How to Save on All the Valentine’s Must Haves

Christmas and New Years are officially over and the New Year is in full swing, which means the season of love is upon us. Every year across the UK, we spends billions of pounds to show our significant others how much we love them.

If you’re planning to celebrate, you might also be frantically checking your bank account – especially so soon after the holidays- and wondering how to afford it. Even though it’s just one day, if you aren’t careful all the costs can rack up very quickly. So, here are some easy ways for you to save on Valentine’s Day without skimping on telling your significant other how much you love them.

Skip the Restaurant – Prepare a Home-Cooked Meal

Instead of braving the crowded restaurants on Valentine’s Day, trying to book a table and potentially spending hundreds on a dinner, why not lovingly prepare a home-cooked meal for you and your partner?

It can be just as romantic, if not even more romantic, to make a home-cooked meal, because it can shows your partner that you are willing to make the effort for them. You can easily create a romantic and enjoyable evening without breaking the bank. There are several websites that will show you hundreds of different recipes that you can choose from depending on what you fancy, such as The Food Network and My Recipes.

Look Around for Good Flowers

Try to avoid the last minute side-of-the-road roses, as these are going to be sold at premium rates and last two days if you are lucky.

Look around and find flowers that have been refrigerated to allow maximum longevity which means you’ll get more for your money. Also, consider choosing flowers other than roses because roses are the most popular choice for Valentine’s Day- if you choose a different type of flower you might be able to get it at a better price.

Save on Gifts

For Valentine’s Day, the typical gift you may give your loved one would be a piece of jewellery. Jewellery is a treasured gift, not just because of its financial worth but also because it’s a display of  how committed and thoughtful you are.

However, there are many alternatives to giving expensive jewellery, such as going to vintage, charity or pawn shops where you can find unique, one of a kind pieces that won’t hurt your bank account. You can also look at Handmade Jewelry on sites such as Etsy, which is a website that carries unique jewellery sold directly by the artists who make it. There’s a huge variety here to fit any imaginable style – and any budget as well.

Chocolates and Cards

Chocolates are the most common type of Valentine’s sweet treat, but they can also be quite expensive. For example, a 36-piece assortment of luxury chocolates from Godiva costs £50, while a smaller arrangement costs £30.

Fortunately, there are several ways to pay way less than that, you can make homemade treats such as chocolate covered strawberries, fudge or heart-shaped biscuits easily for under £10. When it comes to cards, it’s easy to get carried away on spending £3 on a card because you love it, but try to remember that your significant other probably cares more about what you write inside the card rather than the picture on the front. The alternative cheaper, and possibly more romantic, option is to make your own homemade card.