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Valentine’s Day On A Dime
Using a little imagination, you can make your Valentine’s day a little more fun and a lot less expensive. If you want to add a little personalized romance or if you don’t have the time or money to buy all the pre-made things in the store, here are some ideas to help you make the day special.
FOR THE KIDS
Goodie Filled Heart
Using construction paper, cut out a big heart (approximately 8" x 10"). Next, staple the edges together, then write the names of your children an "I love you" on the outside. Finally, fill the heart with candy, purchased on clearance after Christmas. Inexpensive, and children will love it!
Treasure Hunt
Leave little notes around with the last one leading back to the kitchen table with the Goodie Filled Heart.
Lunches
Try the following easy ideas to add a little cupid to your family's lunch boxes.
- bake heart shaped cookies
- cut sandwiches with a heart shaped cookie cutter or simply using a kitchen knife
- add a few chocolates
- write a note in red with a big heart on their napkin
Other Ideas
Serve anything red for the day. Serve red Jell-O, red pudding, red apples, toast with strawberry jelly, tomato soup, red applesauce, red Kool-aid, strawberry milk, or red frosted cookies. Use powered food coloring from the cake store to get the deepest shade of red. Leave sticks of red gum in their Valentine’s Day cards.
Make red heart shaped cupcakes. Make cupcakes as usual but place a marble down the side of the muffin tin between the muffin tin and each cupcake cup. This will make heart shaped cupcakes. Decorate your cupcakes with pink, white and red frosting and sprinkles (see our designs here).
Make hearts out of chocolate chips in each of your pancakes.
Mail your pre-addressed and stamped Valentines to Loveland, Colorado and they will postmark them and mail them for you. Send them to:
Postmaster
Attn: Valentines
Loveland, CO 80537
FOR YOUR SPOUSE
Treasure Hunt
Begin by mailing or e-mailing them the first clue. Next, leave clues all over the house, yard, car or their office telling them where to find the next clue. End the hunt by making a picnic in the back yard or going to a park for a picnic. If you live in a colder climate, plan your picnic indoors on the living room floor or at the kitchen table. Use your imagination and have fun. The simple things are the ones people remember.
More Ideas
- Go to a bookstore, enjoy the silence and browse. Get a cup of coffee and make a date of it.
- Celebrate Valentine’s day AFTER Valentine’s day. Everything is half off.
- Mail a love letter to your spouse's work.
- Send your spouse a loving email message.
- Leave "Why I love you" messages all over the house. Buy a package of the cheap Valentines. Leave a message on each one and hide them all over the house for your honey. They will get to enjoy the gift for months!
- Use lipstick to make hearts and love notes on the rear view mirror, car windows, bathroom mirror or windows of the house. Leave a kiss on his napkin for lunch or dinner.
- Make a bunch of hearts out of construction paper. Put a love note on each one. Paste them all over the front door or car before your spouse or kids come home from work.
- If you don’t want to spend the cash to go out to dinner, have a picnic in the living room. Use some candles and lay a soft blanket on the floor. Put on some soft music and enjoy the time together. Use some white Christmas lights for additional romantic lighting!
One last tip: If you want to spend time with your spouse alone, either wait until after the children have gone to bed to enjoy your romantic meal, or send them to a babysitter or grandparent's house for the evening. A babysitter can be less expensive than going out to dinner. Enjoy the holiday!
About the Author
 Tawra Kellam is the author of the frugal cookbook Not Just Beans: 50 Years of Frugal Family Favorites. Not Just Beans is a frugal cookbook which has over 540 recipes and 400 tips. For more free tips and recipes visit her website, Living On A Dime
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 Recommended Reading: By following the shopping list, and using my coupons and club cards I saved over $102.00 on my grocery bill! The fact that everything is made in advance means no more last minute trips to the store for one or two things and walking out having spent valuable time in line and an extra $75.00. Now I just run to the dairy for fresh milk and eggs once or twice a week and that's it.
The first time I tried the recipes my daughters helped out in the kitchen and it turned into a fun learning experience and quality family time.
The recipes are easy to follow and well thought out. I didn't have to add anything at all to spice up the flavor.
Most importantly, the kids are hooked to, since they are responsible for kitchen cleanup. There are fewer nightly dishes. No more fighting over who has to scrub the pans. Fantastic book! (courtesy Amazon)
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