My Valentine's Day planning is underway. Although currently riddled with a really heavy cold, I have my fingers crossed that I will feel well enough to celebrate the day according to our family tradition - a romantic dinner for the whole family to enjoy together! It's a great excuse to do something special and we enjoy extending the remit to include the children, and not just focus on myself and Ian. We'll have plenty of years when it's just the two of us when the kids leave home, so we prefer to include them while we still can!
I have got a load of Valentine's Day decorations to decorate the dining room and a planned menu for a three course meal with Red Velvet Cupcakes to follow.
It gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling to give token Valentine's Day gifts to my loved ones. But I still like to retain my thriftiness and like to get a bargain. Homemade cards, framed photographs or home baked treats make wonderful and thoughtful gifts. Even if you have a budget of just £5, there are some lovely bargains to be had this year. Here's a few suggestions.
If your other half is a film fan, then why not add a DVD to their collection? Whether you think they'd enjoy a good rom-com or if they'd prefer an action film, Aldi has a great range of films starting at just £2.99. Perfect for a Valentine's Movie Night. Just add popcorn, chocolates and a glass or two of wine for a great budget night in.
Don't forget the kids! There are some lovely films in the Aldi range for little ones too. So you can enjoy a family film night, or let the kids watch a movie in bed while you enjoy some uninterrupted time together!
For a sweet toothed loved one, how about this chocolate heart from Asda? Just one of a range of confectionery gifts starting at just £1. A lovely way to show someone that they make life sweet!
This net of chocolate bees are perfect for your honey! They make a really cute decoration when scattered across the dining table. Tastier than table confetti!
These bricks from Asda are a fun way to get the message of love across. They are a novelty gift that could double up as a quirky alternative to a card. Simply write your own message on them with Sharpie marker for a personalised keepsake. They are just £2.
Make breakfast in bed for your loved one and start the day with a smile. These toast stamps are a playful way to say 'I love you' and start the day in a romantic mood.
For just £1 you can treat someone you love with a gift box of HARIBO Heart Throbs. They also make brilliant and cheap toppers for homemade cupcakes.
Instead of dining out this Valentine's Day you could save a fortune by eating in. If you don't feel like cooking
something from scratch, you could get in a Valentine's Meal Deal. Lots of supermarkets have meal deals allowing you to dine at home in style. Asda have a deal on their Extra Special range for two to dine for just a tenner, available online and in store in selected stores. It's so much cheaper to eat at home and you also save on transport costs and babysitting - plus no one has to be the designated driver!
However you decide to celebrate, I hope you have a really happy Valentine's Day!