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It’s almost Valentine’s Day! The most romantic day of the year and you want to make it special. You do not, however, want to spend a ton of money on this holiday. You do not want to be one of the Americans who are projected to spend 18.9 billion dollars this year on Valentine’s Day. Yes, I said billion!

Don’t let that scare you, though, because I have some great Valentine’s Day ideas that are also very loving to your wallet. The first gift you can give is to turn off your phone, tablet, or whatever other devices you always have around. Eliminate disruptions and interruptions- remember that the idea is to spend time with your special someone and make each other feel like that time together is important. If life gets away from you and you don’t have a whole day or evening to spend alone together, try to carve out just a little time, even if all you have time for is a quick cup of coffee together. You don’t even have to go out to buy coffee if you don’t want to. You can make your own at home, find an activity for the kids (okay, even a video), and find a quiet corner to sit and be together even if you can only scrape together 15 minutes. Plan ahead just a little and bake your own pretty Valentine’s Day cookies to make it just a little more special. Exchanging coupons sounds corny, but it really is a romantic and practical Valentine’s Day gift. Offer something you know your honey would really love, like maybe an extra half hour’s sleep on the weekend, cooking a meal you know he loves, or letting him pick the movie- any movie he wants- for movie night. Personal gifts like that are really meaningful and sure to be appreciated. And who knows, you might be able to negotiate for something you really want in exchange! Go for a walk in your neighborhood and take advantage of free or inexpensive activities, like visiting a gallery or even taking a nice run or bike ride together. You can cook a special meal at home, but sometimes you need to be pampered yourself, so use the occasion as an excuse to splurge a little. Do some research to find restaurants in your neighborhood that are running Valentine’s Day specials and you can still enjoy a night out without spending too much. Or do a little of both; have your dinner at home and go out for a special dessert!

Snuggle up to watch a movie- a classic Valentine’s Day activity. Enter here for a chance to win a $30 Fandango gift card. Or stay cozy watching a movie at home. Check out this list for romantic suggestions from Netflix. Since there’s nothing like freshly popped popcorn, here are some easy instructions for making your own perfect popcorn. The possibilities are endless if you just think a little creatively. Just spend time together and focus on one another and you will have a beautiful and happy Valentine’s Day. <3