Valentine’s Day on a Budget

PHOTO CREDITS: LADY AND THE TRAMP STILL

BY CAMILLA SOSA

Ah Valentine’s Day- the most capitalist orientated holiday of the year is right around the corner and some of us are completely doomed. Not because we are lonely, but because we are broke. At this point, lonely wouldn’t even be a problem. If you come up empty handed, chances are your sweetie won’t try to be sympathetic to your current financial situation; they’ll just be completely disappointed. However, dumping your significant other right before Valentine’s Day isn’t really an option and trying to woe your crush with a simple bag of chocolates will get you nowhere. So the trick is this; do something affordable, but thoughtful. I know that’s easier said than done so here are a few ideas to soothe your Valentine’s Day stress.

1. Write a poem: Express those mushy feelings for your sweetie in a poem. Ugh, I know, expressing your feelings sounds…dreading. But, suck up your teenage apathy and write something that’ll make your valentine feel special. It doesn’t have to be anything too fancy. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of making things rhyme, then write a prose or a letter. Just make sure you aren’t being bland or generic. You’re already being cheap.

2. Make a mixtape: you and your valentine probably share similar musical tastes and if you happen to have a strong bond because of it, then a mixtape could be the perfect gift. While mixtapes require minimal monetary spending, they do require a whole lot of craftsmanship. This is because you don’t simply want to stick some random songs onto a CD. Pick a theme (which should probably be love) and a collection of songs that accurately encapsulate it. 

3. Watching the sunrise/sunset: I don’t know if I’m just a nature lover, but this tends to be an overwhelming experience for me. Nature is just so beautiful. But most importantly it is free. Take your valentine out to the beach or a park and watch the sunrise/set. You and your valentine will be surrounded by beauty and romance for no price at all.

4. Share a drink or dessert: coffees, ice creams and other small treats tend to be fairly cheap especially if you are buying just one! Now, you have to hear me out on this one. Sharing is the essence of love, therefore buying only one drink or dessert isn’t cheap it’s romantic. Make sure to grab only one utensil if it is something like a cake or a cup of ice cream that way you and your valentine can stay close to one another.

5. Go to the dollar stop in Target which is basically like the Givenchy of dollar stores. Here you can find cute yet affordable gifts like pots with seeds, corny gift cards, and random items covered in hearts. You could, essentially, make a little basket of gifts for only 10 bucks. Plus they’re from Target.

There are so many options for celebrating Valentine’s on a budget. Justifying your love with a human sized teddy bear or a bouquet of flowers is becoming vapid. Mask your financial struggle with an attempt to express your inner hopeless romantic.