14 February 2008 No Comment Print This Post  Email This Post

It’s bright and early this morning and your significant other has just called you to wish you a happy Valentine’s Day. If you’re anything like me, it’s even odds that you’ve flat out forgot the holiday exists. You start contemplating a rush to the florist’s after work — praying that they’ll still have one of those big (expensive) bouquets of red roses in good shape — or maybe the mall for a fancy present. Either way, we could be talking about a big unbudgeted purchase. Do we have any other options? Actually, we do. I’ve been brainstorming how to make my boyfriend feel a little bit special without breaking the bank. I’m going for the last minute approach, too: you aren’t alone. Here are my ideas. Let me know how they work out in the comments.

Wal-mart Roses: If you can swing by Wal-mart on your way home, head for the craft section. Instead of tussling over live flowers, get the silk ones. If you’re envisioning petals strewn over a bed to create a romantic scene, silk flowers can be cut apart pretty easily and can be easier to clean up afterwards. You can also put together a bouquet that your other half can keep for much longer than the next week. To add a little bit of a scent, give your silk flowers a small spritz with perfume. Cost: Less than a dollar per flower.

Go for the Baked Goods: Valentine’s Day is associated with chocolates, but you can charm your partner’s sweet-tooth with other treats. Baking a favorite batch of cookies or other baked good can work like a charm — and if you eat one beforehand, you won’t leave an obvious whole in the container. Pressed for time? Stop by the bakery, even if it’s just the bakery at the grocery store. Go for the freshest cookies they have, though. Day old bake goods don’t always say “I love you.” Cost: Up to a couple of dollars if you’re buying your cookies pre-made.
Dance the Night Away: After dinner, put on some music. Invite your other half to dance with you. It may just be the center of your living room, but a slow dance can make it a pretty romantic place.
Cost: Nothing, as long as you already have a few romantic songs on your iPod, in your CD collection or even on 8 track.

Plan for the Weekend: Given that Valentine’s Day is on a weekday this year, you can make bigger plans for the weekend. Tell your boyfriend or girlfriend about the plans you’re making — a hike, an afternoon of watching his or her favorite movies, or whatever you’ve thought up — with a card or handwritten note. Cost: A card can be free, especially if you already have red construction paper on hand. The real cost will be for whatever you’ve planned for the weekend.

I hope these ideas at least give you a starting point. Me? I’m off to bake a big batch of chocolate chip cookies.