all the Hallmarkians are stuffing the restaurants. The stores are empty, clerks are bored. Thinking of replacing a major appliance or the like? Finally getting around to that big comparative shop at the local Macy's or Nordstrom, to see what looks good and why it looks good, so you can score the corresponding knockoff at a discount or thrift store?
That's the evening. You can fire a cannon through a mall and not hit anybody. (Unless you aimed at a restaurant.) Even if it's just the usual errand-running, boy can you save time by doing it then.
Happy frugal money And Time saving!
The best Valentines gift I gave my husband was our first Valentines day, a few months after we started dating. I found out he never had a teddy bear growing up, or any sort of stuffed toy.
That just bothered the heck out of me! "EVERYONE should have a teddy bear!", I thought.
Since I was going to college at the time and living with my Mom, I didn't have a lot of money, but I wanted to give him a very special teddy bear for his first. I had a matching pair of stuffed bears that I received for Christmas from my Mom when I was 12. The bears were about 2 feet tall, VERY huggable with shaggy hair and magnets in their hands and faces so their hands could "pray" or go up to their faces and look like they were hiding their eyes. My Mom gave me permission to give one of the bears to my then-new-boyfriend.
I gave him the boy bear, which has a little red bow tie, and I have the girl bear that doesn't have the bow tie.
He loves that bear like a little kid would! He also likes the fact that I have a matching one and it was something special of mine that I gave to him. It was the perfect gift.
My husband and I are going to make a few appetizers for a light dinner and then go to a Hindi/English a capella competition. The tickets were only $8 a piece and it will surely be a unique experience!
One loyalty that I questioned was the landline phone. I realized that I kept it only because I wanted to make cheap international calls. So I replaced it with a phone card.
Dinner reservations at White Castle. Or the "Love Castle", as they call it. http://whitecastle.com/ValentinesDay09/
My husband and I like to stay home and cook a meal from a new recipe we pick out. We'll also pick up a movie from Redbox using one of the free codes!
Free art galleries.