When most people think of Valentine’s Day, they think of elaborate, expensive dinners with a dozen overpriced red roses and fancy gifts to flatter the one they love. However, love should not depend on the amount of money spent, and not everyone has the ability to spend hundreds of dollars in one day on one person. Young couples in high school and college may not have the funds to take their loved one to the most expensive restaurant in town, on top of purchasing a gift and flowers. The good news is that there are plenty of date opportunities that will not break the bank this Valentine’s Day that are both meaningful and memorable.
The first budget-friendly date someone can take is to find a cheap and affordable activity to participate in that is both romantic and fun, creating lasting memories with their partner. Some of the most popular activities to try are going bowling. Many bowling lanes will offer Valentine’s Day specials to make the night extra sweet with friendly competition between the two partners (Twersky and Campano, 2023). Not only is it an inexpensive date, costing around $30 to $40 total, but it is also only a short drive from Walton, with bowling alleys located in both in Logansport and Kokomo.
Another inexpensive date someone can plan to try on Valentine’s Day is to have an arts and crafts night with their significant other. They and their partner could go to a local store or craft store located near them and purchase canvases, paint, glitter, and any other fun pieces they may want for the craft. The only expense would be buying the materials and creating them at home together which not only helps a student save money, but it also helps them have a fun and unique experience with their partner. Some crafts valentines could consider attempting are painting portraits of one another, making a memory box to store valuable items and pictures in, or creating a time capsule together as something to remember this day (Twersky and Campano, 2023).
While both of those activities cost just a little bit of money, there are some activities that can be completely cost-free that both partners will enjoy. One of the most popular ones is making dinner at home and watching a classic romantic comedy movie after dinner. If someone does not have the money to buy expensive ingredients for dinner, pasta can be made at home with only a couple of ingredients and requires both people to work together to create a simple, yet classic and delicious meal. Valentines can make the dinner feel more romantic by lighting candles and dimming the lights, giving it an expensive restaurant ambiance (TENCU, 2024). After dinner, they can cuddle up on the couch with warm, fuzzy blankets, yummy chocolates, and gummy candies, and watch a classic romantic or romantic comedy movie like The Proposal, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Notebook, and so much more.
No matter what someone chooses to do with their partner this Valentine’s Day, it is important to remember that love should never depend on how much money something costs or materialistic items. One of the best gifts a person could receive on Valentine’s Day is creating a lasting memory with someone they love with a fun, intimate activity, no matter how expensive or cheap it might be. Be sure to make this Valentine’s Day as special as ever, taking photos, smiling, and laughing till the night ends, remembering this day as one of the best, and budget-friendly, holidays yet.
