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Valentines day is such a bad holiday. Consumerism almost as much as Xmas
Valentines day is such a bad holiday. Consumerism almost as much as Xmas
I'm getting a little fed up with all these holidays. Is it really necessary to celebrate Valentines Day? Most people don't even know what they are celebrating.
During the Roman Empire, Claudius the Cruel was having a hard time getting people to join his military because they did not want to leave their loved ones. So he canceled all marriages and engagements in Rome.
A Christian priest named Valentine soon began to marry people against the emperors orders. When the Emperor found out, he sentenced Valentine to prison for the rest of his life. He died in prison on February 14th in the year 270.
@Shoney77: There's a lot of debate over the actual meaning of Valentine's Day. But that's one of the better theories.
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@Meltingemail: IF it's even true. When a lot of Romans joined the church they had a hard time of giving up their holidays. Valentine's Day may just be Lupercalia.
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@Shoney77:
Awesome and according to the Wiki gods - Claudius took a liking to this prisoner -- until Valentinus tried to convert the Emperor -- whereupon this priest was condemned to death. He was beaten with clubs and stoned; when that didn't finish him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate.
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My S.O and I have \"valentines\" on the last weekend in Feb.
That way we get the cards and cheap valentines crap 90% off. If we decide to go to a restaurant it wont be packed. And if going the flowers route the prices wont be jacked up. Basically everything is cheaper and easier.
Plus its not some lame commercialized day. But a day special to only you and your S.O.
@Tmoney02: We go to mcdonald's on valentines day - we can't stand the valentine's day bs and we can't be bothered to put up with the expense and wait of trying to go to a nice restaurant. We do something nice at the end of the month as well, when prices are lower and there are a lot fewer people.
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or...stay single. That's a really cheap (though depressing) way to do Valentine's day
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Valentine's Day on 2/15 is always 50% off. :)
I'm taking Mr. Sam fishing (we live in So. Fla.) as a surprise treat (we have $300 saved in our ING fun account, we put $50 a pay checking into the fun account which will cover the cost). I like fishing too so its a treat for me as well, always enjoy getting out on the water. And we are supporting a local business person.
@SadSam:
Ugh, typos. My point is that although we are going to spend a chunk of money on Valentines day, we've got money set aside in our fun account that we put aside for fun wihtout budget busting.
I have a few --
Have a fight and break up on Feb 13. Get back together on Feb 15. ;)
If you're getting married, get married on or around Valentine's Day so that every year you can buy one present that covers two events. Our anniversary is Feb 15 -- we didn't plan it as way of being frugal, but it does seem to work out that way.
Go for a practical gift. DH once got me ten pairs of nice white socks (not the ones that come in a huge pack) because I was cussing one morning about not being able to find a matching pair of my favorite brand of socks. I was touched that he remembered and thought of a way to ease my stress.
Do the grocery shopping so that she doen't have to go.
Give the dogs a bath if she usually does it.
Clean her car or have it cleaned (leave a few sweet notes hidden here and there).
Pack her lunch. I used to pack DH's lunch when I packed the kids. Now that they are grown, I don't...but every now and then I'll pack him a lunch and put his name on the bag. (Come up with a cute \"name\" to write on the bag. \"Captain Longdong\" looks good in the office fridge. I used to write random names on the bags for the kids. When they'd ask \"Who's Steve?\" and I'd say, \"That's the kid we hoped you'd be, but....\" Hey kids, why don't you call?)
DH and I saved the Valentines and Anniversary cards from our early years when we were still courting and nesting, and now we just go through the stack pick out a favorite, add a new sentiment and give it again. It's fun each year to go through the cards.
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@ZoeSchizzel: All good ideas. My only revision would be: Don't blow your budget on a Valentine's Day wedding, especially if you don't like Valentine's Day. Because if you get married on Feb. 14, people will FOREVER go \"aww\" and \"that's so romantic\" about your anniversary on a holiday you don't even like.
Also, Feb. 14 weddings are much, much more expensive. And if you live somewhere that has actual seasons (not like the south or the west coast, there cold means putting on a light jacket) February is nasty for people who need to fly in or drive in for your wedding. One of my friends was considering a winter wedding, and quickly changed her mind when she encountered ice, sleet and freezing rain all on one day.
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@ZoeSchizzel: Oh no! My anniversary (long-term relationship, not marriage) used to be on Valentine's Day and it was the dumbest thing we ever did. It's just THAT much bigger that you \"can't\" skip it because you'd be a real Scrooge for missing two holidays, so you're forced to wait for three hours for some cold pasta at the Olive Garden. I'd never do that again (the anniversary or the Olive Garden).
February 15th, I get. But NEVER February 14th! :(
@ZoeSchizzel: \"now we just go through the stack pick out a favorite, add a new sentiment and give it again.\"
My friends and I used to give each other blank cards as a joke for \"recarding,\" (among other friends) but it's turned into a very sensible tradition.
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@ZoeSchizzel: I really like the idea of giving old cards again. I love rereading the cards I have with love notes inside and it is fun to see how far you have come :)
Then again, I absolutely love buying greeting cards. I spend way too much time picking out the perfect ones. If you get a card from me, it isn't just a random card off the shelf.
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@ZoeSchizzel: \"Clean her car or have it cleaned (leave a few sweet notes hidden here and there).\"
I vote for that - between working and mothering a toddler and a teenager (with one on the way!), I rarely have hours free during the day to get my car detailed. The best gift my husband ever gave me (and he's normally a jewelry/flowers gifter) was taking my car to the local wash for a thorough cleaning.
@ZoeSchizzel: : have a few --
Have a fight and break up on Feb 13. Get back together on Feb 15. ;)\"
I have a friend named Timm who does that for all the holidays! Never spends a dime!
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Quite simply profess how you hate Hallmark holidays and say you don't need some fake made up corporate holiday to show your love. I recognized the crap nature of all these BS Hallmark card selling days at an early age and told everyone I know about it. It gets me out of sending cards, and I tell them don't waste your money on sending me cards. It is a win-win for everyone except Hallmark!
@Plates: You would think that would be good enough. e.g. My mom raised me to hate the Hallmark Industrial Complex, but if I don't send her a card on Mother's Day or Valentine's Day, I'm a terrible daughter! I've pointed this out to her, so she's like, \"Well just make your own card,\" and I'm like, \"You told me if it weren't for Hallmark, we wouldn't even have these holidays!\" And she's like, \"Would it kill you to send a card?!\"
So ends the Thanksgiving - Valentines day single season.
Last year I made some homemade chocolate dipped strawberries. Just got semi-sweet chocolate and a box of strawberries (under $6 in all) for a tray full. Of course you also earn those 'effort points'.
I know more than one couple among my friends for whom the best Valentine's Day plan would be to spend the whole day in bed. Ahem.
Entertaining and free.
(No comment on my own plans; my fiancé works Saturdays and anyway my birthday is the following weekend so I never cared as much about Valentine's Day.)
Last year, bf and I celebrated valentine's with free tickets to an awesome movie (In Bruges) and mongolian bbq buffet ($10 per person). It's my favorite v-day ever! I don't understand all the diamond commercials. Can people really give jewelry every valentine's day?
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@Wendy Sloan: One of my favorite outings with my wife was to a college play. We spent less than $20 and had a great time. The best stuff is the cheap and free things you can do. You just have to give of your time to do them. Something that doesn't happen with store bought stuff usually.
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It is a day used by greeting card and flower companies, restaurants and diamond joints to sell junk. If you love someone, say \"I love you\". Free and much more meaningful.
I've stopped celebrating St. Valentine's Day many years ago. Nothing good every happened on that day, and I don't think it's \"romantic\" to do something on a day you are \"supposed\" to. It's also mostly a $$ \"holiday\" anyway. A local sports pub/tavern has been advertising their \"Valentines Day\" special, which if you read the menu and compare the prices, is $20.00 MORE than the same food every other day of the year. I wrote an Editorial about St. V's Day three years ago, and I think it still holds true, and describes my feelings. I have told all my GF's my policy, and except for one who thought I was kidding, none seem to have had a problem with it. The one who got mad at me for it was mostly mad b/c her sister had a BF, and made her \"jealous\".
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Just don't do it. My SO and I have birthdays, an anniversary, Xmas - we don't need Hallmark to specify days to celebrate each other. Besides, we were both raised Catholic, so we have our pick of martyrs to commemorate. Considering the imagery associated with Valentine's Day, my vote has always been for St. Sebastian.
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@sixseeds: \"Besides, we were both raised Catholic, so we have our pick of martyrs to commemorate.\"
BWAH HA HA HA HA. I think I love you.
@sixseeds: My SO and I don't do it either, and if we do we never do anything romantic. One Valentine's Day he gave me a Darth Tater (Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head) but saves the romantic stuff for our anniversaries or birthdays.
Valentines day is a little ridiculous, I would agree with the suggestions in the article, and sending cards is a total waste, it creates clutter and wastes the money of those buying a card and those sending it. Seriously who keeps their old cards? I tell everyone who is going to buy me a card for any holiday not to buy a card and just hand me the 2$ you would have spent on the card. This way I don't get stuck with a piece of paper that will ultimately end up in the recycling bin.
If you love someone do something nice for them like cook dinner or buy something for the house that you can both use and enjoy, flowers die after a while so that is pointless and a waste of money. You could write a love letter instead of buying a card. Buying your boyfriend/girlfriend something related to one of their hobbies or something that they want but haven't purchased for themselves yet would be much much more thoughtful.
If someone bought me flowers after knowing my feelings about wastefulness of money I would likely throw them out of my life quickly since I wouldn't want a boyfriend that likes to waste money.
Giving of one's time or providing for an experience is always the best gift in a relationship. Picnic's, trips to museums, one time cooking classes or massage classes, etc. They create better memories and cost less than just handing over jewelry or golf clubs.
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I find being a horrible human being and therefore not having anyone to celebrate Valentine's Day with is much more cost effective.
Also, scowling at couples is free if you feel the need to do SOMETHING.
Three words: Two Buck Chuck.
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My wife and I resolved not to buy anything for the month of February as a Valentines gift. This does not include our regular groceries or gasoline. We're actually going to save about $300.
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@Xerloq: My roommate coerced me into doing that too, this month. I haven't bought anything extra yet, so we'll see how the remaining 23 days go.
Bottle of Chloroform and an old rag.
The rest is up to you!
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\"Make an elegant homecooked meal instead of hitting the town.\"
No joke. Not only are restos PACKED on Valentine's Day, the industry considers it \"amateur night\" - when all the people who never go to upscale restos get dragged to one. Front of house and back of house both tend to bring their B game on Valentine's, since they know that the amateurs won't be coming back anyway, and tip for crap.
We're staying in, natch.
@TWSS: This is true with every holiday. I always make it a point to avoid restaurants on these days because you are not getting the restaurants best if you go when its overcrowded. Undercooked food and mistakes are common, and for the 1-2 times a year I go out to eat I want to cherish those experiences, not have them cause me additional stress.
Just go on the day before or after the holiday and the problem is solved. Also if you really love someone it shouldn't matter if you take them out to eat on a holiday or not, you should be able to do that any time of the year as just a special moment.
This will Tickle her fancy.I am getting my girlfriend a TickleMe Plant Greenhouse.With it she can grow the REAL Plant that MOVES when you Tickle IT! The leaves instantly fold and even the branches droop when Tickled! Sure beats giving her roses that will just die in a few days. If she loves flowers..let her know that in addition to it moving when she tickles it, it will produce pretty pink cotton candy like flowers. Plus is the only plant that reacts to affection. Dare I say she might be tickled Pink!I found it at http://www.ticklemeplant.com
@JuanitaGalute: OMG I love this plant so much! It did give me a rash like poison sumac, but after going to the ER, I only needed to be hospitalized for a week. When I finally gave it to my girlfriend, she was touched. She had a miscarriage the next day, but our relationship is stronger, even though she is in therapy for a mysterious loss of libido. Luckily we have more time together since our cat Snookers died after eating one of the Tickleme's lovely cotton candy flowers. This plant will tickle anyone pink, so pink it hurts.
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I get my SO one red rose for every year we've spent together. By the time we reach a dozen, I'll be able to actually afford a dozen roses without a problem :-)
If your significant other is awesome, and has a great sense of humor, go to your local 99 cent store and buy the most horrible, tacky card imaginable.
Why is everyone avoiding the obvious? Didn't someone once say that bed is the poor man's opera? What would that cost--a good shower beforehand (please, guys) and a packet of protection?
V-day doesn't have to lead to STD-day!
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I'll tell you how to do Valentine's Day cheap...be your own valentine, like me.
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Or, LUCKY ME, get dumped a week before V-day. I am a sad panda.
@Oranges w/ Cheese:
I sympathize. Happened to me last year. Well, I dumped him, but the end result was the same.
Two of my friends popped my strip club cherry for Valentine's Day. You know you can move it if you've got a leatherface, bad tan, are 45, and still working at the best strip club in town.
(I'm engaged to the guy now, so it's all good)
@Oranges w/ Cheese: I once got dumped on February 12th -- I sympathize.
I'd invest $15 in a decent bottle of wine and a pint of ice cream and watch movies with explosions in (Lethal Weapons or Terminators or James Bonds) all day, personally.
We've decided to combine valentines and anniversary gifts and buy tickets tomorrow for Bonnaroo.
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I know this is corny and nerdy as heck, but I downloaded Tetris onto my XBox 360 a few days ago. We started playing it immediately and have since spent hours together. It has been an absolute blast. When I arrived home from work this week she wants to start playing. I know its not Valentines yet, but I would suggest it for anybody who has an XBox if you two are into puzzle games. It was about $9 and worth every penny.
Of course, we could just be a really weird/strange married couple!!! =-)
How to celebrate Valentine's Day on the cheap:
1) spread it out over the other 364 days (my favorite)
2) Look at it as 2/14, not Valentine's Day
All these 'Do Vday without breaking the bank!' stories do nothing but further the consumer whore clusterf*ck of Vday.
Let it pass with no coverage.
Valentines day is ridiculous. Just a stupid marketing ploy for retailers.
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Buy a few boxes of cheap valentine's cards, the type you used to give out to all your friends in third grade. The funnier/more bizarre, the better. Fill them all out with cute/pithy/witty little notes. Hide them all over the house. Hide some in obvious places and others hide well (under drawer liners, in the pockets of coats only worn occasionally, that sort of thing). She will find a few dozen on V-Day, and think it is cute. And you can smile knowing that there are dozens more waiting to be found. My wife still finds a card every few months, and I did this to for Valentine's day three years ago.
I know I've saved the last two V-Days by staying single. With out her, Valentines is just another day. I win. Easy.
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Early in our marriage we waited in a crowded restaurant's bar, elbow to elbow and no seating, for more than two hours to get our table for our romantic Valentine's dinner, and that cured us. We declared Valentine's Day a floating holiday and just pick a date to go out that is NOT February 14th.
One of the things that went over well with my wife was when we were first married, I wrote a letter to her as if we were spending our 20th year Valentines day together. I made various references to our \"future situation\".
She liked this as I was able to incorporate her future dreams for us into the letter. It helped validate that I appreciated her and listened to when she discusses our future plans.
I know that especially with Valentine's Day right around the corner, I will need all the extra savings I can get so I thought I'd share a site I stumbled across the other day that gives me money when I shop or sell through Ebay and also when I shop major retailers online. It's called Big Crumbs. It's free (of course). Don't we all love a good deal? Check it out: http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/frontpage.jsp?r=twinklings Happy shopping and saving!
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My husband and I celebrate Chocolate Clearance Days on the 15th and 16th of February. 75% off regular price tastes that much sweeter to me!
This Valentine's Day, we're taking care of our friends' kids so they can have a nice night out together. Homemade pizza, cartoons and peach cobbler -- I hope their parents have as much fun!
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How to do Valentine's Day cheap: find a significant other who isn't a shill for the Hallmark Holiday Consortium. I'm making my wife a nice dinner, and that's more than enough for her.
@dddoistutter: We do something nice FOR each other, like one year I read a WHOLE BOOK on auto maintenance so I wouldn't fall asleep when he started droning on about his car's awesomeness and oil filter. It's so close to Christmas and then he has a late Feb. and I have an early March birthday, so it's just too many gift-giving occasions in a row, and as for celebrating our love -- well, that's what our anniversary's for! So we made the rule ages ago that we do something for each other but it has to be (basically) free. This year I think he gets a love letter, I don't feel very inspired. Or maybe I'll clean the kitchen and do the vacuuming for him.
The other thing we often do is babysit friends' kids so they can go out. Because we're certainly not going out! And I've always thought the better part of Valentine's Day is the family-and-friends oriented part, so why not do something nice for a friend instead? And I like to send cards to friends for it. :) But maybe I'm still mentally in third grade.
@dddoistutter: Our first Valentine's Day together, I got a stuffed animal, and I think because that's the only Valentines-type gift I've gotten for Valentine's Day, it's more special. Plus, there's a funny story behind the bear. But since that first year, it's more or less been just hanging out together. What would you rather have: time together being happy, or a gift?
Plus, money's tight, so we're sticking to watching TV, cooking dinner and playing trivial pursuit.
@dddoistutter: I never understood turning valentine's day into a huge gift giving trainwreck, didn't we just get through the holidays?
I do like the tradition of giving valentine's notes though, it's cute, cheap, and can brighten someone's day.
@dddoistutter: Wait.... You actually DO something for your wife for Valentines day?? WTH, I haven't gotten anything in 6 years.
@dddoistutter: We are attending a retreat at a local resort. Someone paid for it as a scholarhip, so no charge. We will go out to lunch on Sunday instead of Saturday and save $$$. All I buy DH is a $1 card and usually try to be more thoughtful. No reason for spending $$$, especially now.
@dddoistutter: Fight the Hallmark Industrial Complex!
@dddoistutter: \"I'm making my wife a nice dinner, and that's more than enough for her.\"
Boy, did I read that wrong the first time. It sounded like she didn't deserve more.
@dddoistutter: My boyfriend and I are babysitting for my parents (I've got sibs that are 20 years younger than me!), so we're getting paid plus free dinner!
@dddoistutter: For serious. I appreciate a simple gesture like being cooked for, or some flowers (not a bucket of roses, just some flowers for the kitchen table.)
Needed items are a great gift, too. St. Valentine's Day two years ago my husband got me new underwear. Not lingerie, just the everyday underwear that needs replacing every year. That was a sweet thing to do and wasn't about emptying your wallet for a made-up holiday.
@dddoistutter:
Similarly, my significant other and I decided years ago that OUR valentines day was the first weekend AFTER 2/14. It is remarkable how cheap flowers are, and how easy it is to get a table at a nice place.
@dddoistutter: This is pretty much what I was going to say. I am cooking for my husband here at home and we'll probably stay in and watch a movie.
I never understood all the Valentine's Day crap. Seriously, all the stuffed animals and whatnot, it's so useless and cheesy. Blech.