Valentine’s Day Date Ideas on a Shoestring Budget
Written by Stacy Francis & Kathryn M. D’Imperio Wednesday, 14 January 2009 00:16
With the unsteady economy and many people switching over to “save” mode, planning holidays like Valentine’s Day on a shoestring budget is probably a wise decision for many people. 
But just because you cut your spending back for Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean you can’t still have a special and romantic date together.
With a little creativity, you can discover countless romantic, exciting, and memorable ways to spend your Valentine’s Day with your significant other, even on a shoestring budget. Open your mind to the possibilities and you’ll probably be surprised with the great Valentine’s Day date ideas you find or create.
Whether you have a little bit of money to spend or nothing at all, don’t give up. You can still have a fabulous Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart. Consider these low budget date ideas – and free date ideas – for Valentine’s Day dates on a shoestring budget.
Stacy Francis, president of Francis Financial, Inc. and founder of Savvy Ladies® (a nonprofit group dedicated to empowering women through financial education) is well versed in money smarts and financial issues, and she doesn’t hesitate to share her tips with consumers.
In the spirit of the upcoming holiday of love – Valentine’s Day – Stacy Francis shares her favorite romantic date ideas on a shoestring budget below. These Valentine’s Day date ideas originally appeared in her article, “Date Ideas for Valentine's Day without Breaking the Bank.”
Date Ideas for Valentine's Day without Breaking the Bank
Stacy Francis shares these tips below for a low budget or a free Valentine’s Day date. Keep in mind, some of these Valentine’s Day Date ideas may depend on the weather and the climate where you live. If you live up north and it is cold outside, for example, you may not want to be outside for an extended period of time. Check out these budget friendly Valentine’s Day date ideas or come up with your own!
Free Valentine’s Day Date Ideas:
• Pick wildflowers together.
• Go for a bike ride, hike, or run together.
• Browse in a bookstore together.
• Read aloud to each other from a favorite novel, poem or short story.
• Go to a playground and play on the swings.
Low Budget Valentine’s Day Date Ideas:
• Eat a simple, nutritious dinner at home, and then go out for a truly decadent dessert.
• Pack a picnic lunch and go to the park or the zoo.
• Take a class together in something fun and creative: glass blowing, pottery, drawing, creative writing, or photography.
• Attend a local high school or college sports game.
• Take a road trip to a nearby town, or even another neighborhood in your own city. Stroll around, talk with locals, have a drink at a local café.
• Attend a theater performance put on by your local college or community group.
• Go to a flea market or garage sale.
• Attend a local lecture on a subject of interest to both of you.
• Send the kids out to someone else's house and stay in and cook together.
• Have a water balloon fight in the park.
About the Expert:
Stacy Francis, CFP®, CDFA is an expert in the financial field. She offers tips on money smarts and financial issues as a speaker and an expert resource. Learn more about Stacy Francis online at www.francisfinancial.com and www.savvyladies.org.
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