Valentine’s Day Gifts that Don’t Cost Any Money

The best Valentine’s Day gift is the one where you both spend quality time together, appreciating one another and experiencing the world as a couple. The holiday doesn’t have to cost a lot. This past year has been challenging for so many. If you’re looking to save money or keep more of the money you’ve made, while still letting your significant other know you appreciate them, you’re in luck.

Whether you’re planning to buy a new home and looking to save money, have less money coming in due to the pandemic, or simply want to cut back on your spending, you may want to change things up this February. Cutting back on ‘extras’ like elaborate gifts and fancy meals out on Valentine’s Day may be the route you wish to take this year. If so, here are several things to do, places to go, and special Valentine’s Day Gifts that don’t cost any money.

Zero-Budget Valentine’s Day Gifts

If you’re looking for Valentine’s Day gifts that don’t cost any money, there are plenty of options to pursue. Depending on where you live and the weather, a picnic in the park is always a great idea. You can simply grab crackers, cheese,  and some grapes and go. Maybe throw in that bottle of wine you’ve been saving too. Head out to a favorite park with a blanket and enjoy one another’s company. This is a great idea for couples but also makes a great family Valentine’s Day gift.

If you happen to live in a colder climate, an outdoor picnic may be out of the question. If you have a backyard fire pit, a romantic and cozy meal by the fire, complete with hot cocoa and S’mores is a sweet way to celebrate one another without spending a ton of money.

Tangible Valentine’s Day Gifts That Don’t Cost Any Money

So, doing things together is nice, but what if you want to give something to your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day. If you or your partner’s love language is giving or receiving gifts, there are things you can give that don’t cost any money.

• Create a scrapbook with photos, movie stubs, and memorabilia from events, vacations, and things you’ve done together. If you’re not crafty, this can also be done digitally.
• Remember those old school cassette tapes we’d make for the object of our affection? Consider doing the modern version of this; a special playlist is a great no-cost Valentine’s Day gift to give your sweetheart.
• Make a coupon book with special treats and activities you can do together. They can be as innocent or as ‘not so innocent’ as you’d like.
• Have a true Netflix and Chill kind of night. You’re paying for Netflix anyway, you may as well make use of the subscription and incorporate it into your Valentine’s Day celebration. Set up a blanket fort in your living room, light some candles, incense, or diffuse some essential oils and settle in with some snacks for a special movie marathon. If there’s a particular movie or series either of you doesn’t love, now would be the time for compromise. You can each watch one episode of the other’s favorite series and then something you’ll both enjoy afterward. Then, whatever happens next, is totally up to ya’ll.

Sometimes it just takes a little bit of imagination and creativity to think outside the box to come up with no-cost ideas to celebrate that special person in your life. This is the perfect time to really think about your loved one’s interests and create something from scratch that is truly meaningful and special to both of you.

Valentine’s Day Places to Go That Don’t Cost Any Money

Couples who enjoy the arts and live near one of these 10 free museums across the United States can make a daytime date of it. Explore for free and see what these museums have to offer. In Baltimore, the Museum of Art and Walters Art Museum are both free. The Smithsonian in Washington and Getty Center in Los Angeles are also perfect day date activities for couples trying to save money. In Chicago, the National Museum of Mexican Art and the Museum of Contemporary Photography are free to visit. Frye Art Museum in Seattle, The Alamo in San Antonio, and the Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio round out some of the free places for art lovers to go on Valentine’s Day.

These are fun Valentine’s Day gifts that don’t cost any money but what if you’re not huge art fans? Hiking is a fantastic year-round activity, especially if you live in a warmer climate. All too often, heading out on a hike in the Spring and Summer is uncomfortable, especially in the South. Mosquitos, chiggers, gnats, and sweating profusely, does not make the most romantic atmosphere. Hiking during the cooler months can be a relaxing, adventurous, and fun way to spend time together. The closeness with one another and connection with nature will have you talking and interacting in ways you can’t when trapped indoors.

Consider Changing the Way You Celebrate Valentine’s Day For Good

Valentine’s Day has become an overly commercialized holiday, it wasn’t ever like this in the past. Over time, businesses recognized that Valentine’s Day could be a lucrative holiday and encouraged people to purchase candy, cards, flowers, and jewelry. With all of the marketing around the holiday and pressure for people to buy gifts for their significant others, Valentine’s Day has almost become a stressful holiday due to expectations. Make this year the year that you say ‘NO!” to the marketing and “Not today,” to the pressure. Make the idea of giving Valentine’s Day gifts that don’t cost any money, the norm, and take the pressure off of yourself and your partner and just enjoy what truly matters; being with one another.