Any frugal couples out there? You do not have to spend lots of money on Valentine’s Day. Here are cheap Valentine’s Day ideas that are fun and frugal.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
Can’t buy me love? Maybe not, but the influence of Valentine’s Day can get people spending more than they should or can afford. There are many cheap Valentine’s Day ideas to show your love how much you care that are either free or inexpensive.
Take a look at your budget (so romantic, I know!!) and figure out what is realistic for you to spend.
The answer might be nothing this year and that’s fine too.
If Valentine’s Day is something you want to celebrate (I totally do!!), you don’t need to spend a lot of money.
Also make sure you check out the ideas in this post: Cheap or Free Valentine’s Gifts for the Love of Your Life.
Related reading:
- 10 Valentine Gift Ideas for Him Under $25
- Dates on a Budget – Best Cheap Date Ideas You’ll Actually Want to Try
Free or Cheap Valentine’s Day Ideas

Because frugal people deserve love too.
1. Cook a fancy meal together
It is always less expensive to cook a meal at home than ordering the same meal at a restaurant.
Try cooking a copycat version of your favorite restaurant meal.
Also check out the ideas in this article: Cheap Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him That Will Remind Him You’re the Woman of His Dreams.
2. Make a gift certificate to give your partner a massage
Most people would totally appreciate a massage from their love. Bonus points for massage oil, candles, and music.
3. Make your partner homemade chocolates
It took a bit of time to put this Valentine’s gift together, but that’s the point!
You can buy these foil wrappers and a chocolate box.
It’s something you don’t do every day and makes your person feel special.
For an easy no-bake Valentine’s treat that he’ll love, make these Valentine’s Day pretzels!
4. Prepare your love’s favorite breakfast
This is a great cheap Valentine’s Day date idea especially for homebodies.
Buy a few oranges and make your partner freshly squeezed juice to go with the breakfast.
This brie and spinach quiche would make a great savory breakfast dish and these mini peach scones with vanilla glaze are perfect if your partner has a sweet tooth.
5. Surprise your partner by drawing them a bath
Use bubbles if they like that, and pour them a glass of wine.
Have their towel and robe ready and waiting for them when they get out.
For bonus points: warm up the robe and towel in the dryer for a couple minutes right before they get out of the bath. Bliss!
6. Netflix and a cozy night in
This is the simplest idea in the bunch, but there’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple and cuddling on the couch or in bed and watching a good show.
Especially when you live in a place with super cold Februaries like we do!
7. Dried rose petals
This is a fun Valentine’s Day idea and you would definitely get the best partner award with this gift of dried rose petals!
You can sprinkle the petals into a hot bath or decorate a bed with the rose petals.
8. Romantic & Cheap Valentine’s Day Idea: An indoor picnic
If you have a fireplace, have a romantic dinner on a blanket in front of the fire together.
9. A classic mixtape
Put together songs your partner loves or ones that mean something to you as a couple.
Make a Spotify playlist of all the songs, and name it something nostalgic that only your partner will get.
10. Make a nostalgic meal for your partner
Find out an old family recipe from their parents or something they really loved growing up, and recreate that.
11. Try something adventurous together
Go rock climbing. There are lots of indoor climbing gyms around – find one and do something different together.
12. Go see live music together
See a local band or go to a jazz club or even a symphony.
For frugal folks, some cities offer less expensive nights at the symphony. You can even find symphony tickets that cost only $20 each.
These cheapster symphony events only happen once a year where we live so you’ll have to do some searching.
13. Go out for dessert only instead of dinner and dessert
If you love going out to restaurants, you can still have a special night out and you will save a lot of money by having dinner at home first.
14. Take over chores for your partner
Whatever the usual tasks they do around the house, take a weekend and do all their chores for them.
Related reading:
- Save Money on Prom: How To Do Prom On A Budget
- Frugal Christmas Ideas
- Eco-Friendly Products For The Home
- Easy Homemade Gifts For Dad
15. Have a no-tech day together
No phones, T.V., computers, enjoy each other’s company uninterrupted and without distractions.
16. Write your partner a love note
The old-fashioned kind with paper and a pen.
17. Make a Valentine’s Day card
Making cards is not just for little kids.
Make your partner a card instead of buying one.
It’s less expensive (cards are so expensive now guys!) and also really sweet.
18. Buy a single rose instead of a dozen roses
A single red rose is just as romantic as a bouquet of roses and is much more affordable.
19. Buy your partner a potted plant
This is something my dad gets my mom on Valentine’s Day.
Oh and they have been married for a really long time lol so something is working.
A beautiful potted plant will last for much longer than cut flowers so it’s a more frugal use of your money. These potted plants are super cute.
20. Go for a walk or hike together just the two of you
Hold hands.
If you have young kids it might be some time since you have held just your partner’s hand without another little person between you!
21. Buy flowers from a supermarket instead of a florist
They still have beautiful flowers and are much less expensive.
22. Pick up some whipped cream at the store
‘Nuff said.
23. Borrow Valentine’s themed movies from the library
For a totally free Valentine’s Day idea, stay home and watch love-themed movies from the library.
24. Frame a picture of the two of you
So many photos stay digital. Print out and frame a great photo of the two of you to display instead of all the pics getting lost in digital oblivion.
25. A bottle of wine with a nice bottle opener
For Valentine’s Day, get this wine bottle opener, for the love of God not this one.
26. Underwear doesn’t cost a lot
A tiny gift with a big impact.
27. A frugal version of a fragrance
Perfume/cologne is a traditional Valentine’s Day gift.
If this is something your partner would be into, save money by giving them a rollerball fragrance instead of the full size bottle.
28. A necklace with a secret
This morse code necklace is a unique Valentine’s Day gift.
Get one with the word love, your names, or a secret message that will just be shared between the two of you.
Need some more ideas? See more Valentine’s Day sales here.
⇓ Pin this post on cheap Valentine’s Day ideas to save it ⇓

Roamy
Thursday 3rd of February 2022
Brilliant list, this makes someone less creative like myself find a gift that will make my hubby go wow. Anyway, I really wish me and hubby could cook a romantic meal together but I have "2 left hands in the kitchen"So I guess I`ll have to settle for some nice fragrance. Thanks so much for sharing, this is a real eye-opener as to all I can give.
TheCuriousFrugal
Saturday 5th of February 2022
Roamy your comment made me laugh :) (2 left hands in the kitchen) Thanks so much for stopping by! Glad you got some ideas to have an inexpensive Valentine's Day.
Christine
Sunday 10th of February 2019
I am right there with you, you should not have to spend a lot of money to show your love and trust to someone special. Great post!
TheCuriousFrugal
Sunday 10th of February 2019
Thanks Christine! Hope you had a great weekend! :)
Thrifty Thursday Link Party: Valentine's Ideas For All
Thursday 7th of February 2019
[…] Cheap Valentine’s Day Ideas: Fun and Frugal […]
angie
Saturday 2nd of February 2019
your ideas all sound wonderful most importantly they are all great ideas to spend time together come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
TheCuriousFrugal
Saturday 2nd of February 2019
Yes <3 I love some of the really simple ones, they can be easy to forget to do.
Sheri
Tuesday 29th of January 2019
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing at To Grandma's House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and more Link Party. I pinned this! Hope to have you join us again next week.
TheCuriousFrugal
Tuesday 29th of January 2019
Thanks for sharing the post Sheri! <3