10 Memorable and Low Budget Valentine Ideas
Hey guys, it’s that time of year again. When grocery stores carry candy hearts and roses by the dozen. Airlines offer romantic getaways, jewelry stores fill the airwaves with cheesy adds, and restaurants offer a Prix-Fixe menu. With the commercialization of Valentine’s Day, it’s easy to see why anyone on a budget would develop a severe case of memory loss or go as far as faking their own death (Tip of the wise, not everyone is as gullible as Mary). So in honor of this fateful day filled with dread and pain, I’ve put together 9 surefire ways to make her swoon without breaking the bank.
- Cook Dinner
You don’t need to be a master chef to make amazing memories in the kitchen. In fact, some of the best stories end with ordering Chinese because your goop was inedible. That being said, strive to make something incredible, spend some serious time on everything from planning to presentation. Get dressed up, set the nice plates, dim the lights and light some candles, set the mood with smooth jazz, and make it apparent that you spent hours preparing this experience for her. She will be blown away, and you won’t have broken the bank. - Scavenger Hunt
This one requires a little more creativity, but the pay off can be extraordinary, your clues and riddles leading you two through an evening of adventures filled with cheeky interrogations, laughs, and unforgettable memories. To start off, decide how long you want to hunt for and determine the neighborhood you want to hunt through, keep it to one neighbor hood because otherwise the Lyft fees could sink you. Now that you know how many hours you want your hunt to take, you can multiply that number by 3 and that’s how many clues you should make. So a 2 hour hunt should have 6 clues. I like to pick shops with little sweets or bars with specialty drinks to hide them in. Keep the clues in envelopes, on one side it should say something nice about your special someone and on the other it should have a riddle, or an easy clue. Finally, end it some place quiet with an inexpensive “prize” for completing the puzzle. - Build a Blanket Fort
Lets face it, life is stressful and some of these extravagant ideas might leave you with a little performance anxiety. If instead, what you want is a nice quiet night in front of a movie, try building a blanket fort. Ask your friends and family for any red, white, or pink pillows and blankets they may have. Read up on blanket fort structure, and get started! You’ll both love escaping the real world and playing like you’re little kids again. - Build an Outdoor Movie Theater
All you need is a projector and an extension cord to create the most memorable movie watching experience. The first step is getting a projector, which might seem difficult but it really isn’t. If you ask your friends and coworkers, one of them will likely have one or have access to one that you can borrow. If that doesn’t work, you can always rent one, you can find them online for $30 a night. Once you’ve got the equipment all you need to do is find someplace to project your movie. Your looking for a big flat wall with a power source near bye, you could even use your car as the power source. Be sure to do a dry run before the date and try to have as much set up as possible to add to the allure of the evening. - Bonfire on the Beach
Chocolate, marshmallows, graham crackers, need I say more? I will anyways, there is just something magical about listening to pop of a roaring fire. Doing it while snuggled up with your lover only amplifies the sensation. The best part, your clothes will still smell like the bonfire when you get home, allowing you to stay in the same relaxed and cozy state. - Game Night with a Fun Prize
I am a huge proponent of feeding that competitive trait with a little good-natured gambling. Find a trophy that you both want, I used to have a blanket that my ex and I would compete for. What ever the trophy is, could even be a real trophy, place it on the table, in full view, and explain the game. Set clear rules and define what it takes to be a winner (its more fun when the rules are clear and developed). Choose games that you both are good at, and let the competition begin. - Silent Disco through the Streets
If music is more your thing then download the app Lysn, create a playlist, and dance your way through the city. Choose some songs that have special meaning to you, but don’t try to be overly sentimental. Focus on songs that are fun and up beat. Put together a list of about 100 songs and challenge yourselves to finish the entire playlist. Build in cues so you know when its time to change locations. Pick a few places ahead of time to try and get to, but for the most part just let the music guide you. Try to stick to more secluded places, but when you do see people watching, dance harder, jump around, and make them jealous of your private party. - The Corner Quarters
Maybe an aimless walk through the city sounds nice, but a playlist of dance music sounds exhausting. For this I’d recommend a game called Corner Quarters. Its a very simple game that can take you to parts of the city you’ve never explored. You start with two coins, either quarters or something bigger, and a special person to enjoy the night with. Also, I’d suggest painting the coins for the holiday so you have a nice little keep sake. To begin the game, go to the nearest 4 way intersection and once there, you will each flip your quarter at the same time. The outcome of the quarters will tell you which way to go:
— 2 Heads means you two will turn right
— 2 Tails means you two will turn left
— 1 Heads and 1 Tails meas you two will go straight.
You will repeat this exercise at every 4 way intersection you come to. Eventually you’ll find a fun bar that you’ve never been to or a view you just don’t want to leave. - Because Costumes are Fun!
This one is really simple. Start your day out at a thrift shop or costume store and each of you pick out an outfit or two. Then walk around the city and recreate memorable photos either you’ve taken or iconic photos that others have taken. - Rooftop Picnic
This is probably my favorite date because it is easy, romantic, and incredibly intimate. First you need to find a rooftop, check the usual places, your apartment building, their apartment building, and your office building. If none of those places work, then go here and look for a POPOS that is always open. POPOS stands for Privately Owned Public Open Space and they are all over the city. Once you have a spot chosen, now it’s time to choose the meal, finger food is definitely the way to go. If your not afraid of cooking, I’d suggest something like stuffed crescent rolls. They are clean, tasty, can be eaten cold, and look a lot harder than they actually are. You can even bring a tasty desert like chocolate covered strawberries. Add in a bottle of wine and you have yourself an intimate dinner for two. Just be sure not to forget the bottle opener.