Five Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day on a Budget

According to the National Retail Federation, U.S. consumers will spend an average $143.56 on Valentine's Day this year. The top gift ideas included jewelry, flowers, clothing, gift cards, candy and greeting cards. If you're hoping to stay under $100 on Valentine's Day and give your budget some love, we have five great ideas for a romantic, but also frugal, Valentine's Day.

Get Card Crafty

What do you think will mean more - A $6 greeting card or something you've taken the time to make yourself? Focus on your skills when creating a special Valentine's card.

• If you’re artsy, draw a beautiful picture that your sweetheart will adore
• If you’re crafty, put together a fancy card using beads, lace and other fun items you can find at a hobby shop
• If you’re a writer, pen a beautiful poem or letter, expressing your love
• If you’re good with computers, design and print a card at home or send it in an email

Save on Flowers 

If your sweetheart is hoping for a beautiful bouquet of flowers, we have some ideas on saving a little $$ on those stems:

• Buy from a warehouse or grocery store - many in-store florist shops have beautiful options that are just as great as a fancier store front.
• Deliver the bouquet in person - Trust us, this is sometimes even MORE romantic and it saves you on that costly Valentine's Day  delivery fee.
• Go non-traditional - Roses are always marked up on Valentine's Day. Surprise your loved one with a beautiful bouquet showcasing their favorite colors and favorite flowers aside from roses.

Be the Jewel of their Eye

We all know jewelry goes hand in hand with Valentine's Day, but the price tag can be shocking! A few unique ways to buy jewelry can save some mega $$ you can spend on spoiling your special someone in other ways.

• Vintage Jewelry - Antique stores, second hand shops and even local jewelers will oftentimes have unique and beautiful pieces in their shops. Take a gander and see if you can spot something shiny and impressive for your Valentine.
• Make Your Own - It isn't as hard as it seems! Many craft shops carry jewelry making accessories with associates more than willing to help guide you. A handmade bracelet can sometimes mean more than the most beautiful pair of diamond earrings.

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate

You can't talk about Valentine's Day without talking about chocolate. Luckily, this is an easy place to be smart with your cash. If you haven't noticed a theme, we are big supporters of "homemade" for this holiday. Chocolate dipped strawberries, fudge and even heart shaped cookies are great options to treat your sweet, without breaking your budget.

Stay In for the Night

Dining out can be expensive and on Valentine's Day, really crowded! Plan on a special meal that you cook yourself or even with your significant other. Oftentimes you can buy two steaks and your favorite sides for less than one meal dining out! We love these Valentine's Day recipes as inspiration. To complete the evening, opening a bottle of wine while picking out a movie together or playing a board game is a great "Night in" option.

With these five tips, you can master Valentine's Day without feeling heartache over the expense. From chocolates, to homemade cards and a lovely night in, your Valentine's Day will be a huge success!