Top Frugal Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
Valentine’s Day is one of those magical holidays that spans all generations. Children make sweet little cards for their classmates and friends. Young adults get all giddy when their boyfriend or girlfriend delivers flowers to their office. Married couples take the day to celebrate their forever love, while their kids relish in all the candy and sweet treats. What’s not to love about love?!
Just like any other holiday, celebrating the “traditional” way can get expensive. If you’ve ever gone out to dinner on Valentine’s Day with your significant other, you’ve probably run into the dilemma of having to pay for a prix fixe menu plus drinks and dessert. Restaurants have figured out how to capitalize on all the couples who flock to their establishments on this special day. You could end up spending over $100 just on the date, not to mention the money you’ll have to shell out for a gift. Yikes!
Take it from me, there are many delightful ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without overspending. You don’t have to go the “traditional” route of going out for dinner. Get creative with your time together and you might find that you have more fun when you spend less.
Top Frugal Valentine’s Day Date Ideas
Bake dessert at home (bonus: wrap up your sweet treats as gifts for friends)
Cook an indulgent meal at home
Do the $5 challenge
Go out for lunch instead
Watch the sunset with a picnic dinner
Movie marathon with friends (or your significant other)
Go on a weekend hike
Make cookies and treats to give out to friends and family.
This is a fun date idea that couples young and old can enjoy together. Plus, it’s an interactive idea for kids! For more of a challenge, find a cookie recipe that requires a little extra time spent in the kitchen. This recipe for classic sugar cookies is perfect. You could also choose the slice-and-bake cookies from the grocery store and go all out with decorations—up to you! Baking something together is so much fun, and even if the cookies don’t turn out perfect, they’ll probably taste delicious. Once your cookies are decorated with frosting and sprinkles, wrap them up in little bags (like these) so you can give them out to friends, coworkers and family.
If this sounds fun to you, you could take it a step further by putting together a baking date gift basket. Assemble all the ingredients, decorations, wrapping supplies, and a bottle of wine in a basket with a card. Look for coupons for the grocery store or shop at the dollar store for wrapping supplies. It’s a gift and date all in one!
Cook dinner together at home.
It’s amazing how much cheaper it is to cook at home. This is especially true for Valentine’s Day dinner. Even if you want to indulge in a home-cooked meal, you’ll still end up saving money. Set the mood by pouring each of you a beverage, turning off the television, muting your phones and lighting some candles. Make this dinner feel different and more special than all the other meals you’ve eaten together at home. Sit at the formal dining table or outside by the fire.
Here are some simple, yet indulgent recipes to try:
Do the $5 challenge.
This is a fun date and gift combo idea for couples who really want to stick to their budget, but you have to be in it together. Choose a store that has a variety of products, like Walmart, Target or even Dollar Tree. Each of you gets $5 cash to spend. Split up and go shopping for a gift (funny or sentimental) for the other. This challenge is fun because you have to get really creative with what you find for under $5. Maybe you get him or her a package of powdered sugar donut holes because that’s what he or she ordered on your first date at a coffee shop. Or perhaps you can find a cheap pair of sandals because one day you want to take him or her to Hawaii. For this date, it’s the sentiment that counts.
Go out for a lunch date instead of dinner.
If you like the idea of going out for a traditional date on the actual Valentine’s Day, opting for lunch instead of dinner can save you from the dreaded prix fixe menus. Even if you do run into a set Valentine’s Day menu, lunch prices are usually less expensive. For something different, get your lunch to-go and find a nice park to sit and eat, either outside on a bench or in your car if it’s chilly out. Make it special and romantic!
Drive to a lookout point to watch the sunset.
Whether you live near a beach or the mountains, watching the sunset is a romantic way to spend your Valentine’s Day evening. You may have to ask around for lookout point ideas, or you may already have one in mind. This date is especially fun if you keep it a surprise until you get to your destination. Pack a picnic dinner with you and your date’s favorite foods and beverages. Don’t forget a blanket so you can snuggle up on the tailgate together.
Plan a rom-com movie marathon with your friends.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples. For those who are excited to celebrate with friends, a movie marathon is perfect, especially since Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday this year. Even better if one of you has a Netflix subscription—you can’t go wrong with romantic comedies! Check out this list of some of the top feel-good movies to watch on Netflix right now. Personal favorites include Always Be My Maybe and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. This date idea also works for a significant other. I know many boyfriends and husbands who would gladly watch a romantic comedy on Valentine’s Day (hint: they’re the keepers).
Go on a weekend hike.
Because Valentine’s Day is on a Friday this year, many people will probably choose to celebrate all weekend long. Once the sun comes out on Saturday, head out for a day hike. For couples who tend to get busy on the weekends, this idea will allow you to slow down and enjoy each other’s company. After your hike, find a new deli or sandwich shop to try out for lunch or an early dinner. Give yourselves the gift of spending the day together without any distractions. Hiking to the top of a mountain is a common way to propose! So, you may see some shiny new rocks on the trail (or you could get some curious looks from your girlfriend on the hike down).
The key to a successful Valentine’s Day is to set expectations ahead of time so no one is disappointed. Talk about whether you want to exchange gifts or just celebrate with a fun date. Then stick to what you discussed so no one is surprised or bummed out. Sticking to a budget while having fun is possible. You just have to get creative!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your budget and can’t figure out where your money is going each month, I have a free download for you when you sign up for my newsletter you’ll automagically receive a budget printable that will help keep you organized in an easy-to-understand format.