Around here, we make a big deal about almost every holiday, but February 14th isn't one of them. It's not that we are cynical about it or anything. Having a day set apart to show how much you care is a good thing. But at some point, the cheesy gifts and over-the-top proposals get to be a bit much.
The fact that our dating anniversary was at the beginning of February and Husband's birthday is towards the end of the month is what initially curbed our enthusiasm about this holiday. For us, Valentine's Day quickly became the middle child of February. We still wanted to celebrate, but always kept things simple. While we now celebrate our anniversary in a different month, we still like to keep things low-key.
Skip the Restaurant
We've all done it. You go out for a romantic dinner, but what you actually get is overpriced specials and an overly crowded dining room. The tables are too close for comfort and your romantic evening involves long waits for your dinner plate. Try making a special dinner at home, but still make the extra effort to dress up pretty. If you must go out, do brunch instead. It will be much less crowded {and less expensive}, but just as romantic.
Take a Raincheck
Having spent so much time dating long distance, Tom and I became accustomed to celebrating holidays on our own schedule. Consider celebrating Valentine's Day next weekend. You will be much more likely to have a date night all to yourself. Plus you can have all the discounted Valentine's Day candy that you can eat.
Ditch the Crap
On average, Americans are expected to spend roughly $135 per person on gifts for Valentine's Day. A lot of that includes things that will inevitably end up in the trash next week. So ditch the oversized stuffed animals and the tacky cards. Find something thoughtful to gift your love. Or you could be like us and ditch the gifts all together to focus on spending time together.
How do you celebrate your Valentine's Day?
I so agree with this! Michael made breakfast, we went for a hike, he made homemade ramen for dinner, and we had froyo! And it was perfect. We also got engaged on February 8th so I'm much more inclined to celebrate that anyway.
ReplyDeleteThat is perfect! It's exactly how we would celebrate too
ReplyDeleteAgree with all of these tips, though we do exchange cards and a little something. Little, like no more than $10 haha. We made dinner at home on Valentine's Day, but are actually celebrating tonight by going to a concert. I think just spending time together is the best way to celebrate!
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