If you’re panicking because Valentine’s Day is almost here and your bank account is looking a little thin, take a deep breath. You don’t have to spend $200 on a set dinner or $90 on a bouquet of roses that will die within a few days.
The National Retail Federation says the average person is expected to set a record $199.78 this year. That’s a lot of money 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 to a generic piece of heart-shaped plastic.
I’ve rounded up the best ways to impress your crush 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 them.
1. A custom digital soundtrack
We used to have mixtapes on cassettes. Then we burned CDs. Now we have Spotify.
Create a playlist of songs that actually mean something to your relationship: the song that played when you met, your first concert together, or the song you both sing badly in the car. It’s free, it’s readily available and it shows that you remember the little things.
2. A memory jar
Find an old glass jar in the kitchen, clean it out and grab some pieces of paper. Write down your favorite memories from the past year: one per slip. Whether it’s an inside joke or a ‘remember when we got lost in the rain’, filling a jar with these notes has more meaning than any card you buy at the store.
(Related: See “13 Ways to Spend Less and Increase the Romance on Valentine’s Day.”)
3. The exchange of expertise
We all have a skill that our partner lacks. Maybe you’re an Excel wizard, a good photographer, or adept at changing the oil in your car. Create a gift voucher for two hours of professional help.
It’s an act of service that usually costs $50 to $100 an hour if they have to rent it out.
4. A spa evening at home
You don’t need a luxury resort to relax. Use what you already have in the cupboard. If you have sugar and coconut oil, you can make a DIY body scrub. Dim the lights, put on that playlist from tip No. 1 and offer a foot rub or massage. It’s about the undivided attention, not about the expensive oils. (See “12 Affordable and Fun Date Ideas.”)
5. Timed letters
This takes about 30 minutes and a few envelopes. Write a series of notes that your partner can open at specific times: “Open when you’re having a bad day,” “Open when you need to laugh,” or “Open when you’re stressed.” It’s a gift that keeps on giving long after February 14th.
6. A picnic in the backyard or living room
Eating 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’s in the fridge with a little flair. It turns a dinner at home into an event just by changing the decor.
7. Surprise love notes
Grab a pack of Post-it notes and hide them in places your partner will encounter throughout the day: the bathroom mirror, the steering wheel, in the laptop, or even in the coffee can. Write one thing you appreciate about them on each one.
It costs nothing but turns their entire day into a series of small victories.
8. Photo organization and backup
We all have 5,000 photos on our phones and zero in albums. Spend an hour organizing a digitally shared album of your best photos together from the past year.
If you want to take it a step further, use a free app to turn those photos into a slideshow with music.
9. Services
Is there a chore that your partner absolutely hates? Maybe it’s cleaning the baseboards, organizing the junk drawer, or scrubbing the grout. Do it. Don’t complain, don’t ask for credit – just get it done.
Taking a tedious task off someone’s hands is one of the purest forms of love. (See “17 Ways to Keep Your Vacation Debt-Free.”)
10. A heartfelt, handwritten letter
In a world of ‘are you awake?’ texts and emojis, a real letter is a rare commodity. Sit down and write three paragraphs about why you’re glad they are in your life.
Don’t worry about being a poet; just be honest. I promise they will keep that letter longer than a box of CVS chocolates.
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