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I am not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. Actually, I am not a fan of many holidays due to the tremendous commercialization we experience in this culture. It is easy to spend $100 on flowers, candy, dinner, babysitter, and for what?
After a small amount of internet research, I have found that the origins of this Hallmark holiday are unclear. I was going to post some of the information, but then my blog would cease to be family friendly. Regardless, I would guess that the majority of the population has no idea why we celebrate Valentine’s Day, but yet they still do and spend a significant amount of money in the process.
Many who read this are trying to save money, but the pressures to spend on this holiday are enormous. If you don’t bring home flowers or chocolate on February 14th, then you must not love me….
Turn your Valentine’s Day into a Valentine’s Challenge. First decide to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 19, 20, 21, or whenever, just as long as it is after Valentine’s Day. Then decide on a set amount of money, for example $10. Now for the challenge part, see how much candy, trinkets, cards, and other treats you can get for $10 or less. Most stores have everything marked down at least 50% on February 15 and the prices keep dropping as the days go on. Then on your Valentine’s Day, you and your spouse can trade gifts and admire each other’s frugality.
Unromantic, maybe…. but think of how much fun you will have bargain hunting. And all the money you save can go in your Roth IRA, towards paying off a credit card, or in a college fund for your kids.
For those of you who think I might have gone off the tightwad deep end, check out my post on cheap date ideas.
Special thanks to my husband who has been begging me to go along with him on this idea for years, and my sister who actually did it last year.
This post is linked to the Valentine Party.
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{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
We don’t even really celebrate here. My husband absolutely hates Hallmark holidays. I like the idea of doing something after!
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I couldn’t agree more (see my Valentine’s post on my blog). Why not express your love for one another everyday? That’s my opinion and what we prefer to do in this household.
Though, I’ll admit – my fav part of Valentine’s Day is, indeed, the day AFTER. And for exactly the reasons you stated – CANDY IS 50% OFF! WooHoo!
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Great idea!!! To me, bargain hunting is a hobby more than anything. Do I really need 12 tubes of toothpaste for a 1 person family? No, but getting them (legally) for free is fun!
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My husband and I have been married almost 40 years. When we were first married I must admit I loved getting the flowers, candy, and cards on EVERY holiday. Now we give our love to each other everyday… because everyday we have with each other is a gift from God.
I do try to make cards, for other people in our lives, on the computer. I thinks it is nice to let poeple know your are thinking of them… even if the cards get sent a little late.
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This reminds me of how much I appreciate my mother-in-law visiting us AFTER Christmas. I always wait until the after Christmas sales to get her gifts. Saves a TON of money!
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I absolutely love this idea. I think I’ll link to it on my blog tomorrow. Love it!!!!
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i love the idea. we always talk about doing the same thing for christmas.
i think changing the date would be just a little bit hard for us though, it was our first date so really that’s what we’re celebrating and not just valentine’s day. i get a pig of some sort and a pink rose every year (long story), and it does always kinda stink that that rose costs three times as much just cause it’s on a rose giving holiday.
maybe i can just surprise my husband with a second valentine’s day, since the real one is usually for me, and i can get a lot for a little to shower him with.
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Great idea! I’ve thought about that too. I try to go pratical when buying for my hubby or my kids.
My daughter loves shoes so I got her some red shoes for summer that will match 2 of the outfits I have made her for the springs/summer. So it’s something I would have bought any way but can gift it
Well for my son…I think that I’m going to get something that will benefit the whole family but he will be so excited!
Now my husband…whole different story…I never know what to get him…
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That’s a great idea!
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Great idea. I am not big on Valentines day so I like this idea.
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Although we do the getting of chocolate ‘hearts’ for the actual Valentine’s Day (only part of this holiday I care for), we always wait 2-4 days and buy a whole lot of chocolates! We also purchase candies with pink for my daughter’s up coming birthday party to save even more. But that candy needs to be hidden by my husband so I don’t attack it in a night craving!I like the idea of waiting for it all, cause then instead of doubling the chocolate, we could triple it for the same price!!
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I love this idea… we celebrate Valentines with homemade cards, extra acts of service for our family members, chocolate covered strawberries and LOTS of loving hugs all day. It’s a beautiful day in our home. But last year, my daughter went to a little girl’s valentines party the weekend after Valentine’s day… the hostess said she bought everything from decorations to treats at the after holiday sales… smart woman!
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Sometimes when he’s able (in country) near Vday he gets me a card but the one I treasure most is this poem he wrote me on Valentines & gave to me when he gets home. I treasure it more than any store bought card. It was just on a plain piece of paper (no craft supplies on a rig) & folded. I’d rather him be romantic on our anniversary than some holiday that is crammed down our throats.
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I thought Valentine’s Day was supposed to celebrate St. Valentine, the patron saint of lovers.
Is it something else?
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Funny you should mention this … There was a final Jeopardy question about the origin of Valentine’s Day yesterday, and Alex tells me it’s based on a Roman peasant holiday celebrating fertility and the coming of spring.
We don’t do presents or cards or the like on VDay … or any holiday, really. We forgot our anniversary until 11pm on the day of this year. Perhaps we aren’t so much the romantic types …
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Great post. I have never been a big fan of “hallmark” holidays either. My husband and I have always believed we don’t need one day a year to express our love for each other or do something special… we have each and every day together… which is always special.
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this one is cute
http://www.icantsave.org/2009/02/cheap-valentines-day-breakfast.html
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we always wait and celebrate after valentines. i love knowing that i have the same flowers that my friends got for a fraction of the price! i like your challenge idea though. sounds like fun!
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I really like your perspective on this. We are so over the “If you don’t bring home flowers or chocolate on February 14th, then you must not love me….”
We know that we love each other because of the way it is demonstrated day after day, year after year. No way that one day could make or break that!
Going to check out your cheap dates…
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Celebrating simply is great for me! Although dh does try to buy me my favorite chocolates from Sees. We are going to just enjoy food, fun, and family on Valentines. I enjoy making yummy gifts.
I made him a huge chocolate chip cookie heart one year. Other times I’ve made truffles or his favorite desserts.
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It is such a good idea – we don’t really bother with Valentine’s in our house but I might talk to Hubby and do this. This would be fun – and affordable.
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Those are great ideas!
I am with ya on that whole commercialization of holidays thing we got going on. It irritates me to no end.
As long as my dh lets me know he loves me EVERY DAY I am good. He doesn’t have to bring me chocolate, I can get my own, and as long as he doesn’t rub it in that it’ll make me fat.. I’m good with that! LOL
I cannot stand these “holidays” !! Huge waste of mulah.
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We actually do this most years when my hubby isn’t deployed. He will cook a fantastic meal for me on the 14th and we’ll get each other presents a few days after. It’s a great way to celebrate. As long as we’re together, it doesn’t matter when we celebrate. Actually we celebrate Vday almost every day of the year!
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Great tips!
I’m stopping by from the Valentine Party!
Looking forward to you next post-looks like it’ll be a good one
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while I admire you for not getting caught up in the hype of commercialized holidays, I think buying all you can when the prices go down, helps to continue this phenomenon. Why not stay completely clear of all things “Valentine”. When we buy all the cheap crap from China, we are not helping the environment, our country, sweat shops, or anything else. And then we have to buy some magazines that tell us how to organize all our stuff or how to get rid of it!!
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TheHappyHousewife Reply:
February 14th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Great point. Better to avoid the holiday all together if your significant other agrees.
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