Every year, a day comes upon our culture that allows couples to express their love and devotion to each other. Sometimes this is friend to friend, boyfriend to girlfriend, or spouse to spouse. Now, ideally we should be treating everyday like it’s Valentines Day to our significant others…but we all know that would be a tall order given the amount of money often put into this one day.

February 14th is Valentines Day. If you are a man and have forgotten this day, find a writing utencil and something to write on and make sure you record this day. Missing this date or screwing up on it is equivalent in the eyes of women to missing your anniversary. YOU JUST DON’T WANT TO DO THAT!.

Oh yea, there is that other thing that seems to quadrupal during this time of the year….COST!.

If you are in the boat of not having much money but yet you still want to provide a very romantic and special Valentines day, there are MANY ways to do so without busting the checking account.

So with that said, I have scoured the internet to find multiple sources of ideas and creativity.

Source: HOW DO I LOVE THEE? LET ME SHOW YOU THE CHEAP WAYS!

Valentine Cookies

You can make cookie dough from scratch or purchase already made Valentine cookie dough from the grocer by Pillsbury. Whatever option you choose, add your personal touch. Decorate each cookie with your own phrases of love like, “I Love You” or “My Heart is Yours”. You know your mate better than anyone else so you decide what to write.

Glue a candy heart at each end of a piece of ribbon. Wrap the cookies in red or pink tissue paper and bundle it up with the ribbon.

Music From The Heart

Why not make your loved one a cassette or CD with your favorite love songs to bring memories of your first years together rushing back? Did you have a special song that reminds you of your first date? Make a list then start recording. You can also make a label for your musical creation from templates found both on the Internet and in most graphic programs.

Contact your local radio station and ask the DJ to dedicate a song to your loved one.

If you are musically talented, why not write a special song just for them? This is definitely something they will remember forever.

Straight To Their Stomach

Prepare a romantic dinner with their favorite dish. Make a simple centerpiece for the table by filling a glass dish with candy hearts and placing pillar candles in the middle. Pour some wine and enjoy!

Bubble Bath Built For Two

Decorate your bathroom with candles and fill the bathtub with scented salts or bubble bath for a start to a romantic evening for two.

Bedroom of Love

Lead your loved one to the bedroom with a trail of kisses, pedals from flowers, or post-it notes all over the house. Turn your bedroom into a romantic getaway with candles, incense, a bottle of wine, and a snack tray with fruit and candy.

Source: Okay, Men. Listen up, here’s what women really want!

The Bottom Line - Don’t waste your money on trinkets that don’t mean jack. Make your gift simple and personal, put yourself into it and it will be a hit.

Things that are NOT necessary

Flowers: We don’t want a $75 dollar gift of long stemmed red roses. Okay, maybe we do. However, it is not necessary. In fact, I’d have breathing problems if my hubby spent that kind of cash on flowers for me (or anyone else). If your lady likes flowers, and you know what TYPE of flower she likes, by all means, flowers are a great Valentine’s day gift. What you need to remember is, as nice as it is to get flowers delivered to you, it’s even nicer if your man has picked them out himself and hand delivers them to your place of work (or brings them home that evening).

Candy: You don’t have to get us candy! Candy is nice. Personally, I’m hooked on chocolate. And I refuse to buy myself any “expensive” chocolate. Therefore, if my husband wants to go and get me a box of what I really love, that’d be great. However, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know what I want, so just running to the store to pick up whatever is left that comes in a heart shaped box isn’t really the best idea.

Here is what we want!

Time: We want your time, men. We know you love sports, and love hanging with the guys. And we’re glad you do, however, if you really want to give us something special on Valentine’s Day, give us some of your time. Let’s take a walk, cuddle and watch a favorite movie of ours (Die Hard doesn’t count, but you don’t have to watch something totally sappy, either). Give us a back rub, get rid of the kids and run us a nice hot bubble bath. Then, tell us to get in and wait on us with drinks and such. (Wink! You can use your imagination here!)

Notes and letters: Honestly, I would simply love (and be completely shocked!) if my husband would just write out a little note to me. Better yet, you can write a letter (doesn’t have to be super long) to your lady. Just tell her what she really means to you. That’s all. Trust me, that will be a huge hit with her! Another idea is to leave little notes around the house or in and around her things. Say, “I love you”, “Thinking of you”, and whatever else you can come up with. Make it personal!

Source: Romantic Valentine’s Day Evenings at Home

A Fireside Picnic - Have the sofa pulled up in front of a roaring fire, with some champagne on ice. For an added touch, serve strawberries to bring out the champagne’s flavor, or drop pomegranate seeds into the glass to tinge the bubbly pink. If you’re the cooking type, make a homecooked meal. If not, order out from your favorite place. Don’t forget the great music playing on the stereo!

A Sexy Night - I know what you’re saying. Aren’t the above sexy nights? But this one puts sexiness as a top priority. We’re not talking instantly hopping in the sack either, but a Valentine’s Day full of passion and pampering. Sound good? Here’s what you need to do. Start by sending your sweetheart out on an errand and getting them out of the house. (If you don’t live together, you’re one step ahead.) Meanwhile, turn the lights out in most of the house, and replace the lights in the stairway with low wattage bulbs. If you can’t easily change them, don’t worry, put a lamp in the stairway.

Sprinkle rose petals like a trail of bread crumbs leading from the front door, up the stairs and into the bedroom. Put on something sexy and lay out a sexy outfit for your partner. Ideally this will be a present of something new, but needn’t be if you don’t have a lot of money. Prepare some aphrodisiac foods that you can feed each other including almonds, chocolates, dates, raspberries, strawberries and wine. For that extra touch, dip the strawberries in melted chocolate. Fill the bedroom with tons of candles and turn the lights out. Then just wait for your sweetheart.

Other good ideas are:

• Lay a blanket in the middle of your living room floor, light a fire, and prepare a small picnic with fruits, a bottle of wine, and a sweet movie.
• Add a nice container of chocolates or candy nearby for you both to nibble on
• Spend time talking and focusing on each other with no distractions

Foreplay

Ok, let’s face it, almost all couples who plan on spending Valentines day together are going to make love. Note the words I used, “Make Love”. Everyday in your life might be filled with stress, decision making, arguments, depression, etc…but if possible use this one night to let all that stress go, relax, and enjoy every waking moment with your partner.

You are not trying to win a marathon on this day, use your time together to its fullest, and that means when it comes time to get down and dirty, take your time and enjoying each other’s warmth and caressing. Spend plenty of time on each others errogenous zones, spend plenty of time just kissing, not pecks but good old fashion passionate kissing. Show each other what you mean to one another. Show each other the passion in your hearts not just for their body, but their mind and soul.

You don’t need a Platinum credit card, a vase of $200 roses, and a $200 dinner at a fancy Steak House in order to have a romantic evening. As this Epinion user mentioned, women just want TIME with their partners. Talk, spend time, and make your gifts to them very personal, not commercial like Hallmark wants you to.

Women, that concept goes for you too. I must say though, us men really do love a great dinner in our stomachs. Fastest path to our hearts