We should habitually show our loved ones concern and affection all year-round, but celebrating Valentine’s Day with a nice date forces us to pause and admire the subject of our attention. It is a chance for us to reaffirm our intentions and to be present in the everyday habits we use to show love, or maybe it is a chance to explore new ways of expressing it with out-of-the-ordinary activities and experiences. No matter how you choose to celebrate your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, it does not have to be expensive. A meaningful Valentine’s Day is possible without compromising your budget, and St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles Thrift Store wants to help.
Here are four tips to ensure that you have the perfect and affordable Valentine’s Day date!
1. Express Appreciation
Sometimes we take our loved ones for granted. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, along with an exceptional year of breaking news, we might have gotten distracted and missed opportunities to show our loved ones some attention and concern. Appreciate how life has expanded and brightened since your loved ones have been present. Once you have taken inventory, express it to your loved ones in a way that best suits your relationship. Talk about specific moments, whether in the form of a letter or a loving conversation. It is an act of vulnerability, a gift worth more than a million roses.
2. Enhance the Everyday
Thinking of ways to enhance every day ensures that the sweet moments of consideration and thoughtfulness last beyond the Valentine’s Day date. Give your favorite bookworm a book he or she has always wanted to read or give a jar full of food suggestions written on slips of paper so you will never have to argue about what to have for dinner ever again. Maybe your loved one is having backaches because he or she lacks a home office. Take time to create an office space that addresses this problem. You can find affordable desks, unique furniture pieces, and all the other miscellaneous items you might need at thrift stores like St. Vincent de Paul of Los Angeles.
3. Go Handmade
The most affordable and memorable way to make this Valentine’s Day special is by making a gift. Instead of buying an elaborate and expensive edible bouquet, try baking your loved one’s favorite cookies or sewing a blanket of his or her favorite colors. Homemade cards, songs, bookmarks, candles, chairs, and meals are just a few of the endless options for you to try. You do not have to be a star baker or renowned artist for these gifts to be a guaranteed hit.
4. Try Something New
Explore your love in new situations! For the adventurous kind, use this Valentine’s Day to create an out-of-the-ordinary date without compromising your budget. Here are a few ideas that will be meaningful as well as affordable:
- Scavenger Hunt
- Wine and Paint
- YouTube Dance Lessons
- Go on a Picnic
- Explore a New Part of Your City
- Have a Karaoke Night with YouTube Lyric Videos
- Attend a Virtual Concert
- Go Thrift Shopping
- Create Care Packages for the Unhoused
- Go for a Hike or Bike
