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Valentine's Day on a budget and in a recession: how romantic. But although for some 14 February may be just another Saturday, for others it is the chance to spoil their partner and with many of us counting the pennies these days no one will hold it against you if you resort to some cost-effective creativity in the name of love and frugality. Here are our top 10 tips to a cheap but cheerful Valentine's (it's the thought that counts anyway).
1. Eat out for less
There's a bit of a debate as to whether or not it is "acceptable" to use money-off vouchers when you're having a romantic dinner for two, but chances are you will both be glad to save a few quid in the current climate so who can complain? Lots of restaurants up and down the country such as Strada, Prezzo, Chez Gerard and Bella Italia are currently offering voucher deals, but unfortunately for recessioned romantics many of these will not be valid on Saturday.
Malaysian restaurant Jom Makan in central London is offering a Valentine's day menu where every dish costs £1 register online now to book a table. Also scour Lastminute.com's "eat out for a tenner" and "eat out under £15" sections to book a three course meal-deal for Saturday night at restaurants across the country. Or, instead of dinner go for lunch or brunch many places will offer cheaper deals earlier on in the day. The normally expensive Thai restaurant Blue Elephant in Fulham is doing a credit crunch lunch for £9.95, as is Indian restaurant La Porte des Indes in Marble Arch.
Low-key lovers should keep an eye on Pizza Express offers the current voucher expires on Friday but deals are constantly updated so there may be something new in time for the weekend.
If, however, you want more luxury and foie grass, head to the Georgian Restaurant in Harrods where you can get a three course Valentine's meal for £35 a person a bargain considering some of the main meals are otherwise more than £40 alone. Check out the restaurant offers page at Viewlondon.co.uk for more deals you can also view deals in other cities across the country so there should be something for everyone.
2. Stay in (for even less)
If the thought of eating out on Valentine's day with a restaurant full of couples makes your cringe, then stay in. And if you're a hopeless cook fear not the supermarkets appear to be pulling out all the stops for Valentine's. Waitrose is doing a three-course Valentine's dinner for two for £10, as well as a £5 brunch, and money off selected champagnes and sparkling wines. Tesco is offering a Tesco Finest meal for two (including main dish, side dish, dessert and a bottle of wine) for £9, or you can get a bottle of Codornνu Cava and Thorntons chocolates from Sainsbury's for £10 almost half their full retail price.
3. Cut the cost of chocolates
Go to MyVoucherCodes.co.uk to get 20% off all online Valentine's orders from Thorntons. For luxury chocolates for less, the Chocolate Trading Company is doing a gift-wrapped box of five-choco hearts for less than £3, while Hotel Chocolat has engraved hearts for £5. Order by Friday if you want them delivered on time. Forsake the obligatory heart shaped box, and the chocolates will probably be cheaper too Prestat, the Queen's chocolatier, is doing a pretty jewel box assortment for just £3.94 and big slabs of milk chocolate for £3.59 in exquisite bright paper wrapping that look better than a heart box anyway.
4. Don't overpay to say it with flowers
Flowers are expensive at least £25 for a basic mixed bouquet from Marks & Spencer and double that for red roses. But you can get 20% off a dozen red roses at Fleurop.com, 20% off at Teleflorist.co.uk and 5% off at InterRose.co.uk when you print off the relevant code at www.everydaysale.co.uk (click on the "Valentine's gift ideas" link).
Over at MyVoucherCodes.co.uk you can get 10% off roses from Bunches.co.uk, plus a free box of chocolates if you order online. Who said it has to be roses though? The Pocket Garden does "grow your own" gift plants, or you could get yourself down to your local garden centre to pick a pretty potted plant that will probably cost less and last longer than a big bouquet. And it's a bit more original too.
5. Find something free to do
If it's raining on Saturday that (free) romantic walk might be called off, but there are plenty of places you can go where you don't have to pay to get in. Be one of the first to see never-before-displayed Da Vinci illustrations at the Manchester Art Gallery the free exhibition opens on Saturday. Or for an afternoon waxing lyrical on love, head to the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh for an afternoon of love poem readings. All London museums and galleries, including the National Gallery, the Victoria and Albert museum and the Natural History Museum have free entry to their permanent collections.
6. Get creative with cards and gifts
Why spend a fiver on a mass-produced card covered in tacky hearts and silly puppies with lovesick eyes when you can make a more meaningful masterpiece yourself for less? Paperchase has glitter card pieces for £1 and multicoloured paper prints for £2 to get you started. Or if you want to keep it even more simple, follow our guide to making cards out of newspapers or magazines for a love note that is totally free. If making cards gets you going, why not make a gift too: bake a cake or make a scrapbook or see our guide for more inspiration.
7. Look for cheap treats
If you haven't got that much cash you don't have to buy a heap of Poundland tack, even if it is all just for £1. Shop around and you could get something a bit different from the usual Valentine's cliches for around a fiver in the sale. We found a kissing stamp letter sealer for £4.25 and cupid cookie cutters for £6.75 at Cox and Cox, a Le Creuset Stoneware Heart Ramekin with Lid for £7.50 at Amazon.co.uk, and bags of old-school candy like cherry lip chewies for £2 at Retrosweets.com.
8. Bag a budget break
It is probably too late to get a bargain flight to New York for Saturday, but if you stay in the UK you could still find a budget weekend break if you act quickly. For grandeur for less, book a room at a luxury bed and breakfast Wolsey Lodge property in a countryside location. The Garden House in Hampshire, set in the grounds of the Queen Anne rectory, is offering a three-night stay for the price of two nights over Valentine's weekend from £45 for a double room and breakfast. Or stay in the Horseshoe Cottage Farm in Leicestershire's Charnwood Forest from £47.50.
Go to lastminute.com where there are special Valentine's deals available save £40 off a riding weekend in the Brecon Beacons (£160 each person for two nights including accommodation, meals and riding centre costs) or check into a Sussex retreat from £79 a night.
9. Get free tickets for the flicks
You could always stay in with a cheesy DVD or brave the cold, take a blanket down to the National Theatre and snuggle up for a free open-air screening of Shakespeare in Love on Saturday night. If you register for a free trial with Lovefilm.com you could get two free cinema tickets.
10. Buy them something they want
If Valentine's Day does matter to you, then it doesn't have to be all hearts and roses instead of splurging money on chocolates and cards surprise your other half by buying them something you know they already want and will appreciate more if you get it as a gift (plus it proves you've been listening to them if you surprise them with something they mentioned off-hand). That way, at least the money won't be a waste.
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Was going to take OH but am taking Happys advice and think I will have a much better evening.
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