Impressions on a Budget

The CEO of Regal Magazine (the preeminent online magazine for African American men), Todd A. Smith talked about dining on a dime.  He got me to thinking about how so many men really dread the idea of Valentine's Day because of the expectations of elaborate dinners and expensive gifts. 

With flowers and jewelry being the top gifts given for Valentine's Day, there is no wonder that the price of a dozen roses goes from $20 to $30 in January to $50 as high as $125 in February and jewelry stores discount prices and encourage men to get their store credit card and finance the gift until the next Valentine's Day.  The common assumption that men are simple when it comes to Valentine's Day may hold water because the top gifts for men are picture gifts (also known as boudoir photos) and electronics.

Great Valentine's Day Gift

So how is any of this "impressing on a budget"?  Well let me tell you.  One year for Valentine's Day, my husband purchased a bouquet of stargazers, gave me a card telling me how everything I do everyday is why he loved me, and ran me a bath with lavenders and candles set up all around the bathtub.  I had had a long work day and the bath that he ran was the best Valentine's Day gift I had ever received.  The card and the flowers were the bonus.  Not everything has to have an expensive price tag on it to impress.

So, first instead of buying those $50 roses, why not buy her a seasonal flower bouquet that is beautiful and inexpensive or her favorite flowers.  Flowers that found to be perfect gift flowers are Asiatic lilies (stargazers) and daffodils.  Another understated flower is the forget me not.  If you pair them with violets, they make for a beautiful (inexpensive) arrangement and because the forget me nots come in white, blue and pink and the violets come in purple, pink, and white; you can pair them well with each other.   

You have the flowers, so it's time to buy the jewelry... an awesome place to get a necklace, ring, or earrings that's just off the beaten path, would be a pawn shop.  Pawn shops offer a variety of jewelry and watches for as much as 50% less than you would spend in a conventional jewelry store.  So you have the flowers delivered to her at home or work so that the anticipation is building up for the evening.  When you pick her up for you date, instead of taking her to the many chain restaurants (yes we saw the dinner special on the commercials and there is one on every other corner) take the time out to explore some great local owned business in your area.  Many of these "home grown" restaurants are very tasty and a fraction of the cost of the chain restaurants.  Houston and its surrounding areas offer many local eats. 

Another romantic option to going out and dealing with crowds of people all trying to celebrate Valentine's Day is to cook a nice romantic dinner for two at home.  For those who do not possess culinary skills, its ok, you can buy the food and put it on serving trays way before she arrives home.  In this circumstance its all about the presentation.  So you light some candles, pour some wine, and remember to pull out the chair for when she sits down.  Most local dollar stores sell candles in an array of shapes and sizes.  And when you give her that necklace or engagement ring, it will be the BONUS to the best Valentine's Day ever.

--Brides Made Consulting is where dreams live and brides are made.