Valentine’s Day: Make it special without spending a dime

Valentine’s Day is said to be the most romantic day of the year, but a lot of us in this part of the world aren’t basic flowers-and-chocolates types of people, maybe as a result of culture, upbringing or just the poor economy.

This year’s Valentine’s falls on Ash Wednesday and if you want to do something a little different and cheaper than the same old thing that everyone else does or is doing, here are meaningful ways to show love to someone you care about and are easy and affordable.

Remember, Love isn’t a big thing. It’s a million little things.

A memory album

Take your partner down memory lane. Have you saved ticket stubs/mementos from your first date or the flowers from when he proposed? Create a memory album with little mementos of your time together. You can pick up a blank album and a roll of tape for cheap and create a new memory they will never forget. Take some time to go through those photos you’ve been storing since your relationship began and use a program like Powerpoint, Shutterfly or One True Media to put the story of your time together to music. Your partner will love the thought you put into capturing all of your photographs in one place.

Cook for her

Not every time “cook for him”, this Valentine, cook for her and this means a proper home-cooked meal. You may not realise how much this means and how deep it goes. Food is the most direct, profound, and intimate conversation we have with our own body. Prepare a romantic dinner at home for her by cooking her favourite meal. Play romantic music and decorate with some flowers if you can.

Spend quality time

Drop everything and spend quality time with her. Make it a priority to give her your love, your full presence and undivided attention for at least that day.

Give her something special

Another way to make this Valentine special is to give her something that makes it so obvious you’re never far from her mind. It can be a nice necklace, a sweatshirt that smells like you that you let her borrow, or a book or CD that you thought she would really like. These physical objects will make it so you have a bigger presence in her life, and she’ll be more likely to miss you while you’re away.

Ask her what she wants

You never can tell what she has in mind for this Valentine or what she would love. Ask her in a sweet way and do your best to fulfill it. Don’t worry, it might not even cost you a dime.

Dinner/Home movie

After eating the home-cooked dinner, turn your living room into a movie theater and watch all the movies you can. You don’t need to leave the house for any reason. You can even have impromptu amateur photo shoots- more memories for your photo album.

Free massages

Light candles, grab some massage oil or lotion and take turns relieving each other’s tension with slow, deep-foot, neck, leg and shoulder massages. If you and your partner rarely devote the evenings to each other, the promise of a massage before bed could be the perfect gift. Pick up a lotion or oil, dim the lights, and help each other relax the night away before you both slip into bed. It’s a totally relaxing way to get close without spending money.

Dance with each other

Put on your favourite CD and have a dance party together. You can get down with fast music or play something slow and dance in each other’s arms. Set the mood with lit candles and comfortable clothes. Dancing is pretty intimate and even a night in will be more special if you spend it getting close and enjoying each other.

Have a spa night

You don’t have to hit the local spa to relax. Simply light your own bathroom with candles and soft lighting, then run a steaming bubble bath. Share it with your loved one and take the time to soak and enjoy each other. Have some wine and chocolates and pretend like you paid big bucks for the pleasure.