you are here: 
by Becky Ellis
Valentine’s Day is the romantic version of New Year’s Eve: expensive, overrated, and participation is virtually mandatory. This year, skip the $60 bouquet of roses and boxes of chocolates and try out one of these (free!) ways to express your love. Not only will you save a few bucks, you’ll get points for being creative, original and (yes) romantic.
1. Take a sick day together. What better way to feel like naughty kids again than by playing hookie together? (Destroy Debt)
2. Put your love on video. Um… not like that. Use your camera phone or webcam to tape yourself making a declaration of love and upload it to YouTube (you can make the video private so only the object of your affection can see it). Then email them the link in the middle of the day. (The Guardian)
3. Make phone calls more romantic. Swipe your partner’s phone while they’re in the shower and download and save your song as the new ringtone. Then call on their lunch hour. (Reader’s Digest)
4. Support clean living. If you and your partner live together (or you have keys to their place) sneak in to and clean from top to bottom. Partner already a neatnik? You could tackle any task they hate to do, like getting the oil changed in their car, dropping off dry cleaning or fixing a broken doorknob. (Destroy Debt)
5. Write a love list. Compose a list of 10 things you love about your partner and put it where they’ll see it. It’s easier than a love letter, and just as romantic. Bonus points for cutting the list up and hiding individual notes all over (on the mirror, inside coat pockets, on the computer screen, etc). (The Guardian says that if you can’t think of 10, aim for 5. I say, if you can’t think of more than 10, you should rethink your relationship.) (The Guardian)
Learn how to make the origami heart in the photo at MoneyOrigamis.com.
Tags: budget, cheap gifts, gift ideas, money, romance tips, valentine's day
