Valentine’s Day is here and The National Retail Federation (NRF) says Americans will spend nearly $17.3 billion on Valentine’s Day this year. The average guy expected to shell out about $108.38, according to a survey commissioned by the organization. Women say they’ll spend about half that amount at around $49.41 (On second thought women, I’ll just skip the Russell Stover- thanks anyway) (source www.nrf.com)
It’s true that Valentine’s Day gift giving is predominately led by men and what they spend on this holiday. If you are trying to save some money this year, I figured it would be a good idea to provide you a few tips to still make the holiday fun without breaking the bank. Apparently, women only need to spend $49.41 to keep the relationship going and men you need to be prepared to spend a Benjamin on the holiday. Although somehow I think you’ll be spending a lot more especially if you add in a dinner.
If you are trying to save money, here are five small tips I have:
- Buy roses in a color other than RED! Or, just buy some other type of flowers besides roses. Remember, which type of flower is her favorite.
- It’s a Friday, so go for a romantic lunch rather than dinner. It will be doubly pricy on a Friday night and reservations may be tough to get which can really wreck your evening. You might even cook dinner at home by candlelight.
- If you go out, a night at the movies and a luxury dessert can be more cost effective than an expensive dinner. They now have great movie theaters at AMC and StudioTime where you can have the plush reserved seats so you don’t have to fight the crowd.
- Get a blank card so you can write your special thoughts versus some poem from a greeting card company. You’ve got more imagination than that!
- If you love Pizza, how can you pass up the heart shaped pizza pie? This will cost you less than $20 (O.K.- maybe this one will put you in the doghouse for six months so don’t do this one)
On Valentine’s day, the real smart money move to make is to pay close attention to things your partner may like or use every day. Whether that gift costs $50 or $500, getting a gift that really means something is what Valentine’s Day is all about to me. I’m not sure how the women get by on $49 a year, but for a $100 you can really make a special evening for the two of you to remember all weekend long.
Written by:
Ted Jenkin
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