Valentine’s Day is here again!   How many of you have got yourself organised?  Have you:

Bought the card?   Put champagne on ice? Booked the restaurant? Got the flowers? Bought the chocolates? Sent the kids to your mothers?

The list is endless…. what about the perfume, the lingerie, the taxi home from the restaurant?  By the time you’ve done all the above, you’re probably in for a bill of around 150GBP (US$214) and that’s assuming you can send the kids to your mother and aren’t having to pay a baby sitter.
 
The current financial situation means that many of us are  watching what we spend and, if we do have any left after paying to keep a roof over our heads, are very thoughtful about where it goes.  
But celebrating Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Here are 10 things you could do to have a Beautiful Valentine’s Day on a Budget.
 
Make your own card, that way you can choose your own picture and cheesy message inside! Stay in and cook a romantic meal – if you’re not a cook then have an ‘indoor picnic’ spread a rug out on the floor, put on some romantic music, open the wine (there’s some great sparkling wines and cavas on offer out there) and feast on treats you know your loved one likes. If you’re city based, go to a free museum or art gallery. Buy a postcard of your favourite piece of art in the gift shop and then tell each other over a romantic cup of hot chocolate at home why that picture was your favourite. (You can then keep the cards in your photo album or scrapbook as a reminder of the day) Have a hot, bubbly bath together and then give each other a massage Stay in and watch a movie you both enjoy – it could be a romantic one or not! Buy a cheap cut of meat (or a heap of vegetables) – put them in a big pot in a low oven and leave to cook for a few hours whilst you go out for a long walk. You can then come back to a fantastic meal. Stay snuggled in bed and do crosswords or word puzzles. Make an ‘I Love You Because’ box….. take an empty box, decorate it and inside place lots of little notes each with a reason why you love that person. A gift for Valentine’s Day which will last all year. Get your photo albums out and take a trip down memory lane remembering all the good times you’ve had together. Make love!

Showing someone we love and care for them doesn’t have to cost a fortune. I’d rather have one of these 10 than a wilted bunch of flowers any day.

By: Sharon Langford

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