Valentine’s Day is a little bit like Marmite. We either love it, or we hate it. Some of us go all out with romantic gestures whilst others just see it as a commercial day of nonsense.

If you’re celebrating the international day of love, then often, it’s the little things that can mean the most – and that can also mean not spending any money! Valentine’s Day often means mass produced (and expensive) heart shaped teddy bears, chocolates and flowers that are just the same as everyone else is getting. 

So thinking a little outside the box and doing something a bit different, whilst saving on the pennies, will be a much more personal way of saying I Love You. 

Here’s our ideas that’ll show how much you care, that are also gentle on your bank balance.

Make a mix tape

Remember back in the 80s when the best way to show someone you fancied them, was to make a mix tape of your favourite cheesy tunes? These days, tapes are pretty much out, but with the likes of Spotify and Apple Music, you can make a playlist of all the songs that mean something to you and your lover, and share it with them over dinner. A bit like Netflix and chill, only with meaningful lyrics…

Create a gratitude jar

This one literally only needs an old (clean) jam jar and some ribbon. Tie a ribbon around the neck of the jar and label it with the names of you and your beau. Then, throughout the year, write happy memories or things that’ve made you feel happy/alive/loved/cherished on scraps of paper, fold them up and pop them in the jar. Next Valentine’s Day, open them all up and reflect on a beautiful year. 

Write a love letter

Writing down how we feel about ourselves in journals and diaries is quite rightly encouraged these days. But how often do we write down our feelings for our loved ones and actually show them? This Valentine’s Day, why not write a letter to your romantic partner, telling them everything that you love and desire about them? You could get creative and write a poem, or decorate your page with stick people drawings and love hearts. Let the words flow, and it’s a heartfelt token they can cherish forever. 

Enjoy each other’s company

Cake, their favourite dinner, breakfast in bed or a homemade carpet picnic, whatever you decide to cook, make it with love. Food really is the language of love, not to mention the way to someone’s heart. Plan some time together with no disturbances – get the kids looked after, switch off your phones and enjoy good food and each other’s’ company.

IOU

You can never be stuck for Valentine’s Day ideas, as love tokens are the gifts that keep on giving. Write down a dozen or so favour tokens, such as a back massage, candlelit bath, dinner cooked from scratch or morning coffee in bed and let them cash them in whenever they like. 

However you celebrate, happy love day! 💕