With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, the time crunch is on to plan the perfect day for you and your significant other. The nature of the holiday often feels like pressure to spend a lot of money, but Valentine’s Day is there to celebrate love, not break the bank!
Thoughtfulness, planning, and creativity count for much more than how much you spend. Luckily, the CouponFollow team has helped put together some ideas to plan the perfect date without emptying your wallet! Here are some of our best ideas and deals to match to get you started:
Cook a Romantic Dinner
Have a DIY Movie Night
Go Stargazing
Work on a Craft
Visit a Local Museum or Art Gallery
Host a Game Night for Two
Take a Scenic Walk or Hike
DIY Spa Night
Cooking together is one of the most intimate, fun, and romantic Valentine’s Day activities.
The romance comes from knowing your partner - so work together to craft a menu you both will enjoy. It’s usually a good idea to keep it simple, though - a fun appetizer or salad, a nourishing main like steak or pasta, and a dessert to share will do the trick!
You can also add in a drink pairing - wine, cocktails, or mocktails are always a good idea. Attention to detail is always a turn-on - so a nice table spread with candles or flowers does wonders as well.
The date doesn’t have to start with the cooking either - even going to the grocery store together can be the start to an amazing romantic night if you’re with the right person.
Hunt for deals at local affordable supermarkets like Aldi or Trader Joe's, or order ingredients with Instacart!
Movie tickets are more expensive than ever - and that’s before you factor in snacks, drinks, parking, and all of the other added costs. You can have a much more affordable and more romantic movie night at home.
All you need are comfy blankets, some tasty snacks, and a good streaming service.
You can also find coupons to get high-quality services like HBO Max to get your favorite shows and movies for as little as possible! Picking a movie using a fun game like drawing options out of a hat or using an online wheel helps you stop getting stuck about what to watch, too.
Walmart or Target are also great go-tos for bargains on snacks, and extras like drinks and plushies. If you have a DVD player, you can also pick a movie (maybe even at random) while you’re there.
Is there anything more romantic than stargazing? You can cuddle up and find constellations with the help of a book or app or just make up your own. If you’re in a city, you could make a road trip out of it or check out your local observatory.
Plus, it’s super budget-friendly! All you need is a blanket, a good spot, good company, and maybe some hot cocoa. If you’re not stocked with camping supplies, you can get a great deal with coupons from REI. You could even go all out and get a telescope.
Painting together is always romantic, and it doesn't need to be limited to the artistically talented! Getting a custom paint-by-number kit is the perfect way to have an adorable Valentine’s Day date.
In the end, you’ll have a beautiful portrait of the two of you, a pet, a special place, or whatever you choose!
All you need is a nice, high-quality photo, which you then upload to a website, and they send you the kit. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions and all the paints you’ll need, so you’ll be ready to go.
There are several companies that offer custom paint-by-number kits — check out this Reddit thread to see the best available offers and Valentine’s Day deals!
If you want to really amp up this date night, you could get a kit for each of you and compare at the end, or turn the night into a paint and sip with a bottle of wine or mugs of hot chocolate.
Local museums and art galleries are classic date spots, and they’re often free! Visit a classic spot, or take your date to a smaller museum you’ve never been to before - you could be in for a treat.
While looking at classic art is traditionally romantic, it could be just as fun learning about dinosaurs or local history - it just depends on what your interests are as a couple.
You can often find passes and special deals for your local museums online, as well as discounted rates for certain income thresholds, students, seniors, locals, and other groups.
If you save on the ticket and have some cash to spare, complete the outing with some coffee or dessert afterward to talk about the exhibit.
Museums also have great information about other touristy things to do that are excellent dates, even if you’re both local to the area.
A little healthy competition is good for a relationship! Game nights can be a blast, and with two, they can be both fun and romantic.
Bond over a board game from classics like Scrabble and Uno to more complex modern games like SkyTeam or 7 Wonders, all of which you can get cheaply from Amazon or Target.
If video games are more your speed, check out It Takes Two, Minecraft, or other couch co-op classics.
No matter the game, make sure you have a cozy setup with comfy seats, snacks, and anything else you need. You can even make things a little more flirty with dares or prizes for winning and losing.
Remember, though - the point is romance and friendly competition, not to win at all costs!
Taking a walk or hike is a great way to spend quality time together without breaking the bank. Visit a well-known hiking spot, or look up scenic walks near you. Make sure to pick a trail that’s you and your partner's speed - twisted ankles or getting badly lost doesn’t generally improve the romance.
Local parks often have fun activities, like renting bikes, paddle boats, or visiting local merchant stalls (dependent on weather).
If you really want to amp up the romance, bring picnic supplies (you can stock up on a budget at Walmart or Instacart), plan for pictures, or create a playlist to listen to together.
It’s also always a good idea to have a plan B in case of bad weather - a picnic in the car at a lookout or even inside can be silly and romantic in the rain.
If you want a pampered night in, why not treat your significant other to a DIY spa night? You can create all the magic of a fancy spa at home with the right products and little touches.
The essentials include candles or scent diffusers, face masks or other beauty treatments, and massage oils. You can get great deals on these and more at stores like Ulta, CVS, the Body Shop, or Sephora.
To show extra care, look for products you know your significant other would like, such as brands or scents they already use and love. A signature cocktail or fancy sparkling water with fruit and cucumbers never hurt, either.
Once you’ve got the products you need, set up your space to be warm and welcoming, with the candles flickering and calming music playing in the background. Offer massage options to your partner, and make sure to have some indulgent activities, like facials or foot soaks, that the two of you can do together!