Wow. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Kinda sneaks up on you. Right, guys? You have exactly one day to avoid succumbing to the capitalists.
I received an e-mail today with the post's title as the subject line. It's a thoughtful question.
My wife and I have it pretty easy as far as Valentine's Day expenses go. We were married on Groundhog Day. (Eleven years and counting. If you do a little math you'll see why I'll likely never forget the date!) So we usually try to do something (one thing) special sometime in between those two days. As with anything, there is such a thing as too many nice dinners out too close to one another.
We don't drop a huge amount on Valentine's Day. What if you do?
You might be thinking that I'll tell you that you shouldn't be doing that. I mean, that's what you'd expect from a personal finance blog with bargain in the title, right?
I'd be taking a big risk if I said that. Why? Because I don't know the context of your Valentine's Day plans. The context is very important.
For example:
- What I think is a huge amount is pocket change to you. I don't think I've ever dropped more than $150 on a dinner. Ever. You may have those once a week because you're a CEO or a real estate mogul.
- You might have met on Valentine's Day. I met my wife in November. If you met your mate on Valentine's Day, it's already a special day.
- Your spouse may have been fighting a war for a year. And your spouse is back, and has a lot of combat pay, and (reasonably) wants something better than an MRE for you two on Valentine's Day.
- It's a Groupon deal and you're actually paying only $4.79 for that gourmet dinner.
- Or any reason you choose, really.
- Or even no reason at all!
Regardless of whether you have a good reason or not to spend a lot on Valentine's Day, it's your money. What I think of your Valentine's Day dinner plans shouldn't matter to you. I'm sure it doesn't. “Oh man … John from Mighty Bargain Hunter thinks we're spending too much on Valentine's Day. We'd better stay home and have leftovers instead.” Yeah, right.
It's your money. Freedom to choose how you dispose of your income, and freedom to feel the consequences, is a good thing!
So … are you spending a fortune on Valentine's Day? 🙂
We’re not spending a fortune, probably around $200 or so that includes dinner, gifts and something small for four of our kids (I don’t think I ever mentioned this but my wife and I have 8 kids, 4 apiece, none together and yes, Christmas and Birthdays are financial maelstroms)
is it romantic to stand in line to wait for a seat in a restaurant?
For the last 15 years, we celebrate Valentine’s Day at home. We exchange token gifts. I buy her favorite (4-6 pieces) candy and she usually gives me my favorite cookies. I bring in dinner and buy flowers at the supermarket. I fire up the fireplace and light candles which makes for a romantic dinner. Total cost less than $40.
My wife wanted a big Christmas gift and agreed that she would not expect anything at Valentine’s Day and her birthday if she received it. So, it should be a little less costly for us this year.
@Jose: Wow, 8 kids! Eight times as many as my wife and I. 🙂
@Joanie T: LOL absolutely not! Well put.
@Krant: Very nice. What kind of cookies?
@MoneyBeagle: Better to state that up front than after the fact. Good that your wife is up for that kind of negotiation.
tee hee. stop trying to run my life, John!
Valentine Day is the biggest ripoff ever. My wife and I have been married for 34 years and we never go out on this day. At this point we do not even exchange Valentine cards. (Although I got one for her and she did not get me one. I must have been a bad boy this year!)