Saving money is sexy-- as long as you master the art of how to cheap out without looking like a cheapskate! Here are a few ideas on how to have an upscale, romantic date without the corresponding out of control price tag.
Simple and elegant: Romance doesn't require an overpriced French restaurant or a huge, expensive bouquet from a top florist. Under $50 can net you flowers from any of the online florists (you can get a bouquet for as low as $19.99, + delivery, plus get up to 20% cashback with Ebates!) plus an inexpensive bottle of wine, a baguette and a hunk of good cheese-- all that you need for a romantic picnic. If you need assistance picking out a great (but reasonably priced!) bottle of wine, go to WineTasting.com and sort by price, rating or best selling. You can even order a gift basket which will contain everything you need for your picnic from Wine.com-- and both WineTasting.com and Wine.com offer cashback if you click through Ebates to make a great deal that much sweeter!
Have a romantic night in: If it's too cold to picnic outside where you live, light the fireplace, lay out a blanket, put on some music and have an indoor picnic instead! Don't have a sitter? Put the kids to bed early and either pick up dinner or order in. Light candles, turn off the TV and have a quiet dinner, just the two of you-- even if it's a frozen lasagna, it will taste better by candlelight. Rent a movie for free from your local library or spend $1 to get one from your local Redbox or Blockbuster Express.
Go Local: Take advantage of your local environment. If you're on the coast, grab a picnic and head to the beach for a stroll. If you're in the mountains, grab your skis or snowboard. Explore all that your local area has to offer: museums, walking trails, picnic areas, amusement parks, strawberry picking and more.
Let's do lunch: If you want the restaurant experience but don't want to pay elevated prices go to lunch instead. Many high end restaurants have very affordable lunch specials and the ambiance and service are comparable to what you'll find in the evening.
Score a discount! Sites such as Groupon offers deep discounts on local attractions, spas, salons and restaurants, usually 50% off or deeper-- be sure to click through Ebates to get an additional 3%. cashback at Groupon, too! Restaurant.com offers $25 gift certificates for $10 and you can often find a code bringing your out of pocket cost down to as low as $2, and click through Ebates for 15(!)% cashback-- most restaurants do have some restrictions-- either minimum spending requirements, black out dates or exclusions-- but as long as you can live within the restrictions, you're well on your way to a low cost dinner!
Babysitter Swap: If you can't afford to pay ransom rates for a sitter and don't have family either close or willing to watch your kids, consider a babysitting swap with some like minded friends. It can be as simple as you watch my kids this Saturday night and I'll watch yours next Saturday night, giving each family a much needed and well deserved break from parental duties.
Regardless of your budget, you can have a ton of fun without spending a ton. With just a little bit of ingenuity and smidgen of planning, you can have a hot date with your sweetie without souring your budget.
Jodi Furman is a blogger for LiveFabuLess. Be sure to check out all her money saving tips here.
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Traditional Valentine's gifts can be fairly pricey. In order to save money, check out these tips for your Valentine's Day purchases.
1. Flowers Don't buy flowers from a flower shop on their busiest day of the year to be delivered to your significant other. Instead, buy flowers from your local grocer, arrange in a vase, decorate with a bow, and deliver the flowers yourself.
2. Chocolates Instead of buying an expensive box of chocolates, buy your love's favorite candy bar and wrap it in a pretty bow.
3. Homemade Desserts Try making some homemade Valentine's treats and desserts, such as chocolate covered strawberries. These types of goodies are easy to make and are a lot less expensive than traditional boxed chocolates.
4. Cards Sure, it's easier to buy a card from the store, but homemade cards are more endearing and are a great way to save money while still being romantic. Write or copy a poem, or get your kids involved for a fun Valentine's craft.
5. Jewelry Skip on the diamonds and go for colored gems, such as rubies or emeralds or even moissanite stones, if you want to save money on jewelry. Check out eBay and pawn shops to find the best deals.
Casey Slide is a contributor for Money Crashers Personal Finance where she discusses lifestyle and money topics.
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