14 creative ideas for Feb. 14

Valentine’s Day is when the whole world celebrates Love Day. It isn’t just for lovers— it’s for all the loves in our life—our grandparents, parents, daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, good friends, neighbors and relatives who have made our lives more special, more meaningful, and more worthwhile.

While it is a great idea to have a special day to celebrate love, many people regretfully complain that showing love to people have become quite expensive. In 2007, the National Retail Federation estimated that people in the county spent $16.9 billion on gifts for Feb 14 alone.

This coming Valentine’s, you need not go broke to prove your love to someone. There are so many thoughtful and memorable ideas that can be utilized to reduce Valentine’s Day spending. Try some of these creative- and recession-proof—ways to show the people you love that they hold a special place in your heart —without spending lots of cash.

While we’re in this recession, you can decide with your honey that you’re not going to buy presents for each other. Instead, you can agree to make the day special by doing something special together.

Prepare a special meal at home. Take out the China, lace tablecloth, centerpiece and crystal. All of the beautiful things you have packed away or on display in the China cabinet. If it’s just you and your partner, this can be a romantic meal. If you have children, get them involved. If they are old enough, they can help set the table and prepare the meal.

You can actually prepare the meal hours or days in advance, which you just store in the freezer. Or, you can buy inexpensive but delicious "take out" and serve in your special China. That way, you’re not stressed on Valentine’s Day. Dress up as if you’re going to a formal dinner, complete with make-up, jewelry and perfume. Light the candles, and put on some soft music. After the special dinner, you can dance the night away or enjoy wine and cake while telling each other the hundred and one ways why you love each other.

If you don’t feel like dressing up, you can go casual and have a stay-at-home movie date. Grab some popcorn and other goodies, curl up on the sofa and watch a couple of good romantic movies. A good idea is to see all the Oscar-nominated flicks of the year that you still haven’t seen.

This one you can enjoy with your sweetheart or if you’re unattached, indulge yourself! Get everything you need, before getting into the tub to enjoy this treat. Add your favorite bubble bath, bath salt or fragrance/essential oil to the water as the tub fills. Soak as long as you want. No need to rush! Set a calm and relaxing mood with soft music, candles or dimmed light.

There’s nothing as romantic as having a romantic picnic under the starry, starry skies. Choose a park, a beach, or any place with a breathtaking view. Bring a soft mat or beach towel, your favorite drink and food (think pizza, sandwiches or chips). Play your favorite love songs. And just enjoy the sweetness of being together.

You can prepare this one for your spouse or for your children to enjoy. Write up little notes about what they mean to you and place them around the house along with a candy heart or other treat. Add a riddle at the end of each note about where to find the next note. At the last note, have something special waiting there. For example, you can be waiting for your hubby in a candle-lit bubble bath with two glasses of wine. For your children, they can find a teddy bear or other toy or treat.

This is a great game to enjoy. Make sure you wear old clothes and plan this game where cleanup will be easy (no carpets, please!) Make a batch of chocolate pudding. The one who strikes the other with the most chocolate pudding wins! Guaranteed for loads of fun and giggles. For husbands and wives, a shower-for two after the game is recommended!

7. A video slideshow

Here’s a gift that is guaranteed to please! Make a Power point slideshow for the people you love. Select pictures of you and your spouse, partner, family or friends. If you do not have enough personal pictures; find meaningful graphics online or your own personal graphics library. Add music and special captions if you desire. For example—The many reasons why I love you. Your presentation can be emailed or shown during Valentine’s Day.

Create a play list of your favorite love songs and burn them on a CD which will be your very own unique gift to your sweetheart. This is a fun and an easy way to think of each other, even when you’re not together.

Each of you can create individual notes, say 4 or 6 each, to describe a special surprise—a back rub, foot spa, a bubble bath, a special meal—fold up the notes and toss them into a jar. You can take turns having fun plucking a coupon from the jar and doing what it says.

You can make love cards—which your honey can use, till supplies last. Examples of the free love cards – Get out of an argument free, forgetfulness free card, I’m sorry card, free day with the guys/gals, free wash and wax, free ‘I don’t want to go to ________, free to do what I want to do day etc.

Another fun activity you can do on love day is to have a photo shoot with your loved one/ones. Bring out different clothes; casual, formal, beach wear, whatever they like. Have a Photo Shoot with hundreds of pictures to fill up a love album. Find out which angles make you all look absolutely fabulous. You can then make a slideshow from the album.

Give something so valuable and priceless –the gift of your time. For example, take the day off and just spend it with your parents, kids, best friend—to do whatever they like.

How about showing your love thru service? Give your dad or mom a full day of cleaning their house or tell your wife you’ll do all the household chores for the month of February. You can baby sit for your best friend one evening, so she can enjoy a rare movie date with her hubby. There are so many things you can do to spread love around—and not just on Feb.14.

One woman told me her best Valentine’s Day was when her boyfriend gave her a dozen roses but instead of giving the entire bouquet to her at once, he gave them to her one class at a time. Her romantic boyfriend arranged for a friend of hers in each of her classes to give her a rose during that class. For one class, he even asked a teacher to present it to her!

This idea cold be modified for those couples who work or take college courses and know each others’ schedules and locations during the day.