Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! John and I don’t go all-out for the holiday, but we do enjoy an excuse to celebrate our love. In the past, we’ve both made dinner at home and gone out to eat at fancy steakhouses. While going out to eat on Valentine’s Day was fun, this year we’re opting to stay in. There’s really nothing better than being at home with the one I love – plus, let’s be honest, no one likes to be in crowded restaurants and spend money on overpriced food.
This past weekend, our local grocery store – Publix – had a Valentine’s Day tasting event. It may be pathetic, but yes, I planned my day around this event. Free samples of desserts, cheeses, wines and yummy food – yes please. We sampled a Blackened-Barbecue Shrimp Salad with Orange Dream Shakes that were both to die for, so that’s what we’re making on Saturday. We budgeted $50 for the meal, but if you look at the ingredients, it doesn’t look like it will cost more than $25 or so.
As far as gifts go, we sometimes exchange and sometimes don’t. It really depends on what’s going on with our financial situation at the time. The year we went to the steakhouse, we didn’t exchange, but normally we buy each other something small to exchange over dinner. John has also gone all-out before and surprised me with jewelry, candles and clothing. Even though I’m a saver, it’s a really sweet gesture to be surprised, regardless of cost 🙂
So, I thought it would be fun to create a little gift-guide for your loved ones. All of these ideas are affordable and less than $35!
Budget-friendly Valentine’s Day gift ideas
What I love about you by me / Heart socks / Long sleeve round neck heart shirt / Nine West gold watch / Men’s Fossil wallet / Curious George book / Pulled pork shredder
I purchased the “What I love about you by me” book for John and am going to fill it out and give it to him for Valentine’s Day. Hopefully he is not reading this post, haha, but if so…at least my answers will be a surprise! The other ideas are things for me and things I may end up getting John and the girls (the wallet, pulled pork shredder and Curious George book). This week, the girls and I are going to bake some Valentine’s Day treats and possibly do a craft or two. I’ve always been a huge lover of holidays, but I will say with kids they are even more fun!
And finally…I have one more recommendation for any men out there who are really looking to “wow” their ladies. Has anyone heard of Diptyque candles? They sell them at Nordstroms and other high-end retailers, but they also sell them here on Amazon. They’re expensive ($60/candle) but supposedly they are the best smelling candles and the burn time is about 60 hours, which is worth the price to some people. Would you ever pay this for a candle?
What are you doing to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?
*post contains affiliate links
Mrs. Maroon says
atWe will have company in town for the weekend. Mr. Maroon’s family is coming to celebrate Mini #1’s third birthday. So expect the day to pass in a rather uneventful manner. Though, school is doing a party so I’m gearing myself up to make cards and cupcakes one night this week…
Jayleen @ How Do The Jones Do It says
atI love Nordstrom but would never pay that for a candle. I’m excited Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year and told the hubby I want to go an adventure with the family. Not sure what that adventure will be yet but he says he has a little something planned. I told him a visit to the See’s Candy store would be fun too;0)
Jan says
atUh, at $60 bucks for a 6.5 oz. candle, that works out to $9.23 an ounce. Filet mignon steaks are currently selling for 28.99 a pound which equals only $1.81 an ounce, if you enjoy a good steak. To be honest, I find the little Glade candles you can pick up at just about any drug store or retailer to be well worth the money and hey, I have $$’s left over to go get some steaks!
Holly@ClubThrifty says
atNice! I told one of my friends I would babysit her kids so she and her husband could go out on V-day. Not very romantic, but oh well! I’m sure restaurants will be packed since it’s on a Saturday.
Erin @ Journey to Saving says
atI’m so upset I didn’t know about the Publix event! Though I’m not sure if ours had anything going on. As much as I like candles (and my mom is obsessed with them, so I usually give them to her as a gift), I don’t know if I could justify spending $60 on one! I don’t normally celebrate Valentine’s Day, though I do like to get candy for half-off the next day. =)
Christina @ Embracing Simple says
atHaha it’s too bad there’s no Publix near me, because I would SO plan my entire day around a free sampling event too.
Holy smokes, $60 for one candle seems like a lot. I’d have to smell them first to see if I could justify it, but probably not because I have found other soy candles I really love in the $10-20 range that have the same burn time.
We are going to a wedding on Valentine’s Day and I’m so stoked! It’s our first date night since the last wedding we went to back in September, and I’m really excited for an excuse to have a night out with the Hubby and a bunch of our friends from college. Should be fun!