Valentine's Day on a Budget

By Ashley Paskill on February 8, 2018

It’s that time of year again- Valentine’s Day. Couples all over are celebrating a day of love and spending time with each other. However, this holiday has so much pressure attached to it. Couples agonize over finding a perfect present and planning the perfect date. At the end of the day, this can take a heft toll on a student’s wallet. There are ways to celebrate without spending an arm and a leg. After all, it is not about how much is spent; it’s the thought behind the night and gifts.

1. Use coupons or unused gift cards.

Whether you are eating out or buying a gift, coupons can be huge money savers. Use sites like RetailMeNot or web extensions like Honey to ensure that you are getting the best prices for what you are getting.  Most websites that you shop through or web extensions will allow you to compare coupons to get the best deal. Unused gift cards that are collecting dust in your wallet from the holidays can also help you save money. There are also apps, such as Receipt Hog and Fetch Rewards, that give you cash back on purchases, so hold on to your receipt to scan so you can get cash back to save up for gift cards or PayPal.

2. Make handmade gifts.

Buying gifts in store or online, even with a gift card or coupon, can be expensive. Making your gifts, even if it is stuff you have around the house, can mean the most. The time you put into the gift and the thought and meaning behind it will mean so much to your Valentine. Even the most basic and easy-to-make gift can be so meaningful. If you do need to go to a store to buy supplies, make sure you look for craft store coupons to help save moneys. These receipts can also be used in certain apps, such as Receipt Hog, to get cash back, so hold on to them.

3. Have a date night at home.

Eating out and seeing movies in a theater can be expensive, even with coupons and gift cards. If you are good at cooking things beyond mac and cheese or ramen, impress your date with dinner and a movie at home. There are apps that can give you money back for receipts from the ingredients and buying a movie once or streaming it on Netflix is much less expensive than renting a movie over and over again. Plus, this will help save on gas. So clean your house or apartment, buy a few candles, and invest in some romantic music and movies for a perfect Valentine’s Day date at home.

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