5 Budget-Friendly Ways to Spend Your Valentine's Day

Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s, Galentine’s, or Palentine’s, we all know that the day can quickly become costly. Between dinner, movies, drinks, gifts, etc….it can get overwhelming, and quite frankly, not all of us have the financial ability to go all-out. Here are five ways you can spend your Valentine’s Day with your loved ones without going broke.

1. At Home Movie and Dinner
   Ok I know you’re probably like…really? I’ve heard this one a million times. But listen, this is such a low-cost and often overlooked date night that can be so much fun.
   Find a movie you both love, or have been wanting to see, and plan a night around it! You can make a themed food and drink menu based on the movie, you can make dinner together, you can make a cute little picnic in the living room with some blankets and homemade or cheap decorations. Make it a nostalgic night where you each pick a movie or show and food and drinks from your childhood that you loved. The possibilities here are literally endless.

2. Get Creative Together
   Paint and Sips can be so expensive. Not that they aren’t worth it, but not everyone has the money to be spending $30+ per person for a paint night. YouTube has such an amazing selection of FREE paint night tutorials that you can follow along with. And honestly, I prefer them because you can pause, rewind, or fast forward whenever you need. If you don’t have paint supplies at home, you can get them for really cheap at places like Dollar Tree. The best part is you can put them up in your home after!
   Not super artsy? That’s ok! Get a Lego set to build together. I know you’re probably sitting there saying Lego sets are expensive, and they can be. Definitely look into off-brand Lego sets. They’re usually cheaper, just as good, and you can usually find some really cool and unique sets. Or go an even cheaper route and find a puzzle to put together. The point of all of this is to have fun with each other and spend some quality time together. Plus, you’ll get a cool little piece to display in your home at the end of it.

3. Game Night
   As a big gamer, this is probably my go-to. Whether you’re into board games, card games, or video games, playing together and having a little friendly competition is a great way to connect with your friends or partner. There are also a TON of free-to-play co-op games available on Steam, Xbox, Playstation, and Switch. Even more if you already pay for their gaming subscriptions. If you don’t have a console or computer, there are also some great free or low-cost games on your phone that you can get. Board games and card games are always a great option. Add some of your favorite snacks and a cozy vibe and you’ve got yourself a cute and fun Valentine’s Day date night.

4. Create a Bucket List Together
   This is a rather simple one, but it’s meaningful. Talk about the places you want to go, the things you want to try and see and experience. You might end up with a few easy, low-cost ideas for future date nights, or realize there are some bigger adventures that you can plan and save for together. You may even learn something completely new about your friends or partner.

5. Cheap Valentine’s Gifts
   Maybe giving gifts is more your style. Gift-giving is it’s own love language, and I am a sucker for getting people things that remind me of them. There are a couple different routes you can go with gift-giving (practical, needed, just-for-fun, etc.), but one of the most important things is to find a budget that works for you and stick to it. Stores like Dollar Tree, Walmart, Target, and TJ Maxx have some super cute items for Valentine’s Day and you could put together a really nice gift basket for pretty cheap.

Whatever you decide to do with your partner or friends, just remember, you don’t need to spend money to have a fun time.


*Mention of any companies or products in this post does not constitute an endorsement by Ancorum Credit Union.