Round-Up: Valentine’s Day For Family on a Budget

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Valentine’s Day isn’t a huge celebration in our family. I’m a big believer that we should all “love out loud” all year long… it shouldn’t just be saved for a single day. For many years I was like “it’s a Hallmark Holiday, they just want my money”. It seems, however, the older I’m getting, possibly the mushier I’m becoming? Whatever it is, this year I want to make the day special, so here is a quick round-up: Valentine’s Day for the family on a budget.

Spouse

MOVIE NIGHT ~ One of the easiest things to do for couples who are trying to find ideas this Valentine’s Day for the family on a budget is to put the kids to bed early, pop some popcorn and watch a favorite movie.

I don’t know about you, but with our crazy schedule, this definitely needs to be a planned event. It’s not something that just happens, but something we love to do when we are intentional with our calendar and our time together.

DINNER ~ Ask your parents or family friend if they would watch the kids for a few hours. Then make your spouse’s favorite dinner, set the table with your best dishes, along with candles, and music. Dim the lights.

Not a big cook? Then just order their favorite take out and make a dessert together.

Or an option again is to put the kids down early and opt for a late dinner and dessert at home.

DESSERT ~ Speaking of dessert, this was one of our favorite things we started doing when the kids were little. We had small kids and were just starting to build our business, our life and calendar were pure craziness.

There were many nights that one of us would call or text the other and say “dessert at 9 pm?” It didn’t matter if it was DQ or our favorite Italian restaurant, it was just meeting up and slowing down together. We would spend an hour over good conversation and a delicious treat. This is a great idea for this Valentine’s Day on a budget.

COUPONS ~ Create some fun coupons for massages, foot rubs, etc. Get creative! You know your spouse best.

LETTER ~ Write a handwritten, heartfelt letter of what you appreciate most. Be specific and be sincere. Let them know what it is exactly you love and appreciate. This small gesture will go so far.

Kids (the littles)

DOOR NOTES ~ Post cut out hearts on their door, each filled with what you love about them, what you see in them, what’s great about them.

Click here for free printables!

COLORING BOOKS* ~ My 3-year-old daughter is obsessed with coloring and drawing. She calls it her “homework” and feels it is her responsibility to do daily.

*There are great coloring sheets that you can print off from the internet. Search their favorite characters and print off a bunch.

STICKER BOOKS ~ Another favorite of my toddler is a fresh book of stickers and a book to put them in. These are very inexpensive at places like Target or Walmart.

ICE CREAM ~ Add an extra $1 to their allowance for the week and head to McDonald’s for some ice cream. My kids always loved paying for themselves.

Questions about kids and allowance? Check out my post here.

BOOKS ~ My kids have grown up being read to and this holiday is no different. Some of our favorites have been books focused on our love for them.

Here are a ton of budget-friendly books for your little ones.

LOVE NOTES ~ Tuck little love notes in their school items for the day. Their lunchbox, school books, notebooks, backpacks, etc. They will love reading surprise love notes throughout the day.

Tweens and Teens (the bigs)

BAKED GOODS ~ I don’t know about you but my two teenage sons LOVE homemade banana bread. I mean when they see it sitting on the counter it’s like Christmas morning. So for Valentine’s Day, each boy gets their own loaf. For my boys, this is a huge sign of love. What’s your child’s favorite baked good?

FAN GEAR ~ March Madness is right around the corner and for our family that is basically a National Holiday! How about you? Is there a specific college team they’re excited about? Do they have a new favorite player? Is there a piece of fan gear they would love as we head into the “madness”?

TIME OUT ~ My boys and I love going on “dates”. This is where I take one of my boys out alone, one at a time. We determine either a favorite spot to go or hop onto Trip Advisor to locate a place we haven’t been to yet. This is a special one-on-one time for us. We eat and talk about life, school, sports, friends, the future.

This is also an opportunity I take to show my boys how to properly behave in public and how to treat a lady.

They start the car for me, hold the doors open, make sure I have my food before they start eating, they also pay the bill (usually with my money, and that’s just fine by me).

It’s a super sweet event, and it’s not one that we hold just for Valentine’s Day. These date nights, date days, breakfasts, or lunches out, are for any time of the year. They are totally worth putting a date on the calendar and taking time out for.

HANDWRITTEN LETTER ~ A letter handwritten from you to your older child is a precious gift. Tell them specifically what you admire the most about them, what has made you most proud, where you see them heading in life, what your prayers and hopes are for them. They may not fully appreciate it at the moment but it is something you can tuck away for them later.

Family

FAMILY DINNER ~ There are two ways to do this.

• Choose a family favorite meal. You make the meal, set up the table with your nice dinnerware, candles, music on, etc. Make cute heart place cards. This is a dinner from you to your family.
• Or have everyone participate in the meal choice, cooking, setting the table, making place cards, lighting candles, turning on music, etc.

APPRECIATION ~ Before you start eating, go around the table and have each person share what they appreciate about each family member. Or have each family member write a letter to each other. Then at dinner have each family member read each letter out loud.

SECRET CUPID ~ Do a name draw and the week of Valentine’s Day. Have each family member get creative by leaving notes, gifts, trinkets, for the person you drew. Then on the final day, reveal whose Secret Cupid you were.

Grandparents

DIY ~ Homemade gifts from grandkids always go a long way with your parents. Red construction paper lay their hand down, trace, cut, decorate. Be sure to include the child’s name and date of the masterpiece.

HELLO! ~ Have the kids give them a call or FaceTime to wish them a Happy Valentine’s Day.

LETTERS ~ Handwritten letters from your kids to your parents is something very special. Depending on their age, get as specific as you can in the letter. Whether it’s you asking your little one questions or your big ones taking 20 minutes to sit in quiet to think, reflect, and write.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! ~ Have your kids interview your parents. Whether it’s by phone, FaceTime, or in-person this will be a fun and special occasion. Help your kids come up with 3-5 questions each. If it’s a phone interview have another phone or camera to record it. If it’s in person, have the phone or camera set up.

This is something you and your children will cherish forever.

Valentine’s Day on a Budget: Beyond Family

Customers

As a business owner, entrepreneur, or corporate professional, there is never a bad time to show your customers appreciation and love.

Your customer’s business is how you make money and how you live your life, never, ever skip an opportunity to shower them with gratitude.

Send a gift, e-gift, gift card, discount, or a free sample of a new product or a product you know they love.

• Something as simple as sending them “a drink on me” with a $5 Starbucks e-gift right to their email.
• Maybe “free shipping” on their next order is something you know they would appreciate.
• Or how about dropping off a goodie bag of new products or some of their faves?

Any of these ideas would go a long way!

Include a card or letter of appreciation using specifics. Yes, everyone loves to receive cards and letters but always choose to take it a step further with the specifics of why you appreciate them.

This extra step truly shows your recipient that you are paying attention and taking the time to express your sincere gratitude.

Teachers, Hair Dressers, etc.

The ideas above would also work great for your kid’s teachers, your hairdresser, or anyone else that helps you live a better and easier life.

No room in the budget this Valentine’s Day?

Handwritten and Homemade always WIN!

The ultimate winner this Valentine’s Day?? Yes, you guessed it… a handwritten letter or a homemade gift!

Whether you have a lot to spend or none at all… this Valentine’s Day for the family on a budget should include a letter.

I’m such a huge believer in the simple act of sitting down and writing a letter… from the heart.

There is nothing else like it. Nothing you could ever purchase will do what your own words will do for the people in your life.

And how much does that cost?

A piece of paper, an envelope, possibly a stamp if you’re mailing it… and just a few minutes of your time.

This act of love and appreciation costs you so so little but means the world to the person who will open it and read it.

I hope this round-up helps you as you create a wonderful Valentine’s Day for the family on a budget!

Please Note: As I mentioned in the beginning, I am such a believer in “loving out loud”! We should all choose to love people where they are… all year long. No matter what or who they are, there is always something good to point out about them, always something to appreciate.

Choose to point it out and tell them how special they are.

I’m a believer that we are all children of God and that God don’t make no junk.

ALL of these things can and, I believe, should be done all year long. There is never enough love you can spread around and never enough times you can tell people how special you think they are.

Here is the best book I’ve ever read about “loving out loud”.

So tell me, friend, what is the #1 thing that stood out to you that you will try first? I would LOVE to hear!!

Happy Valentine’s Day… and beyond!

xoxo,

Mo

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