Be Unique While Being Thrifty this Valentine’s Day

Take cooking for your significant other to new heights by incorporating unique elements. Create a custom menu that features what you are preparing, with romantic overtones. Pick a name for your eatery – something like “Romantic Rendezvous” or “Bedroom Bistro.” Write up a description of each item you are preparing and present your creations with flair and panache. Make it dinner and a movie by having a favorite romantic classic ready to go.

Cold outside? Plan a romantic picnic right at home. Set out a spread on the bed with everything you might take outside on a hot summer day. Some champagne or wine on ice, perhaps strawberries and chocolate, and your favorite picnic food can be a nice romantic touch. Try playing soothing background music with nature sounds to help set the mood. Help the scene with a few inexpensive flowers spread around the picnic blanket.

Change the classic game up by focusing purely on romantic ideas and prizes. You can plan it simply around the house, but why not take it around town? Clues can be tied to your romantic past – things like “where we first kissed” or “where we first said ‘I love you’ to each other.” Try to be whimsical with the clues to make it more fun. Of course, every scavenger hunt needs a finale, when all the clues are found. Make it something that fits the style of the both of you. A nice romantic setting with candles already lit and soft music playing is a great choice.

While there is a little bit of art involved in forming fortune cookies, it’s not as hard as you might think. Try a simple recipe. What’s important are the message and the setting. Write personal fortunes with romantic overtones to insert into the cookies. Take them along to a Chinese restaurant and surprise, or bring takeout home and add your personal creations.

Want a deal? You can also look at sites like Groupon and Living Social for local Valentine’s Day deals. You can also look to see if local sites have deals for Valentine’s Day.

As you can see, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money to celebrate a romantic Valentine’s Day with your sweetie. Try these, or use them as food for thought to come up with your own plans for a thrifty holiday!