How to celebrate Valentine’s Day at home on a budget

Celebrating Valentine's Day with your special someone doesn’t have to mean splurging for an expensive night on the town. You can create a romantic day at home without breaking your budget and stay safe during the pandemic. Here are some tips to make your stay-at-home Valentine’s Day one to remember.

Eat takeout and watch romantic movies

Want to have a stress-free, simple Valentine’s Day? Order a meal from your favorite restaurant and watch some romantic films together. Grab a blanket and cuddle up to watch a classic romantic film.

Picnic in your home

If you live in a warm climate, planning a picnic in your yard is a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you don’t live in a warm place, chances are your February will be a pretty cold time of the year. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying a romantic picnic. You can still pack up a basket and enjoy food and wine in your living room or bedroom. Lay down a blanket and enjoy a spread classic picnic dishes.

Dance together

After a romantic dinner, you can heighten the romance by pushing aside your living room furniture and putting on some slow music to dance to. Even better, make plans to learn how to perform traditional ballroom dancing together. You can find instructions and free step-by-step videos for dances like the waltz, cha-cha, the rumba, and more on websites like learntodance.com or YouTube. 

Make sweet treats together

Desserts and Valentine’s Day are almost synonymous. Instead of buying something sweet, make a delicious treat for your love to celebrate, or bake something special together. You can find some amazing recipes for Valentine’s Day sweets online. Don’t want to spend that much time in the kitchen baking? Just make something simple like a chocolate sauce for dipping fruits like strawberries and blueberries.

Plan a night of gaming

For a fun Valentine’s Day, grab your favorite board game or a deck of cards from the closet or buy a new one online, and play with your partner. Pick games made for two players to keep it cozy. Chess and Scrabble are always great, classic choices, but there are also some other great games like Patchwork and Tsuro that you might enjoy trying together. Starting something new and learning it together is a good way to interact and enjoy each other’s company.

Make a romantic meal

You don’t need to go to a restaurant to have a Valentine’s Day meal. Cook something special at home for your loved one, or do it together. Not sure what to make? Try searching online for some of the best romantic dishes for two. Make your dinner extra special by dressing up in fancy clothes like you have a reservation at a 5-star restaurant!

Plan your next big vacation

With the pandemic still looming over our lives, it’s difficult to get away. But while you celebrate Valentine’s Day at home, you can discuss where you’d like to go when the crisis ends. Decide on a location you both want to visit and start looking up places to stay, restaurants to eat at, and activities you’d like to do. Spend your day or night planning the next exciting and romantic getaway! 

Get crafty together

Why not tap into your creativity on Valentine’s Day by doing some crafts or art together? Download a tutorial online for painting, make a collage or try your hand at creating some coasters. The possibilities for crafting and art are endless and a lot of fun to do as a couple. Crafting together could even become an ongoing hobby!

Without a doubt, Valentine’s Day will be different this year for many. While the way you celebrate may have changed, the basic idea will stay the same; celebrating your love.

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