Happy Frugal Valentine's Day

You know the slogan, "Every kiss begins with Kay"?  We're all for jewelry here at Savings, but if getting or giving a kiss in your relationship depends on expensive jewelry, well, there's something wrong.  When you boil it down, nothing should be more romantic than just hanging out together, so while showering someone in gifts can be great, it shouldn't really have to be necessary.

The stress on Valentine's Day should be romance not gifts.  Contrary to some popular belief, Valentine's Day isn't just a "Hallmark Holiday" devised by greeting card companies to sell a bunch of stuff that will probably be discarded the next day (though you could make an argument that's what it's become).  Valentine's Day actually has a long a rich history:

The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

So it's an old holiday--think about that when you're deciding to buy the pink plastic teddy bear with flashing lights.  It didn't exist during Chaucer's time.  And back then wildflowers probably sufficed, rather than a hugely expensive bouquet.

Of course, all this depends on your relationship--we're not trying to break anyone up here.  So if one person buys something expensive and one person doesn't, this could lead to problems.  It might be a good idea to agree on what types of gifts your planning on giving beforehand.  And don't couch it in terms of being cheap--i.e.; don't say, I'm not buying you something nice because it's too expensive, say, I'm giving you something else because it's a better expression of my feelings. 

So here are five frugal tips for Valentine's Day.

1. Make Dinner.  Nothing drains money quicker than expensive meals.  Preparing a meal can be romantic - especially if you've never done a lot of cooking.  Then it becomes a true gesture, not just a way to save.

2. Go out for dessert.  This way, you don't spend as much on an expensive meal, but you still go out--and a dessert-only place means you could spend more on that portion of the meal, at a very romantic place, but less than you would for a whole dinner.

3. Make a card.  Do you have any artistic ability at all?  Go for it.  You don't?  Are you musically inclined?  Writing a song might sound hokey, but it's a great expression.  Basically, if you've got some sort of talent, use it for your Valentine's offering.

4. Take a walk on the beach. Ridiculous, huh?  Nothing more cliche than that, but it's free and actually romantic.  Of course, for those who don't have access to a beach, there are other romantic places to walk wherever you live.  Think of some questions beforehand--try to learn something about your significant other that you've never known before.  Get to know each other again.

5. Use Savings.com for discounted flowers.  Heh, a plug.  But seriously, flowers are incredibly expensive and they don't need to be. 

How about you?  Would skimping on Valentine's gifts ruin your relationship or is it a good idea?  Any frugal tips out there?