I'll admit it: When it comes to Valentine's Day, I'm a little bit of a Scrooge (I know, wrong holiday). That is, I don't feel compelled to spend a lot on a gift for my husband or a lavish dinner at a crowded restaurant with prices that are inflated to take advantage of all the people dining out. Bah humbug! After all, there are plenty of ways to spend time with the person you love without spending a fortune. And small, thoughtful tokens can sometimes make better gifts than expensive items bought just to impress the recipient. Here's a roundup of advice from personal finance bloggers on how to keep Valentine's Day costs under control.
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13 Inexpensive and Unique Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas [Money Under 30]
"Valentine’s Day gifts don’t have to cost a fortune. Some of the best gifts are under 20 bucks."
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Affordable Valentine's Gifts For Him [Savvy Sugar]
"Go easy on your V-Day present and pick one that's affordable. It's the thought that counts!"
99 Affordable Date Ideas [Wise Bread]
"It's really the time you spend with your sweetheart that matters and not how much you're spending on the dates."
7 Tips to Save Money on Valentine's Day [Generation X Finance]
"Sometimes the most romantic things you can do don’t involve expensive dinners, lavish gifts, or big plans."
Valentine’s Day: The Battle Between Frugality and Disappointment [SavingAdvice.com]
"If you don’t want to end up with a bitterly disappointed partner, you’re going to have to find a way to balance your frugal nature with their need to have Valentine’s Day."
How to Tell If You’re Dating a Deadbeat [Len Penzo dot Com]
"If you don’t know, you better find out -- especially with Valentine’s Day around the corner."
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