Frugal Living for Valentine's Day

I am posting this article here since it didn't seem to go online with the paper. Here's my latest on Frugal Living in the The Phoenix! Rereading it, I realize it is a little rapid-fire on the ideas but hopefully there will be something you can use!

Bring on the chocolate: dark, chewy, crunchy, creamy, sugar-free, you name it. Valentine's Day is almost here and there are many ways to share your affection without breaking the bank.

In my family, this little day of feasting, candy and flowers falls right about the time the budget and diet are just getting back into shape and the cold winter air chills the plans for an evening out. Given these factors, we started a tradition when my girls were little. One snowy Valentine's Day when going out wasn't an option, we pulled out all the china, dressed in our finest, cooked and cleaned and waited for Daddy to come home with flowers for the table. The girls enjoyed it so much that now they have the table set before I even decide what to cook.

Why let a day about love fill you with financial dread? From gifts to dinner, there are multiple options to show love creatively this year without spending a fortune.

Starting with cards, communicate your affection through technology for a quick and easy gesture. The launch of online sites like e-cards.com, bluemountain.com, and hallmark.com let you send a free card via e-mail complete with animation. If you are the tactile type and need to send greetings on paper, your computer offers many options to make and print your own customized cards. If you are feeling extra creative, pull out the old ribbons and lace and make an super-special creation for little expense or effort.

If you plan ahead and save last year's cards, you can cut off the front covers and paste them to construction paper for a whole new look. On the topic of planning ahead, make sure to stock up on supplies after the holiday when everything goes on mega-sale. When you buy cheap, you can afford to be generous the next time.

For dinner, eat in if you can. Pull out the fineries that never get touched. Remember those lovely wedding dishes you carefully selected that never get used because they need handwashing? Dust them off and let them see the light of day. Check the Christmas sales for red candles. Polish those tarnished candlesticks. If you don't want to share your special dinner with the kids, feed them early and put them to bed. Enjoy a quiet evening later over candlelight and music. If you really need an evening out, watch for coupons. Find a BYOB restaurant and take your own wine.

If you feel that the day isn't done without flowers, do your homework. Online florists are always running specials. Ask yourself if your loved one needs a dozen or will a smaller bouquet do this year? Perhaps pair a delicate vase of several lovely roses with the perfect little box of decadent chocolates. Women love pretty flowers but few will resist chocolates on the side.

If you want to give a token of your affection, again, do your homework. Sometimes the simple but thoughtful gifts mean the most. Write a poem, burn a CD or make a tin of brownies with red sprinkles.

Framed pictures always make special gifts. Pictures can also be made into placemats with a little gluestick, construction paper and self-sticking laminate. Pull them out year after year, adding to them as the kids grow. By the time they leave for college, you will have a whole collage of loving memories.

If you don't have special plans for Valentine's Day, visit a nursing home or shelter or invite an elderly neighbor in for dinner. Find a way to make someone feel special and you will reap the joy in return, a free fringe benefit to generosity of the soul. Send your frugal tips to Sarah at sarah@peppel.com