Some years can be tough. I know many people who have been out of work or even with a job,  struggling to make ends meet. Sometimes you have it all together but unexpected expensives blow a hole in your plans.  From experience I know it can be discouraging to face a Valentine’s Day where chocolates and jewelry, roses and fancy dinners are touted as the gift of the day and you have no money for them.

You don’t have to let the potential romance of  the day go simply because there is no money.  Look at your grocery list this week, look at your stockpile (excellent reason to have one), and get to creating. Too often it is easy to look at the holiday and see $$ signs. And keep your eyes out for some great inexpensive recipes on the blog this week.

Here are some ideas –

Movie Night

Put the kids to bed.
Pop some popcorn.
Find a movie on TV/Netflix/spend $3 or less on Redbox or Blockbuster
Grab sodas or a 2 liter at the store for $1.69
Want candy? Check out the grocery store and spend under $3
Snuggle up on the couch

1 movie – FREE-$3
Soda – FREE-$2
Candy – FREE-$3
Popcorn – FREE – $3
*1 Valentine’s Day – FREE – $11*

Dinner for 2

Feed the kids and put them to bed
Throw dinner in the oven/on the grill
Put a fancy tablecloth or even a flat sheet on the table
Light a few candles
Pull out a bottle of wine – FREE-$12
Make a super easy dessert from ingredients you have (or inexpensive ideas below)

Dinner – FREE
Wine – FREE – $12

*1 Valentine’s Day – FREE – $12* 

Other easy ideas

*Coupon booklets*
Favorite dinner
His/Her movie choice
Home massage
You name it….get creative

*Surprise lunch at work*

Our Valentine’s Day this year? Grilled jamaican jerk or balsamic chicken (pre-prepped in my freezer), red potatoes with butter (in my pantry), asparagus (1.99# at the grocery, on my grocery list) and a yummy dessert whipped up from stockpiled items.  Oh, can’t forget the bottle of wine we have been saving from a special trip we took the other month. We are doing this with the kids this year. After they go to bed (a little early) we are having a movie night for 2.

If the day is special to you don’t let it go because you have no money. Make the most of what you have and blow your significant other’s socks off. 

What ideas do you have for a creative and low cost Valentine’s Day?

If you don’t have a stockpile and are all out of ideas for a Valentine’s Day dinner, check out Food on the Table. They will show you what’s on sale in your grocery store  and help you make a menu based on what’s on sale then all you need to do is find a recipe you want and get the items cheaper than just going to a store, browsing and grabbing whatever selection they have.