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A number of great posts have surfaced on the Interwebs over the past few days about how to have an cheap inexpensive Valentine’s Day and still come out looking extra romantic. Trent at The Simple Dollar wrote a list of Nine Tactics for a Frugal Valentine’s Day including, most notably,

Take time off. If you both have some vacation time built up, put in for a day off and spend it together. Do some simple and purely fun things that you wouldn’t ordinarily get to do. Cuddle together for a big chunk of the day and just enjoy each other instead of stressing out at work.

If you’re going out, do something unexpected. Lots of places will be crowded on that night, so do something unusual if you’re going out on the town. Don’t go to the high-dollar place - instead, ask around for something quiet and secluded and undiscovered. Not only will the meal be cheaper, it will also be more memorable and distinctive.

Of course the latter is easier said than done, but it might be the best (and most affordable) advice out there. The next great advice column came from Xin Lu at wisebread.com, entitled Cheap and Romantic Ideas for Valentine’s Day (And Any Other Day of the Year), featuring some great ideas like,

Creatively use free flower petals - Usually florists throw away the outside petals of flowers to make the flowers they sell look perfect. Each day if you just go by a florist they will probably have a lot of free flower petals for people to take. You can take these petals and do many things with them. For example, you can decorate the dinner table, bed, or float the petals in a bath.

Surprise your significant other at times you usually do not see him or her - If you work in different places then it would be fun to have a surprise lunch date set up for your mate. Of course, do not do this if your partner does not like to be bothered at work or if they are embarassed by you.

Whichever of these — or others — ideas you chose, remember that Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about romance not about how much money you can spend. Doing something from the heart will impress someone far more than an expensive gesture (and if it doesn’t, you might want to think twice about who you’re trying to impress). Happy Valentine’s Day; now don’t break the bank!

[image by trois-tetes]

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