4 Ways to Save Money on Valentine’s Day

February 13, 2013

Although it may seem like we just rang in the new year, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. You and your loved one always deserve to celebrate, but the last thing you want to do this early in the year is fall into credit card debt. So if your checkbook suffered a setback over Christmas, you may want to rethink your spending strategy on this day of love.

How can you show your partner that your feelings are boundless while admitting that your bank account is not? To make your celebration both romantic and frugal, consider the following four tips:

1. Give the Gift of Service
Instead of sinking a bunch of money into that giant teddy bear or diamond necklace, give the love of your life the gift of service. Who wouldn’t love some relief from daily chores? Offer to do the dishes or laundry for a month. Offer to watch the kids while your spouse has a night out with friends. You can’t show these gifts off at parties, but they mean a lot to busy professionals, and they come without a hefty credit card bill.

2. Skip the Expensive Restaurant
Restaurants take full advantage of Valentine’s Day by jacking up prices for entrees and drinks. Avoid the price gouge and just stay home. Put together a romantic playlist, dim the lights, and buy some inexpensive flowers. Cook your partner’s favorite meal, complete with elaborate side dishes and a sumptuous dessert. To spice things up, build a fire or light some candles and eat your meal in the living room. Dinner is always more romantic when you and your loved one are alone – especially when there’s no one to drop off a bill at the end of the meal.

3. Pay Less for Flowers
Instead of dialing 1-800-FLOWERS, put a little effort into your flower-buying. Keep an eye out for roadside vendors in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. Or park your car in a public field and pick any wildflowers that catch your eye (stay away from landscaped arrangements though). This sure beats paying full retail, especially when flowers don’t have a very long shelf life. You can also consider some lesser-known outlets for cheap flowers, such as Whole Foods Market or Costco.

4. Aggressively Negotiate the Price of Jewelry
Just because a romantic holiday is on the horizon doesn’t mean you should pay through the nose for jewelry. If a little bling is your thing, take your negotiating skills to the jewelry store. Drive a hard bargain and don’t be afraid to walk away from the counter. The closer it gets to Valentine’s Day, the more jewelers will be willing to negotiate. You can also consider purchasing your jewelry from a pawn shop, where prices are typically half what you’d pay at a retail jewelry store.

Final Thoughts
If you’re not much of a cook and would rather go out for a nice Valentine’s Day dinner, check out deal of the day websites like Groupon, which often offer steep discounts for a wide range of restaurants. Just read the fine print to make sure you can use the voucher on Valentine’s Day, and call ahead of time to book a table. Valentine’s Day should be a day of celebration, not stress. You and your partner are in it together for the long haul, so make wise decisions before you spend your hard-earned money.

What other ways can you think of to save on Valentine’s Day?