Have a lot of money and want to spend it on expensive gifts for a over commercialized, “Hallmark” holiday? Great, then you’re in the right spot! Here are some of my favorite ideas for overspending this Valentine’s Day.
Flowers-Order your wife 2 dozen long-stem red roses. Have them hand delivered by your local florist. Make sure to specify you want a crystal vase and a couple of fancy helium balloons. This whole setup will easily set you back at least $125, maybe more if you’re lucky.
- Cheapo Version-Buy the roses at the grocery store and fancy them up at home. If you’re really stuck on the idea of having them delivered to her office, have a friend drop them off. Nobody will know that your friend doesn’t work for the florist. Better yet, take the day off and work for the florist delivering flowers. Not only will you probably get a free bouquet, you’ll also leave with a pocketful of cash. Money you can use to help her pay down her student loan debt, score!
Fondue-Want to go to the Melting Pot and drop half a day’s paycheck on a super sweet date with your sweetheart? Make sure to add a bottle of wine to the tab and a couple of glasses of bubbly at the end of the meal. It’s Valentine’s Day after all. Nothing says love like overspending on a “fancy” meal.
- Oh heck no!-I have much better uses for $150. Buy the chocolate and cheese and make the meal yourself. There are a ton of recipes available online, this is one of my personal favorites. Even if you don’t already own a fondue pot, buying one will still be cheaper than going out. And if you prefer to shop online, Rather-Be-Shopping.com always has a ton of great coupon codes to help you save money.
Jewelry- this ring is lovely, no? It’s only $700, why not buy two? And if you do, just shoot me an e-mail and I’ll send along my mailing address;-)
- Budget Friendly & Fair Trade Option (love that!). One of my favorite places to buy unique and beautiful jewelry is Ten Thousand Villages. When I lived in Boston I visited their Cambridge retail store frequently. These spondylus shell earrings are gorgeous and only $59. Plus the best part, the money goes directly back to the women artisans who make them in Peru.
Need a little extra cash for a late Valentine’s Day gift? How about surprising your significant other with paying off $500 in student debt? That would certainly make my heart swoon. All joking aside, enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a $500 cash prize. The prize will be given away to one lucky winner via PayPal deposit.
Tell me how you’d spend the $500 in the comments. Would you use it “responsibly” or blow it on something fancy for your significant other?
Valentine’s Image: Malia Karlinsky
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Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank
February 7, 2013 at 7:01 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Roses are so over priced at this time of year. I guess it comes down the supply and demand…
I would use $500 to by food and drinks for the big party I am having next weekend.
KK
February 7, 2013 at 9:07 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m not that into roses to begin with, but I certainly wouldn’t buy them this time of year. A big party sounds like a really fun way to spend the money. Maybe get one of those huge sub sandwiches. I had one for my 10th birthday, everybody thought it was super cool.
Greg@ClubThrifty
February 7, 2013 at 7:10 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Fun article! I especially liked the “why not buy two” comment
Glad to be co-hosting with you!
KK
February 7, 2013 at 9:05 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks Greg:-) It’s a great giveaway, I could certainly find a few ways to spend $500
DC @ Young Adult Money
February 7, 2013 at 7:19 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The Melting pot is so ridiculous pricewise…I actually haven’t gone but my wife and I both have wanted to go. It’s just hard to stomach the price tag. We’ll stick with the cheap alternative.
KK
February 7, 2013 at 9:04 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It totally is, we only go there when I can get a deal online. Recently we’ve gotten a couple of deals that are $50 for salad, cheese fondue, two glasses of wine and entrees (for 2), you still have to buy the chocolate so it’s about $75 for the two of us. I can handle that, but $150 for 2 not including wine for a chain restaurant, no thanks.
C The Writer
February 7, 2013 at 9:30 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Oh wow. I really hate Valentine’s Day!
I save money by being single.
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I don’t hate Valentine’s day, but I do agree that saving on Valentine’s day is super.
debtperception
February 7, 2013 at 9:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’m glad my husband was never one to buy flowers or anything useless (chocolate is a different story) for Valentine’s Day. We were supposed to be married on V-day but things didn’t work out until 5 days later…that’s romantic enough for me! These days, I just cherish being able to spend V-day with him. This year he is out to sea.
I would blow the $500 on Sallie Mae…she’s so high maintenance!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:31 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Chocolate isn’t useless, in fact it’s almost necessary in my world. Aww, hope he comes home safe soon!
Sallie is soo high maintenance, ugg
D5
February 7, 2013 at 10:00 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Holidays (even fake ones) are tough. My fiance and I have been together for years, but we still tend to get overexcited and spend too much money. Then again, we’re more likely to spend that money on a bottle of something nice and a DVD as opposed to a night out on the town, so it’s all relative!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:32 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
“fake ones” love that lol. Nothing wrong with treating yourself a little bit. These days I actually like staying in more than going out. I guess that means I’m getting old and lame.
Mackenzie
February 7, 2013 at 11:36 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Not a fan of the Melting Pot. So expensive and totally not worth it!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:33 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We’ve had a few good meals there, but we much prefer a local, less expensive, non-chain. We also really enjoy making fondue at home.
Jacob @ iHeartBudgets
February 7, 2013 at 11:37 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
My wife and I will be having an inexpensive date. Quality time and thoughtful gifts over fancy pants stuff anyday!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:34 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Absolutely! well said
John S @ Frugal Rules
February 7, 2013 at 12:47 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love the post! We’ll be going with the low key approach ourselves and very simple. I generally don’t get roses for V day as they’re so expensive and my wife would have my head if I spent that much. I usually get a nice colorful bouquet that is much more reasonably priced.
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:35 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks John. I’d much rather have a pretty an inexpensive bouquet then expensive and cliche roses.
Kyle | Rather-Be-Shopping.com
February 7, 2013 at 2:15 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I was going to have 2 dozen roses hand delivered in an actual fondue pot. What? Bad idea.
Love this post. Thanks for participating!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:36 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thanks Kyle and thanks for bringing me into the giveaway. Excited to see who wins and what they spend the money on.
Tackling Our Debt
February 7, 2013 at 8:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We haven’t done a fondue in a while but we absolutely love them. We do all kinds, meat, veggies, cheese, and fruit in chocolate. Delicious!!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:42 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Some of my favorites are marshmellows and graham crackers in chocolate and broccoli and cauliflower in cheese. Hungry just thinking about it.
Jon
February 7, 2013 at 8:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
One thing to watch out for anyone who wants to do something special for the first Valentines day as a married couple – whatever you do becomes the standard against all future valentine days are measured. 3 years now and I am still trying to rein in the Valentines day expectations (aka costs!).
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:43 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Lol, good advice Jon. Once you go “all out” it’s hard to cut back in future years.
Grayson @ Debt Roundup
February 7, 2013 at 8:59 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I never get roses at a florist, way too expensive. I have only been to the melting pot once and I would never go back. That place is a rip off.
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:41 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
It’s pretty darn expensive for a chain restaurant. I’d rather save the money and eat a nicer quality meal at home. BF likes fondue, but would rather have a steak anyway. If we do go it’s usually just for the chocolate.
Brick By Brick Investing | Marvin
February 7, 2013 at 10:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We have our own fondue set and have used it for the last 3 years. We use to go to this restaurant called the melting pot for fondue and now every time we have fondue we laugh over how much money we were wasting!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:39 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You can definitely buy much higher quality ingredients and make fondue at home for a fraction of the price of the expensive chains. We love making fondue at home.
Janine @ My Pennies, My Thoughts
February 8, 2013 at 12:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love Valentine’s Day, but it can get expensive. I usually stick to homemade gifts!
KK
February 8, 2013 at 10:38 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Homemade gifts are awesome. My sister made me a few homemade ornaments this Christmas and they were one of my favorite gifts. So thoughtful and practical and special.
Monique
February 9, 2013 at 6:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Being single means that I don’t have to spend a time on Valentine’s day!
I’m hoping to move out of my parent’s house this year, and in with my friend Jen… so I’d probably set aside $200 to save for that… and would put the other $300 towards my student loan debt.
Samantha@CreditCardShoppe
February 10, 2013 at 9:57 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Valentine’s Day is basically a time when the retailers can make a huge profit on us suckers. Even the commercials aim to make the guy feel guilty if he doesn’t spend a ton of cash on his girl. Though I protest and tell him not to, my husband always buys me gorgeous flowers and a huge box of chocolates–yep, it’s a huge waste of money. But secretly I must admit……that I kind of enjoy the indulgence! shhhhh!
Survivor’s Standouts: Group Projects Stink Edition » Student Debt Survivor
February 10, 2013 at 8:34 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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