Sharing Valentine's Day Tips From Many of You

Thanks all of you, our awesome readers – we are sharing your Valentine’s Tips and Savings from our Fun Fabulous Friday yesterday! We enjoyed reading all of the comments and hope that they are a huge help to all of you! We’ve put all of the tips into one big post here for you to read and reap some savings nuggest and ideas! You can also read up on tips and information that we shared earlier this week in this post HERE called Valentine’s Day Date and Gift Ideas for A Lot Less!

Enjoy!

For Valentine’s Day, instead of maybe going out and spending a lot of time and money at a fancy restaurant, I suggest using your couponing skills and buying a few groceries and making dinner for your loved one, which is more from the heart! And whatever you make, you can present it the way you’d like, so you can cut your chicken into a heart, or spell out “I Love You” in peas, whatever floats your boat!
Thanks Kerri N!

Making your own meal(s). Also my husband has given me an orchid plant instead of the traditional roses. Home depot or lowes sales them for a good price, and you can enjoy the beauty for months!
Thanks Ashley P!

Go to Qdoba for BOGO burritos and do dessert at home. Skip the restaurants that will be crowded!
Thanks Brandy!

Making your own wonderful treats for your sweethearts…such as chocolate covered strawberries. Easy and fun, too!
Thanks Carmee R!

With the free offers for making cards on various sites, I already have one for my husband. Cost – zero.
We are going to dinner – no kids – we love them but the time alone is needed. Using $20 gift card at one of our favorite places – I purchased it for $10!
Then after a walk we are headed home for movie night and dessert. I am making chocolate dipped strawberries …. so much less expensive than the purchased ones and more to share with everyone. When is this happening? Not on Valentine’s day as you suggest … Thank you for your suggestions.
Thanks Joy!

Several years ago, my hubby and I started going to the card store together on Valentine’s Day to pick out a card for each other. As usual, it was hard to choose just one so we literally stood there reading cards and handing ALL of the ones we liked to each other right there in the store. After reading each of them, we carefully put them back in the right spots on the racks knowing the other had read all the things we wanted to say. So much easier than finding the PERFECT card to buy. We usually grab our favorite candy to buy as we head out of the store. Not only do we save money by not actually buying the cards, we also aren’t wasting trees or bringing more stuff into our house. We can spend a long time reading and passing cards to each other but it’s so much fun to have the time together “telling” each other why and how we love the other.
Thanks Tanya S!

Homemade cards. They say exactly what you want them to say! A home-cooked romantic dinner for hubby complete with candles and music.
Thanks Sonya C!

Buy flowers after Valentines day. Flowers on a day just because are better than on a created holiday. (Plus, I think Valentines day is dumb. My girlfriend and I just use it for the post holiday sales)
Thanks Nels A!

My husband and I celebrate Valentines Day on an alternate day just after Feb 14th. All Valentines Day items are on sale and we can get more privacy in whathever restaurant we choose.
Thanks Bridget K!

Have dinner at home with special touches. Use a lace tablecloth, nice dishes, candles and soft music.
Thanks Kathy F!

If you eat out, go the day after Valentines Day – or later. Much cheaper and crowds are less.
Thanks Brenda H!

Restaurant.com for dinner out!
Thanks MaryBeth!

Rent a movie and watch it after all the kids are in bed. We have so little time to ourselves and we are watching our budget so closely that we really don’t celebrate these kinds of holidays.
Thanks Jennifer M!

Skip the flower delivery websites ~ grab a much cheaper but still beautiful bouquet at walmart and deliver it in person!
Thanks Pahla S!

I made my own Vday card and favor booklet for my hubby
Thanks Michelle R!

Share an entree or dessert with your sweetheart…save on calories and money!
Thanks Mary H!

Buy boxed Valentines after Valentine’s Day to use the next year.
Thanks Jamie!

I really like the idea of making a card and of using restaurant.com and other coupon deals to make it fun, a night out but inexpensive.
Thanks Heather H!

make dinner instead of going out to dinner for your special someone!
Thanks Marie!

Be creative….make it personal and have fun gifting!
Thanks Deborah L!

Make a nice dinner at home instead of going to a restaurant. You can save so much money by doing this.
Thanks Debbie P!

Celebrate AFTER Valentines Day! The resteraut deals will be better, and all the Vday stuff will go on clearance!
Thanks Brandee S!

Cook a romantic meal together instead of going out for dinner.
Thanks Jennifer B!

We made Valentines cards from scrap paper and I used an old potato that would have just gone into the trash to make a heart shaped and “x” shaped stamp. We dipped the potato in paint and my three year old had a great time. I didn’t have to spend a dime and we have fun Valentines cards for grandparents and friends. We also made sugar cookies from scratch and decorated them with the sprinkles we had left over from Christmas (who said Valentine cookies can’t have green sprinkles). And my husband and I are having a pasta dinner at home that I purchased all the ingredients for for pennies because of coupons. We’ll also be saving gas by having a candlelight dinner at home.
Thanks Melissa G!

We stay home and enjoy being together since my husband travels a lot for work!
Thanks Jennifer M!

make your own card (or get one free from the many sites) and have a nice dinner at home in front of the fireplace
Thanks Sarah G!

Home-made cards are far more special than store-bought ones!
Thanks Jennifer!

coupons for candy
Thanks Laura O!

Oddly enough…I save for Valentine’s Day by hitting the Christmas clearance sales. I pick up red plates, cups, gift bags, etc., at a fraction of their regular cost, and I use those for Valentine’s Day . (Red is red, right?)
Thanks Jimmie W!

Buy the cheap Valentines hearts candy a week before Valentine’s Day and pick out the ones with sayings you like. Tuck them in hidden areas to surprise your family or friends. For example: on their pillow, in their coat pockets, on the driver’s seat of the car, in their lunchbox, on top of their toothbrush in the drawer, etc. etc. It makes it a fun game that everyone will enjoy.
Thanks Judith M!

Use groupon to order flowers
Thanks Tami S!

We do home cooked goodies, like chocolate cheesecake, pink pancakes, etc. The kids help and we all have fun and feel loved
Thanks Julia V!

Stay in and make something!
Thanks Sunnie!

I almost always save a lot for Valentine’s Day just by getting freebies and coupons online.
Thanks Trisha B!

Use coupons to save on candy for valentines
Thanks Katie L!

Neither my husband or I need all the sweets so I have found an activity on one of the 2 for 1 pages to participate in. We’re always about trying something new so I found where we could each make a blown glass flower. We may not be good at it but it will be fun and who knows maybe we’ll have a masterpiece.
Thanks Kathy D!

Make the day about love and just spend time together!
Thanks Tammy T!

Keep it simple. Homemade gifts are the best. Or get one gift you both will enjoy for years to come.
Thanks Chrissy D!

A candle lit dinner at home is just as romantic as out to eat and better for your sweeties heart ( the candles make it special, not just dinner ). Don’t forget a bouquet of paper roses you make yourself .
Thanks Jamie P!

coupons
Thanks Stephanie K!

Eat at home?
Thanks Camiele!

Have a nice meal at home and rent a dvd. Much cheaper than going out to dinner and the movies.
Thanks Darlene K!

I like to give candy to my family and it’s usually less expensive to make something. One year I make big chocolate cookies and decorated them with icing and sprinkles.
Thanks Ronda H!

The best gift to give children is to love your spouse and let them see it.
Thanks Terri W!

Fun songs with the kids make the day special.
Thanks Susie H!

On valentines day we go out as a family and have dinner at our favorite pizza place. It’s economical and very inexpensive. And instead of buying cards we make them ourselves. What a perfect way to show our love to each other.
Thanks Lizzette T!

We have always celebrate V-day the day after so that we can get some awsome deals on whatever. We have never made a huge deal out celebrating but this is always fun to see what we can get for as cheap as we can.
Thanks Hannah S!

Make homemade gifts!
Thanks Rashauna R!

Tuesdays are Kids eat free so where ever you go if you take the kids with you will be free lol.
Thanks Melissa W!

The Melting Pot has a special for couples for Valentine’s Day.
Thanks Nicole F!

Homemade desserts and the free redbox rental coming up work for me
Thanks Rebekah!

Use a B1G1 coupon for a cheap date night.
Thanks Erika D!

won’t help much this year, but with seven kids we buy valentines on clearance after the holiday to save for next year, makes it so easy when those class lists come home!
Thanks Renae M!

Check the stockpile! Look for coupons
Thanks Jennifer G!

Borrow a movie from the first year you dated and share a bowl of homemade popcorn.
Thanks Lori G!

do a shopping party with friends at the big box stores like costco or sams club split the cost of the membership & if you go with a list it can work out really good
Thanks Gretchen W!

We are staying home this Valentine’s Day and cooking steaks and some shrimp for each other at home. We’ll have homemade Valentine’s Day cards for each other too : )
Thanks Tracy S!

Stay in and enjoy takeout! No drinks or tips to pay for! Plusno crazy crowds to deal with.
Thanks Nancy S!

Instead of a store bought gift, you could make coupons that they can redeem for different things…like a back rub, foot massage, date night or making a special dinner for your mate.
Thanks Stephani F!

Got a great deal on the valentine pre-made cookies and my three boys will help me make them. Easy way to spend time with the kids which is the best thing a parent can give their child.

Thanks Stephanie Y!

Hubby and I give each other cards on Vday, but then we go our to dinner a different night to avoid crowds and inflated prices on food!
Thanks Katie!

Celebrate a few days later! All the v-day candy and stuff will be on clearance!
Thanks Natalie!

If you want to go out for a romantic dinner, go out on the 15th. Restaurants aren’t as crowded and you can find some great deals!
Thanks Kristy K!

You can save on a night away at a hotel by staying at home and turning off the phones and acting like you are millions of miles away!!
Thanks Sonya C!

We switched out game plan this year. Instead of spending a lot to make one day fabulous, we used what we already had to celebrate Love Week (the week leading up to Valentines Day). Red streamers to “wrap” their doorway at night, making hot cocoa dipping spoons together (melt chocolate chips, pour into plastic spoons , decorate with sprinkles and freeze to harden. Putting branches from a tree in a vase on the table to hang love notes from. Nothing extravagant, but the kids have loved it!
Thanks Rebecca!

Instead of fighting the crowds to o outo dinner order in (don’t have to leave a tip and lots faster) or make a yummy dinner together at home.
Thanks Heather S!

For those living in the southern…warmer states i suggest a park picnic lunch with your loved ones. If you have little ones it would be cute to make heart shaped sandwiches made with a cookie cutter…so easy and very sweet. Spending the day with the ones you love is the most important and the park is free.
Thanks Melissa L!

Always watch for sales and stack with coupons!
Thanks Amy T!

Dinner and movie at home
Thanks Wendy G!

Make a romantic dinner for 2 at home, pair it with a homemade card expressing your feelings, and give your significant other “coupons” for chores/massages/free time.
Thanks Julia!

I utilize the Valentine candy on sale. I take a piece of plastic wrap, 20 inches cut lengthwise for two pieces. Alternating the pieces of candy, lay them out leaving an inch between and from both edges of plastic. Roll “pigs in a blanket” style. Use pieces of yarn, or ribbons from a previous gift cut long enough to tie bows between each of the candies. You can color coordinate, or make up a candy necklace theme. Overlap the ends and tie off. Kids and adults alike love this creative gift for Valentine’s Day!
Thanks Leighanne!

Well.. Coupons of course and setting that dollar amount for what you will spend and sticking to it!
Thanks Jennifer R!

Make your card and do dinner at home together. I did a really cute card once using candy bars to describe my love for my husband. He loved it!
Thanks Trisha R!

Feed your kids, set them up with an awesome movie and cook dinner for your spouse. A bouquet of flowers and some candlelight.
Thanks Laura R!

Happy Valentine’s Day Savings!