Valentine's Day is quickly approaching! It is a day filled of love and you want to show your loved one how much they mean to you.

The only "problem" is you have been focused on your financial goals (paying down debt, reducing spending, saving for an engagement ring, a house, your retirement, and the list goes on) and you are worried that this holiday could put you off track and cause a spiral into your old habits...

Don't worry I'm here to help you through the day while showing your loved one how much you care, and your bank account! 

1. Love Isn't About How Much You Spend! - This is the MOST important thing to take away from this entire thing. Love is never and should never be about how much you can spend on your loved one. I understand that some people's "love language" is receiving gifts, but again this doesn't mean spending more money than you have. Remember it is all about the thought and not the value of the gift. There are so many free or very inexpensive gift ideas you can do:
   1. Make a homemade card (okay, this one is my FAVORITE);
   2. Gift a bottle of wine, chocolates, or their favorite treat;
   3. A candle in their favorite scent.
   4. Records, clothing, or other cool finds from a thrift shop (okay I lied, I LOVE second hand records more than homemade cards!)
2. Make Dinner At Home - This is an old tradition but one of the best! I don't think there is anyone out there that wouldn't LOVE to have someone cook them a meal (and bonus points if you also clean up after the dinner, your welcome). 
3. Explore Nature with a Picnic - Get outside! There are so many great places to explore and we forget we can spend an entire day exploring and it costs NOTHING! Pack a picnic and surprise your loved one mid way through the hike with the picnic. Trust me, they will cry! Or at least I would! And the bonus with this, is after all of the exercise, your endorphins will be sky high *wink*  
4. Create a Movie Theatre Atmosphere at Home - Grab a bag of popcorn, a box of milk duds, a bag of peanut butter m&m's, a bag of fuzzy peaches, 2 cans of orange crush...dim the lights...find a movie you both haven't seen on Netflix...cuddle up under a blanket and ENJOY!
5. Go For an Original "Long Walk on a Beach" - You know the cliche line, "I like long walks on the beach..." even though it is winter, you can still do this! I would actually argue the beach in the winter is more romantic. Bundle up, take some hot coffee, and watch the sunset with nobody (or very few) around you!
6. Have a Games Night! - Okay, how stinking fun is this! Put a record on, grab a crib board, deck of cards, dominos, Guess Who...and you have a full fun packed night of entertainment ahead of you! But don't let me know, because I would totally crash your evening and join in!
7. Go Skating at a Local Rink or Pond - There are so many community rinks and ponds that you can use for free and spend hours skating. In the community rinks you can even go at night under the lights! THIS IS A HALLMARK MOVIE IN THE MAKING! Okay I'm sure they have already made one like this, but basically you would be re-creating a Hallmark movie for your loved one and what person doesn't dream of that! (If you have an old red truck, YOU WIN AT VALENTINES!)

There are so many things you can do to show your loved one how much you care! I only scratched the surface, there are so many things you can do. 

I hope by reading this you realize there are so many great ideas on how to spend Valentine's day all while staying within your financial means and goals. I would actually bet if you did any of the above, your loved one will fall in love with you even more than if you took them to a fancy dinner or bought them an expensive piece of jewelry!

Cheers to a magical Valentine's Day and falling in love (with a human and your bank account!)

Jennifer H.
Xo