The Money Corner: Love at the last minute
Forget the big heart-shaped box of chocolates,pink teddy bears and the obnoxiously large bouquet of roses – Valentine’s Day is about celebrating with those you love. It’s not too late to make the day special for the ones you love. This week, I want to share some last-minute, low-cost planning tips for making your Valentine’s Day extra special.
Home Is Where The Heart Is
Nothing is more endearing than a thoughtful homemade card or gift. There are so many ways to add sweetness to someone’s day, be it with a dozen cookies (with sprinkles) or a made-by-hand felt coffee cup sleeve. Another simple and inexpensive idea is to make your own magnets. Use decoupage and your favorite photos to dress up a memory. Or, get the kids involved and use salt dough to personalize your magnets. All you need are pantry staples, some festive stamps and some little hands to help you. Take it a step further and make it a surprise! It will make your loved ones day.
You can’t forget to include a personalized message with your DIY gift. Skip the lines at the store and the generic $5 card. Personalizing the message in the card shows you put time and effort into making the day special. For over 14 years, I have kept all the homemade messages my husband has written me, but not a single card he has bought me. Instead, dig around the house for some construction paper and markers. Can’t think of your own lovely message? That’s why poets publish books and musicians write songs. Let the words to their favorite song do the talking.
http://www.thedatingdivas.com/tara/two-little-lovers-decor/
Sweet And Salty
Finally, one of the nicest things you can do for someone you love, especially a partner, is to prepare a day (or evening) that’s obviously well planned. It doesn’t have to be an expensive night out with limousines and reservations – it just has to be thoughtful. For instance, make your loved one’s favorite dinner dish and if you have kids, get a sitter so you two can watch your favorite movies uninterrupted. Or, surprise your spouse with an inexpensive family photo shoot with an area photographer so they can show off their love at the office or update the frames at home.
After all, Valentine’s Day is about making memories with the people you love. Don’t let cost concerns get you down on Valentine’s Day. No matter what you do, do it from the heart. Because love, as we all know, is priceless.
Kat's Money Corner is posted on Dollars & Sense every Tuesday. Tina Mapes is an assistant branch manager with CommunityAmerica Credit Union. For more financial chatter, click http://twitter.com/savinmavens.
This story was originally published February 10, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "The Money Corner: Love at the last minute."