You don’t have to be rich to show your love, celebrate Valentine’s on a budget

Valentine???s Day is just around the corner and South Africans are gearing up to show their love for that special person in their lives. However love isn???t free and the Valentine???s costs add up with the usual gifts and romantic dinners. Not only can you cut down on the costs this Valentine???s, but thoughtful alternatives can also be more romantic than store bought gifts.

???Valentine???s Day tends to be an expensive day for most people,??? says Eunice Sibiya, Head of Consumer Education at FNB. ???It can easily cost close to R800* when you factor in all the different elements such as cards, chocolates, a dinner out and flowers.???

Herewith some tips to make this year???s Valentine???s special, without putting a dent in your pocket.

Sweet and cheap alternatives to chocolate
???There are plenty of heart shaped chocolates wrapped in red foil or boxes of chocolate on display at stores before Valentine???s, not only are they a clich??, but they are often fairly pricey. There are lots of ways to get your loved one a sweet present without spending a fortune,??? says Sibiya.

A cheap and colourful way to give a gift is to wash out a glass jar and fill it with his or her favourite sweets such as jelly beans or jelly tots and tie it up with a ribbon.????

Forgo the store bought flowers
The cost of flowers at Valentine???s shoots up because of high demand around this period.??

???Rather than buying flowers why don???t you pick some from your garden or even buy a plant, a small pot plant is not very expensive and can last far longer than cut flowers. If you don???t have a garden full of flowers, you could get creative and make them from paper or other materials you can find around the house,??? says Sibiya.

Can the cards
Consider making your own card, if you have kids get them to help. Try to think out of the box, there are lots of different ways of sending a message without the usual card, and some of them may just be more personal than the usual cheesy greeting card.

???Why don???t you make your own card,??? suggest Sibiya. ???A thoughtful, handwritten note is always a lovely romantic gesture.???Other alternatives are sending an e-card, there are thousands to choose from on the web they are completely free.

Shun the restaurants
Restaurants are usually packed on Valentine???s night and specialised Valentine dinner menus more expensive then the norm. Skip the crowds and have your own special dinner, just the two of you. ???There are lots of alternatives to the jam-packed pricey restaurants,??? says Sibiya. ???Just a home cooked meal with your loved one???s favourite foods should do the trick. If you aren???t confident in your cooking skills why don???t you set up a picnic on your balcony or in your back garden and surprise them when they get home.???

For those far away
Instead of getting something couriered if that special someone isn???t around this Valentine???s, why don???t send them a gift of airtime, or a voice note. ???You don???t even have to spend money to buy airtime, you can use your rewards to buy airtime for your Valentine, with the proviso that they only spend it on speaking to you,??? concludes Sibiya.

There are plenty of options for those wanting to send a special something this Valentine???s Day, that doesn???t have to break the bank, and may get their heart racing.??