The special day of love, Valentine’s Day, will be here before we know it! Whether you are in a relationship or are single, you can often find yourself forking out quite a bit of money to please the one you love or are pursuing. We all know love isn’t about money, but of course you want to show them you care and celebrate the holiday.

Guess what, there are ways to still do that and save money and still have a happy loved one!

First off, here are some Valentine’s Day stats from a survey done by the National Retail Federation:

• 54 percent of Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a loved one this year.
• The average amount of money they will spend on candy, cards, dinner and gifts is $133.91.
• Men plan to spend twice as much as women on gifts alone — $108.38 compared to $49.41.
• In total, the survey estimates that Americans will spend close to $17.3 billion celebrating love. 

Do you really want to become a part of that statistic and spend so much money on one single day? If you want to, or you have the money to spare, great! But if you are looking for ways to save money then you’re going to love these money saving tips!

Stay in instead of eating out

This is hands down one of the easiest and biggest ways to save money on Valentine’s Day. Skipping the eating out part will save you at least a bill of upwards of $50. Depending on where you go, you could drop a $100 bill. Instead, stay in the comfort of your own home and whip something up together, or surprise your loved one by fixing them up a gourmet meal by hand!

Valentine’s Day is about spending quality time with someone you love. Cooking together is a great way to bond and have fun with each other.

Make your gift instead of buying it

Gifts that are made with love and care make them that much more special, especially when they are given to the person that loves you. Something that you make and give to them will mean much more than any material item could.

Here are some ideas:

• Photo album of your relationship
• Welded wine rack
• Book of reasons why you love them
• Paint them a painting or photograph, etc. 

If you aren’t too artsy or crafty, it’s ok you don’t have to make your gift. Buy your gift and make a card, so that there is some aspect of the “made with love” idea in there. Trust us on this one; you’ll get a great reaction!

Go on an adventure instead of a dinner date

Are both you and your Valentine active, outdoorsy people? Instead of going out on a Valentine’s date take advantage of what Mother Nature has to offer. Here are some ideas that will be awesome but also save you money.

• Go on a hike and take a picnic
• Watch the sunset while drinking a bottle of wine
• Camp in your backyard to make the night different than the rest
• Take a bike ride through the park [don’t forget to hold hands]
• Revisit all of the places in town where you had your “firsts”

We hope these money saving tips will help you have a great Valentine’s Day date without dropping too much cash, but still making your loved one happy! Happy Valentine’s day all you love birds.

Don’t forget to stop at your local thrift store and check out the Valentine’s Day themed items that are available. You may find yourself some cool decorations, a gift or that perfect date outfit for the special day.

Related Posts: 

DIY Valentine Projects Made With Items Found at Second Hand Stores

3 Ways to Save Money on Valentine’s Day & Still Show Her You Care

Why shop at your local second hand store? Download the free offer below to learn how the Arc Store of Butte County supports its community.