To some of us, associating Valentine’s Day with lavish gifts, romantic trips away or expensive meals just isn’t realistic or doable. Unfortunately, we’re not all in a position to be splashing that sort of money out on one day. If you are, then that’s great and I hope you find an amazing way to celebrate the day but for everyone else, I’ve compiled a list of either cheap or free and generally easy and low-key ways you can celebrate Valentine’s Day this year if you’re a bit stuck for ideas. I’m not a huge lover of Valentine’s Day (maybe if I was being whisked off to Monaco, I would be!) but it’s always nice to do something nice, right?
Make dinner at home: Instead of going out, why not just cook dinner at home instead? There are tons of recipes you can find which require easy and cheap ingredients. You could try a South-Western Seafood dish, which is full of colourful vegetables, a hearty beef chilli full of super cheap, Tesco value ingredients which taste just as nice or my personal favourite Thai fish cakes! And for afters, something like these no-bake Oreo truffles which are so easy, they don’t even need baking!
Exchange a personal gift: If expensive jewellery is out of the question, you could opt for a personal-only gift exchange. Something which has a lot of meaning but won’t break the bank and is also personalised, to make it that little extra bit special. I love a personalised gift, they’re my absolute favourite and I recently blogged about one from Gifts Online 4 U which I absolutely loved!
Make a ‘day of nice’ list: Okay, so you don’t need to call it that but that’s what I call it. Sometimes, if my boyfriend has had a particularly stressful or busy week at work, I’ll do him a ‘Day of Nice’ on his day off. Which is basically a check-list of nice things all day such as; a massage, cooking dinner, making a cup of tea, breakfast in bed, his choice of movie – that sorta thing! It can be really nice and it’s totally free!
Have a movie or games night: Or both! Pick a few movies each and then round off the night with some silly games. Card games, Twister, Monopoly or Cluedo are always fun. A low-key but cosy and fun way to celebrate the day with your loved one which doesn’t even require putting on make-up or getting out of your pjyamas if you don’t want to.
Have a picnic or lay on a spread: Get all the bits and bobs left over in your fridge and make good use out of them! If the day is nice, take it over a park (or even in your garden – at least then if it gets too cold, you’ve not got far to go to warm up) or just lay on a nice big yummy spread of food. If you’re going to buy some extra, Iceland do amazing party food.
These are great ideas Jenny and not only for Valentine’s Day. I love a movie or games night in, some of my favourite co-op games to play are Injustice 2 or Sol Cal.
Me too! Movies and games are always a great option π
Me and my other half love playing board games and just slouching in front of the TV watching movies! I did a thing like your ‘nice list’ for his birthday and he loved it!
Jamie | http://www.jamies-corner.com
Awh thatβs great! Glad he liked it π
Love a quiet Valentine’s Day. Thanks for some great ideas. I love a candlelit picnic (in our lounge as too cold outside) containing all our fave foods! X
Sounds lovely! xx
Reblogged this on Inspiration and ideas on creating your dream life and commented:
Great ideasβ€οΈ
I love these ideas Jenny, the ‘day of nice’ is such a cute and romantic way to show someone how much they mean to you. I definitely don’t see the appeal of going OTT on Valentines, if you want to spend loads that’s fine but I’ve never felt like material objects show love in the same was as thoughtful little things do. Excellent ideas!
Beth x
Absolutely- Iβm not into big gestures either! xxx
This is the first Valentine’s Day my boyfriend and I get to spend in person \o/ and while we do all these things on a weekly basis (he’s big on having “date nights”) this Valentine’s Day I think he said he was going to take me to lunch, get me Boba and I was going to take him to Melting Pot for dinner for his first fondue experience!
It’s basically just another date night for us lol but I’m excited when I get to introduce him to things he hasn’t done before!
Awh thatβs nice that you do date nights (: xxx
Sadly as someone who was previously married for 11 years this is the first relationship I’ve actually had someone take me on proper dates! lol
Good ideas. Thanks for sharing :)!
Welcome (:
WE donβt really do really V Day in my house because our anniversary is so close to it. These ideas are brilliant tho! I may go for one or two this year!
Iβm sure you can apply all of these to your anniversary too!
Games night, YASS! We have so many board games but we never play them anymore, why??? And I love the “day of nice” idea, that’s so thoughtful and the personal touch is always so much more meaningful than a bunch of flowers – well, I think so anyway. Lovely ideas, Jenny, thank you for the inspo! x
Lisa | http://www.lisasnotebook.com
I bloody love board game nights. We often have friends round to play Cluedo xxx
I donβt have a valentine this year, but I love this list!
Amy | hookedonthemusic.com
Do something yourself! Treat yourself to a takeaway and a self care evening (: xx
Love this post & I love the ‘Day of nice list’ that’s literally such a sweet idea!
x x x
Thank you! Itβs so simple (: xxx
Really love your ideas babe, I much prefer things like this than being wined and dined in a restaurant or having lots of unnecessary money spent on me. Thank you for sharing πΈπβ¨
With love, Alisha Valerie x
http://www.alishavalerie.com | http://www.twitter.com/alishavalerie
Yeah I donβt really do wine and dine either cos 1) I donβt drink and 2) I much prefer a takeaway in my room with Netflix! xxx
Great post! I think weβll have a quiet supper together and Iβll make something special. Itβs lovely to talk together and be together. After both having had shockingly bad previous marriages (think narcissists) weβre just so happy and grateful to have found each other. Itβs utter bliss. Thanks for posting βοΈβοΈβοΈ
Oh god Iβm sorry to hear that! But Iβm so glad youβve got each other now! xxx
these are all great ideas! im single so wont be doing anything special so i may just treat myself to some half price chocolate the day after haha
Treating yourself is always good! xxx
My husband and I are doing a really quiet valentines day this year, wedo these kinds of things because we like a quiet night!
Love, Amie β€
The Curvaceous Vegan
Amen! I prefer quiet nights in with Netflix xxx