If you’re panicking because Valentine’s Day is nearly here and your bank account is looking a little thin, take a breath. You don’t need to drop $200 on a prix-fixe dinner or $90 on a bouquet of roses that’ll be dead in days.
The National Retail Federation says the average person is expected to shell out a record $199.78 this year. That’s a lot of cash for a holiday designed by greeting card companies. Here’s the truth: Most people actually prefer a gift that shows you’ve been paying attention over a generic piece of heart-shaped plastic.
I’ve rounded up the best ways to impress your sweetheart for exactly zero dollars. These are last-minute in the sense that you can do them tonight, but they won’t look like you forgot.
1. A custom digital soundtrack
Back in the day, we had mixtapes on cassettes. Then we had burned CDs. Now, we have Spotify.
Build a playlist of songs that actually mean something to your relationship — the song playing when you met, your first concert together or that track you both sing poorly in the car. It’s free, it’s instant and it shows you remember the small stuff.
2. A memory jar
Find an old glass jar in the kitchen, clean it up and grab some scraps of paper. Write down your favorite memories from the last year — one per slip. Whether it’s an inside joke or a “remember when we got lost in the rain” moment, filling a jar with these notes is more meaningful than any store-bought card.
(Related: See “13 Ways to Spend Less and Rev Up the Romance on Valentine’s Day.”)
3. The expertise exchange
We all have a skill our partner lacks. Maybe you’re a wizard at Excel, a decent photographer or skilled at changing the oil in the car. Create a gift certificate for two hours of your professional-grade help.
It’s an act of service that usually costs $50 to $100 an hour if they had to hire it out.
4. An at-home spa night
You don’t need a luxury resort to relax. Use what you’ve already got in the cupboard. If you have sugar and coconut oil, you can whip up a DIY body scrub. Dim the lights, put on that playlist from tip No. 1 and offer a foot rub or a massage. It’s about the undivided attention, not the expensive oils. (See “12 Affordable and Fun Date Ideas.”)
5. Timed letters
This one takes about 30 minutes and a few envelopes. Write a series of notes for your partner to open at specific times: “Open when you’re having a bad day,” “Open when you need a laugh” or “Open when you’re feeling stressed.” It’s a gift that keeps giving long after Feb. 14.
6. A backyard or living room picnic
Dining out on Valentine’s Day is a nightmare — overcrowded, overpriced and rushed. Instead, clear the coffee table, throw a blanket on the floor and serve whatever is in the fridge with a bit of flair. It turns a dinner at home into an event just by changing up the scenery.
7. Surprise love notes
Grab a pack of Post-it notes and hide them in places your partner will find throughout the day: the bathroom mirror, the steering wheel, inside their laptop or even the coffee tin. Write one thing you appreciate about them on each.
It costs nothing but makes their entire day a series of small wins.
8. Photo organization and backup
We all have 5,000 photos on our phones and zero in albums. Spend an hour organizing a digital shared album of your best photos together from the past year.
If you want to go the extra mile, use a free app to turn those photos into a slideshow with music.
9. Acts of service
Is there a chore your partner absolutely hates? Maybe it’s cleaning the baseboards, organizing the junk drawer or scrubbing the grout. Do it. No complaining, no asking for credit — just get it done.
Taking a nagging task off someone’s plate is one of the purest forms of love. (See “17 Ways to Keep Your Holidays Debt-Free.”)
10. A heartfelt, handwritten letter
In a world of “u up?” texts and emojis, a real letter is a rare commodity. Sit down and write three paragraphs about why you’re glad they’re in your life.
Don’t worry about being a poet; just be honest. I promise they’ll keep that letter longer than they’d keep a box of CVS chocolates.
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