Je t'aime... The Great 'how to have a romantic Valentine's on a budget' Hunt

crimson.addict

Pawan wrote: »

We don't really do Valentine's Day, but my birthday is then, so on years when I have gone out for a birthday dinner, restaurants have been full of people out on valentines dates, and been super busy; so now I don't tend to go out for dinner on my birthday.

This year, we are going out for a nice birthday breakfast instead - which will be a lovely treat, and probably better value, as breakfast doesn't seem to get hiked up in price in the same way as dinner.

My birthday is the 16th so i know how you feel. If we go for dinner it's a table for my family with the rest of the tables occupied by couples!!

This year me, my OH and the dog are just going for a nice long walk somewhere we haven't been before. We'll probably take a nice picnic and a couple of hot drinks flasks and that will be perfect enough for me. I'm not overly fussed about valentines day so as long as i get a card i'll be happy.

duchy

We don't really mark it as I refuse to go out for a meal on a night where service is always rubbish as everywhere is busy and overstretched or the wait staff are sulking cos they didn't get the night off. Same with flowers- rip off .

I'm away the night before anyway so we'll probably just have a nice steak dinner ( cooked by me as although he's quite a good cook-we both agree I cook steak better than he does ). We don't need Hallmark to tell us when to be romantic

AntoMac

duchy wrote: »

We don't really mark it as I refuse to go out for a meal on a night where service is always rubbish as everywhere is busy and overstretched or the wait staff are sulking cos they didn't get the night off. Same with flowers- rip off .

I'm away the night before anyway so we'll probably just have a nice steak dinner ( cooked by me as although he's quite a good cook-we both agree I cook steak better than he does ). We don't need Hallmark to tell us when to be romantic

I would say that's a very grumpy point of view Duchy, except that it's exactly the way I feel about it - luckily my wife feels the same
It's my birthday the day before so we usually go out then. Mind you I used to bother before we were married, but now just see it as a commercial rip off. Doesn't mean we don't do nice things just that we do it when we want to and not because we're told to. We can do something a lot nicer for a lot less money on a date other than February 14th

purpleweasel

paul2louise wrote: »

I fancy making some homemade chocolates. anyone got any good ideas. thanks

Lidl do very good high-cocoa choc bars which are ideal for melting down into your own. Melt as per happy's suggestion, i always add a bit of olive oil to help the texture. Stir in some space-dust (popping candy) and put into heart-shaped silicone moulds. set in fridge for a couple of hours. i make these every Xmas & they always go down well.

you can pick up silicone moulds cheap & if you have a bit of £ to spare you can get gold dust & other fun things from supermarkets.

Dormouse1940

We never go overboard at Valentines, and have to keep things really simple this year but got struck with inspiration in town earlier:

M&S food section, there was a small shelf at the end of the aisle with leftover Christmas bits there. Had 'luxury' hot chocolate sets in big white mugs (so not festive themed at all) for about £3 (marked down from about £15- who would spend that?! But I digress...)
Bought us one each, with some heart shaped marshmallows for the top, found a cheapy dvd of a film we both like and put it in a nice bag with a card for himself. I'll probably pick up some treats/snacks closer to the day, and hopefully have a lovely cosy afternoon in...


Secretly hoping the weather will be pants so I can stay in my pj's and fluffy slippers while enjoying the above!

happydays89

I was in Asda yesterday and saw a red knitted heart shaped cushion for £12 reduced to £2,and last year our local charity shop had a basket full of expensive new valentines day cards (£3..50each) and they were selling them for 20p each so I got enough for the next ten years.I look out for bits to put away after valentines days when they are being sold for pennies.

thefrugalflirter

We always do something homemade - cards, biscuits with iced writing, a home-cooked meal (Mr can now do an amaaaazing chocolate fondant) or a picnic in the park.
This year I've made some homemade gift tokens for things like 'the last Malteser' and 'control of the tv'. I always think there is so much pressure on Valentine's Day to spend a fortune, but I think small homemade gestures are the best!

thebigbosh

Free night at a posh hotel in London courtesy of the Hilton HHonors credit card

wishus

I think I am going to be spending the day at a free seed-swapping event, while OH plays golf!:rotfl:

After though, we'll have a candlelit home-cooked meal and a rom-com DVD, methinks.

gloriouslyhappy

Dormouse1940 wrote: »

Secretly hoping the weather will be pants so I can stay in my pj's and fluffy slippers while enjoying the above!

Sounds wonderful, I'm going out to a 70th birthday party on the 14th which will go on far too long but can't leave before the speeches and cake as as I'm doing both! Fluffy slippers instead of uncomfortable party shoes is my choice any day..