Creative Ways to Save this Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and hopeless romantics are likely thinking of ways to show how much they love their significant other. If you have someone special in your life, you probably want to show them your affection by buying them a gift or taking them out for a fancy dinner. Whatever you decide to do, it involves spending money. But if you have to dip into your savings, is it worth it?.

How Much Do Americans Spend on Valentine’s Day?

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans spend around $19.6 billion on Valentine’s Day.

Statistics show that more than half of Americans-approximately 55%-spend about $143.56. A huge chunk of that money goes toward jewelry. Approximately $4.7 billion is spent on earrings, bracelets and necklaces. The most popular gift though is candy. About $1.8 billion is spent on chocolate and other sweet treats.

How to Save Money on Valentine’s Day Spending

It’s nice to show your loved one that you care about them and you can do so without digging yourself into debt. Sometimes, it really is the thought that counts. But if you want to save money and still do something romantic, we have some great ways to make Valentine’s Day really special without overspending.

Custom Make Your Valentine’s Day Card

When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think of Hallmark cards. These cards can cost $7 or more. You can save money by personalizing your valentine’s card. If you don’t think you’re creative, don’t worry about it. All it takes to make a wonderful card is a piece of paper and some heartfelt words. There is a very good chance that your loved one will appreciate personalized words more than they would a generic card that was created and mass produced.

Customize Your Gifts

You can also customize your loved one’s gift as opposed to spending hundreds of dollars. Your loved one will probably appreciate your labor of love. If you aren’t the creative type, here are some ideas you can to customize your gift:

Make a collage of your favorite pictures
Make a video of your happiest moments together
Create a scrapbook of memories that you have shared

You can never really go wrong with something that showcases your loving and happy moments together. The best part is that through websites and platforms such as Pinterest, you can easily customize gifts that your special partner will love.

Take a Cooking Class Together

If you have a busy schedule, then there’s a good chance that you don’t have many opportunities to spend quality time with your loved one. Why not take the opportunity to spend Valentine’s Day together by doing something with your hands? Taking a cooking class together is a wonderful way to spend quality time with each other and learn something new.

Make Them Breakfast in Bed

It’s the little things that you do that show your partner that you love them. Why not start Valentine’s Day off on the right foot and surprise them with breakfast in bed? In fact, why not go above and beyond and take care of everything for the day? Giving your significant other a day off on Valentine’s Day is a great way to show them that you value their contribution and that they are loved. It’s also a wonderful way to save money.

Don’t Go On a Traditional Date

Traditionally, many couples go out for dinner on Valentine’s Day at a fancy restaurant. All the nice restaurants know that they’ll be busy, so they’ll try capitalizing on the demand. Instead of waiting at a busy restaurant and spending lots of money, why not do something different?

Take your partner out for lunch instead-maybe even a picnic
Visit a museum
Go to the zoo
Stroll the local park

You can even go camping for the day and have some peace and quiet. Most of these will cost you less than what you would typically pay for a table at a fancy restaurant on Valentine’s Day. The bonus aside saving money is that you’ll have more quality time and do something more meaningful together.

The Importance of Having a Savings Account

All the money you save on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to go toward frivolous activities or spending. You need to save as much as you can for emergencies. One of the best ways to do this is to open a savings account with a trusted bank. The right savings account offers you the following advantages:

You can earn interest from your savings.
It keeps your money safe.
You can set up automatic deposits to keep yourself from using the money before you save it.

A personal savings account does can come in handy at the worst times. It gives you the advantage of financial security. And, it gives you a chance to save for a romantic vacation later on, which is even better than a Valentine’s date.

Instead of spending all that money on Valentine’s Day this year, why not find different ways to save money and put the extra cash away in a savings account? Use these creative money saving tips to reach your financial goals.