In the past, hubby and I would go out for dinner and some years, buy presents for Valentine's Day. :love: :love: :love:

This year, for all occasions, we have said that the gifts and extravagances (sp?) aren't what is important, but being responsible and enjoying the little things are the priority.

We didn't exchange cards or gifts but instead remembered the previous year when we our son was just 3 days old and in the hospital for an infection. Although it was a stressful time for new parents, we never had a better V. Day because we had him.

Anyhow.......I made a nice yummy dinner. Pork ternderlion, spinach salad with warm dressing, bruchetta, basmatti rice and mixed veg. We had a couple of glasses of wine (home-brewed) and a lindor chocolate I had tucked away. All totalled our meal was about $12.

The only downside was that this "restaurant" expected us to do the dishes!!!!!

Far cry from the $60 and up we have spent in the past! I think we probably enjoyed it even more knowing we were being responsible.

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My husband took me and the 3 kids out to a nice restaurant and spent over a $100. Plus he gave me flowers, a card and candy. I appreciate everything I 've gotten but in the back of my mind, I'm thinking "wow! that's a lot of money!" That's grocery for a week, that'll pay for my daughter's driving school, etc.. I told him next time we won't do this but that I did appreciate it very much.

That's great cristine! I'm on travel this week so I'm making dh wait until Saturday to buy my things on clearance He thought it was funny, but understands.

Your Valentine's Day sounds great Adda15! We did something similar, ate a delicious dinner at home, relaxed with a movie and just enjoyed being together. The best part was waking up today and not feeing stressed about the expense of gifts and dinner out

Sounds like a wonderful day!

we went to church for dinner!! Dh got me a gift (I told him I hadnothing sice we really dont have money!! he yells at me for spending money but its ok for him too!! I actually had the worst day ever!!
I had gotten the girls some jammies (that they needed anyway!! LOL on clearance!)

That's wonderful!! Doesn't it feel better then spending all that money?! And it was WAY better too, I'll bet! Good for you. It really is the people we spend the time with, not going out. Sure that is fine to sometimes, but your romantic evening sounded great.

That sounds so nice plus you both can be really proud of yourselves!

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~ Jessica

It's great to be able to scale back so to speak. I bought my husband two cds that was on sale and didn't even cost twenty dollars. I told him to get me nothing because we don't have to spend like crazy to show our love. On V-Day he spread I Love You notes thru out the house and even wrote I love on the front door. How sweet. I had two little V-day kids cards that I wrote in and placed it on the fridge and in his wallet. Anyways he offered to take me out to eat but I was so tired and getting the flu I told him we could go for Pizza this Friday which we did. At Wal-mart I found this bath and lotion V-day gift set that was on clearence for a little over four dollars so I told him that was my present. I'm a sucker for pampering products when I can get the time to use them and my kids don't try to use it for their bubbles. LOL One time I bought me some bubbles from Avon and didn't get to use any of it when my oldest ds used every bit of it for his bubbles.

Sounds like a wonderful day.
Dh had to go to a meeting on Valentine's night, so I made a special dinner the night before.
I didn't want to buy a dozen roses (do men even like getting roses?) so I made a dozen heart-shaped cards and on each one I wrote something I loved about dh. I tied them up with a ribbon and served them with his morning coffee.

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~Jeweled