If you’ve got a special someone to romance this Valentine’s Day, you may feel locked into checking off the following boxes:
- Red roses
- Heart-shaped box of chocolates
- Candle-lit dinner at a fancy restaurant
- Movie
And maybe your special someone loves the traditional route. But if they don’t, or if you’ve celebrated a few Valentine’s Days with them and want to mix it up, here are some outside-the-box ideas—some of which might save you a few bucks.
INSTEAD OF FLOWERS…
…how about a doll or a toy? This is a great chance to show a loved one that you pay attention to their likes. Do they love cats? Get them a handmade knitted cat doll from a site like Etsy. Do they love a certain superhero? Get them a plush version of that character, or a collectible statuette.
INSTEAD OF CANDY…
…how about a bouquet of fresh fruit? If your loved one is worried about calories, fresh fruit is a nice healthy alternative that is still sweet to eat. If you’re handy, you could cut the fruit into hearts or flower shapes. And if you want your fresh fruit to count as candy, dip the fruit in melted chocolate—technically candy, but the fruit itself still has good nutritional value.
INSTEAD OF DINNER…
…well, not instead of dinner. Human beings kinda have to eat dinner. But you’re not locked into a candle-lit dinner at a fancy restaurant. Cooking a homemade meal isn’t just less expensive, it’s much more thoughtful. The time and energy spent preparing the food is a romantic gesture that lasts long after the meal is over.
INSTEAD OF A MOVIE…
…how about a fun game? Movies are sedentary and passive. There’s very little conversation taking place. If you go bowling, the competition can energize the night; place an amorous bet based on who bowls the higher score to take things up a notch. Or do a team activity like an escape room, where you’re working on communicating better as a couple while having fun. The one game we don’t recommend is the new trend of axe throwing—because if you happen to get into an argument, you’re both holding deadly weapons. It’d be better to go to an arcade, where all the deadly weapons are fake, and you can earn tickets to win a cute prize that will be a lasting reminder of the night.
