Save Money & Celebrate Valentine's Day at Home | Date Night on a Budget

Do you celebrate Valentine's Day? My husband and I have celebrated the day ever since our first one together in 1992. In the early years, we both spent a lot of money on flowers, food, and gifts, but Valentine's Day can change with your spouse when kids enter the picture.

Now we avoid the busy restaurants and lavish gifts and instead we spend the evening in the comforts of our home. Yes, I'd love to eat out and have someone else prepare my dinner and serve me, but that would involve a babysitter and a food tab. Now we save money, but still celebrate our marriage and our family.

Our two daughters love the holiday too. Pink and hearts--it's the official holiday of 5-7 year old girls everywhere. So for us, they are included in our festivities. Of course, if you'd rather have an intimate dinner with just your honey then shuttle the kids to bed early and move your dinner to later in the evening.

7 Tips Celebrate Valentine's Day at Home

1. Unplug from the Outside World.
Turn off the phones and any form of social media. Don't invite or allow your Facebook friends into your special day/night with your sweety.

2. Use the Good China.
If you're like me, you'll have to wash it because it sits in a cabinet unused the other 364 days out of the year, but it sets a tone for a special night.

3. Create a Romantic Ambiance.
Create a romantic vibe with a candle lit table and your favorite music playing in the background. And tonight might be a good night to change out of that outfit you were wearing when you cleaned your house earlier in the day. I've made that mistake, take my word on that one!

4. Make an Ultra Special Dinner.
Does your sweetheart have a favorite restaurant dish or maybe a favorite ingredient, like shrimp or salmon?  Do a google search for recipe ideas. Here are some of my favorite recipes from the Family Balance Sheet archives:

• Grilled Salmon with Peach Salsa
• Pasta with Clams and Fresh Tomatoes
• Roasted Tilapia with Tomatoes and Olives
• Turkey Sausage, Arugula, and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta
• Roasted Garlic and Herb Pork Tenderloin
• Grilled Garlic Lemon Shrimp
• Grilled Lime Chicken and Mango Red Pepper Salsa
• Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp

5. Make a Yummy Dessert.

• Chocolate Cheesecake with Blueberry Topping
• Blueberry and Peach Crumb Pots with Homemade Whipped Cream
• Homemade Brownies with Homemade Whipped Cream

6. Sip on Adult Beverages.
My husband and I like to indulge on a adult beverage (or two) when we are dining at home.

• Valentine's Day Cocktails

7. Watch a Romantic and Funny Flick.
Laughter is the best medicine and it's good for relationships too!

No matter how you spend the holiday, Have a Happy (& Romantic) Valentine's Day!

How will you spend Valentine's Day? Will you go out or have a date night in? Let us know in the comments.

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