Help Ladies. I'm on a Tight Budget but Want to Make V-day Special for Him!!

H.,

The best v-day my hubby ever had was when I made him his favorite meal of all time. I secretly called his mom to get the recipe and had a candle-lit dinner waiting for him when he got home. I also bought him a single red rose and laid it on his chair. He was really over the moon that I was so considerate...It doesn't always take a lot of money...it is the care and thought that is put into the gift that counts. I hope this helps! =)

M.

Cook a nice dinner, rent a movie, and have a romantic night home! Put on a cute lil outfit with some sexy lingerie underneathe! What man could be dissapointed with that! As far as Valentine's day gifts, I don't really belive in them, it's all hyped up too much. I think the last time my husband and I exchanged material items is when we were maybe 17(I'm 23 now) with the exception of flowers my hubby sometimes picks up for me. We just do sweet little things for eachother, breakfast in bed, special snacks or meals, and just spend time together.

Since this is your first weekend alone i completly understand that you wanna make it special. I am a mother of two lil ones 20mos and 4mos and this is my husband and I first weekend alone since I had our son. I also wanted to plan something memorable but i decided to make it simple since we are also on a budget. If you dont wanna go out for dinner than dinner at home is just as great add some wine to make it more special....my favorite is Pinot Grigio. Im not a fan of rose petals every where but i love candles. To me they really set the mood or if you have lamps you can just throw some scars over them to dim the lights. These are some of my plans, plus we bought a movie for this wknd so we'll be watching that. I plan on giving him a nice oil down massage while wearing sexy lingerie and heels. Its very simple and every man loves it:P hope you have a great time!

I have a way to combine all of these suggestions. For starters make his favorite meal, or something that you had at the most memorable date, be it the first or what ever. At a craft store you could get a hole puncher that punches hearts to make it easier. You could even have the boys help you take turns punching the hearts and these tiny hearts form construction paper should be able to be vaccuumed up. Have the hearts lead him into the dining room. Be creative about what you wear. Have dinner lead into the bath. Does he have a fantasy that he has told you about? Have fun with it!

What about cooking for him and having a candlelight dinner. You could put on music and have dancing right in your house. Dinner could be as simple as salad and pasta, but the romance would definitely be there! You could also rent or VOD a favorite movie of his (men always like that)!This would be inexpensive, but would take effort which always shows people how much you care. Best of luck

Not sure if your looking for a weekend with the love of your life or the kids. If its the kids ----How"s about a day at the beach. Grab a frisbee, bat and ball, and go have some fun. Pack a lunch and have some summer fun. The weather is supposed to be decenat this weekend- i think. Belmar ( I assume about an hour and half form you has a boardwalk. There is a park with a pizza place ( Brothers pizza)across the street. Then you could go to Sprin Lake and go to Hoffmans Ice cream for a treat. While your that way , visit Point Pleasant and go to Jenkinsons Aquarium. ( reasonably priced to get in) i have 5 kids and this is what we do at least 2 during the winter to break up those winter blue days. The kids look foward to it year after year. Be sure to bring a change of clothes is one takes the chance to get wet!!!!!

make dinner. but don't just make dinner. buy an inexpensive but good bottle of wine, rent a movie, get a gormet receipe from foodnetwork.com (i like the barefoot contessa or just go to her website). if you're like me you eat alot of chicken, pizza, burgers (kid food). it would be nice to have a nice quiet adult dinner. don't forget dessert!!!!! chocolate covered strawberries are easy!!! pick out some nice music to play during dinner. sounds so cliche but so relaxing. think: attention to detail.

I was trying to do something special this year as well, so I thought about going back to my childhood days. I got a tissue box, wrapped it with construction paper and filled it with valentines cards. Some bought, some made. Then I used some blank paper and cut out foam hearts, starts, confetti, and hand made a valentines card. I don't know how much he will appreciate the couple hours work I put into everything, but I'm hoping to have him think of the point behind Valentines day like when we were kids. Just to love and have fun.

Hi H.
well something nice to do .. first let me start me saying its the thought that counts .. cook he a nice dinner light up some candles give hem one single white rose with a small ting note tide to them stem saying that that rose is a symbol of ur pure love to him ..
also include a bottle of white wine and maybe rent a nice romantic movie to watch after wards ..
good luck

welp, everyone has suggested cooking & screwing.
What's left? You could draw him a bath, even give him a mani-pedi followed by a loong massage. Guys like to be pampered too. If he gets into it and is having fun you could talk him into a facial while working on his hands & feet. Spa night is inexpensive (u have all the stuff already mostlikely)
If he's like most guys he appreciates quiet. When his treat is over hand him the remote and let him relax in peace. (unless you are otherwise occupied-wink!)
Boooooo on the lady that says not to make it special for him. It's nice to show how much you care, does not make you a fool.

Not sure about your culinary skills, but a simple grilled or pan seared steak, and a roasted baby potato, with fresh herbs and butter, and a side of greenbeans almondine (with almond slivers and butter) is a wonderful way to start the night, have a bottle of wine chilling (doesnt have to be expensive, ask someone with knowledge) if not wine people make a pitcher of margaritas or daquari's or whatever you like.. Rent a new movie, or go play a game , if you are into naughty go to Spenser's Gifts. But then bundle up and take a nighttime walk with your sweetie, try to identify a consellation (or just star gaze and pretend. Hold hands, when you get back inside you will be chilly, but the fun part is warming each other up... I hope this helps.. And I hope you have a wonderful time!

I'm a foodie and we love our treats....1. One of our favorite treats are chocolate covered strawberries and they can be real expensive from a chocolate store. I just made them. Check epicurious.com or foodnetwork.com for recipie/directions. Easy to melt a large candy bar or a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. 2.Champagne can be expensive (at least the good stuff), I also like "Proseco", an Itallian sparkling white wine (about $9.99 a bottle at most wine stores....) 3. Take out your favorite movie or classic from the library...watch and munch on the Chocolate covered strawberries and sparkling wine.....

plan an at home date night , His our your favorite dinner or somethin new. With now tv turn on the radio or a cd get some candles set the mood and just have converstation over dinner with wine or whatever your drink may be then get a movie sit on the bed in your pjs or on a bunch of pillows on the floor and cuddle and watch a movie and where it goes after is up to you both but it is very inexpensive to have a date night at home bielive me i do it alot it is a great time to catch up on together time.

Candel light dinner at your house (even if it is pasta) and a handmade card that says all you want it to say. My husband and I have a rule for anniversaries and valentines day that we only make things... not buy. It takes a little more time, but we always keep the presents forever!

A little more time together, slowing things down.... and don't forget to wear something special that you think he might like! Special is your time together, not how much money you spend.

good luck.

Dear H.: I can relate to what you are saying about the budget and lack of alone time. Sex usually works! I don't mean to be crass, but it's true, sex and simply being alone. If you do not have extra money, men usually feel more comfortable with receiving heartfelt gifts rather than expensive ones. How about: Stay in and create a romantic setting to keep within your budget. Put some thought into a special music mix cd - your favorite songs as a couple & classic romantic songs, play the cd in the background & present a nicely wrapped copy to him. Can you can write a poem of rhymes about how special he is - decorate the poem and turn it into a card? Or, make a sexy invitation to a bliss evening at home. You can do something as easy as taking one of your jewellry pins and sticking the invite to a pair of your underwear - hand it to him when he walks in the door. You can always decorate your bed by making a heart shape from fake flower petals, and a petal path leading to the bed. Prepare a meal that seems like it's for adults-only - something children would never eat. This does not have to be an elaborate meal, but could be if you like to cook. Whatever you make, serve it on nice dishes, table cloth, candles. You could literally serve a slice of pizza on a fine china plate decorated with something crazy like rosemary sprigs sticking up like trees - and your boyfriend will see you are making an effort to be fun and together! Serve the meal in courses, slowly. Take your time eating unlike when the kids are around - make the meal a celebration by simply relaxing. In the morning - heart shaped pancakes, or french toast - wake up late. You work hard, whatever you do, the most important element is that you are relaxed and not stressed over making a big deal. If he loves you as much as you love him, your relaxation & attention to him will mean the world.

Start out by going to the $ store and buying some red construction paper and a bottle of bubble bath. Cut out a lot of little paper hearts. Go to the local liquor store and buy an inexpensive bottle of wine or champagne. Just before he is due to get home leave a note on a larger paper heart at the door. The note should say "Follow your heart" or "follow the hearts", or something like that. Leave a trail of the little hearts to the bathroom. Go into the bathroom and get a bubble bath ready for him, turn the lights down or off and use candles (inexpensive tea light candles are all you need). Pour each of you a drink with the wine/champagne. Be sure to wear something sexy and light a couple candles in the bedroom. Then wait for him in the bathroom. When he gets there don't say a word. Just undress him, lead him into the bubble bath and begin to wash him. I'm sure you can take it from there! The whole night shouldn't cost more then a few dollars but can be very memorable and meaningful!

I can only speak from experience, so here goes:

make him a nice meal, you don't have to go crazy ex: mince a small piece of green pepper w/onions and a drizzle of oil in a saute pan large enough to accomodate the entire meal you will prepare. once thats going, dice up a chicken breast into bite size portions, saute that into your mix and add a handful of chopped up spinch. then add a 3/4 cup of rice saute that for 1 min and add about 1 3/4 cups of water and a Knorr chicken cube diced up. Cover with lid and just sitr once in a while making sure chicken is cooked and rice is not hard. Add more water(hot please) if needed. bake a chocolate cake in a heart shaped tin( buy really cheap at a party store). light some candles to "guide" your man to the table that will have more candles and sprinkle the table with some rose petals( if you go to a florist you can buy a small bag really cheap..heck some will even give you their discarded petals for free) good luck and remember...it's the thought that counts, and i wish YOU have a great Valentines!!!

Hi there!!! YOu both deserve a fun weekend! I know all about budgets but there are some things that you can do. Sometimes Eckards or CVS has some special things in the Valentines aisle. I bought fake rose petals, lotto tickets that when you scratch them they tell you what to do and there are even "game cards" to play. Get some massage oil, nice music, candles and make a romantic getaway in your own home. Get some wine, some finger foods like chocolate and strawberries, whipped cream and just have a relaxing time esp. if the kids are out!!! Warm bubble baths are fun. Most of these things are inexpensive. Hope these suggestions can work for you. Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This weekend, why don't you try to just enjoy each other's company...relaxing and enjoying the quietness. Take advantage of communication, a luxury that we take for granted and one that don't have time for because of the children. Maybe go for a long drive with romantic music playing in the background and just enjoy you and him. I know it probably sounds a bit corny but I am a romantic and sometimes we just have to share quality time with the one that we love...its not always about the money we spend but on the time spent together...re-kindle that flame...

okay im not really good at the advise thing but i'll try...just be romantic.im sure you can find those cloth rose petals at a craft store and there not that expens. and then just spend the whole weekend together...maybe get something special to wear and plan meals that you know he likes...and so on....i know my boyfreind loved that after we had are son..its worth a try.....

A.