As the Valentine’s Day buzz picks up, there’s a section that’s seeking to cash in. If you haven’t noticed, the retail price for a bouquet of fresh red roses at the florist has tripled. In December, a decent bouquet would fetch an average of Ksh1000, this week – it’s tagged at Ksh2500.

It’s prudent to not get swept up by the urge to splurge on this fete. A minimalist approach is the saner idea. For dating love birds seeking to show up, and make a statement – here are a few inexpensive ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Remember, it’s the memories that count – not the expense. While it’s debatable, the most valuable thing in a relationship is time, not expensive gifts. It’s more impactful if you factored in the time factor, your presence. Be present, create romantic memories – and, save money while at it.

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Here are five Valentine’s Day ideas that won’t have you breaking the bank.

1. Picnic

An outdoor picnic is loads of fun, and relatively inexpensive. A lot of rides on the premise of weather and your location, but it’s easy to find a public park, a nature trail or a picnic site. A picnic creates time to be with your significant other (SO).

Pack edibles – something easy to carry and eat. Pack a quilt or a blanket. If you live near the beach, that’s a great picnic site. Go watch the ties come in, or the gently lapping waves. If you can, seek the sunrise, or the sunsets. It adds to the romantic ambience.

2. Shared Interests

Chances are a couple met and hooked up while pursuing a common interest. It can be an exercise hobby. It can be a hike. It can be the movies. I know a lady cop who met her later husband in a swoop at an entertainment joint. Just saying, ha!

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Well, for Valentine’s Day – pair up for that activity. Go to the movies. Sign up for a martial arts class. Go for a beach walk or swim. Do you love to dance? Go to a dance class together. It’s a good, inexpensive way to mark a romantic day with your SO.

3. Do It Yourself (DIY) Gifts

A handmade gift or memento exploits the romantic essence of spending personal time to make something for your partner. It’s a testament to their constantly being in your mind and thoughts. A store-bought gift has an impersonal touch and is soon discarded.

A handmade Valentine’s Day card is special. A handwritten personal letter, detailing squashy anecdotes of why they are a special one to you always wins. Oh, liberally dose that letter and card in your SO’s favourite scent!

It’s not just art: Even homemade cookies pack a similar punch!

4. Home Dinner Date

The online is flush with awesome, foreign recipes. Look up a strange, exotic recipe on YouTube. Then, go for a shopping run with your SO for the ingredients. They love shopping, remember? Plus, they are floored that you could create time to shop with them for something mundane and exhausting as ingredients for a recipe!

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Set up the table, like they do in a high-end restaurant. Get out of the rare, expensive China crockery. Dim the lights, and use candles. Play some soothing, romantic ballads – country ballads are always a killer! Switch off your mobile phones and have the deepest-ever conversation with your SO. They’ll always bookmark that Valentine’s Day for years!

5. Incorporate Kids

Valentine’s Day is about love, and what’s a better way than include your kids in the plans? Make it a family fun day. If it falls on a weekday, try to reschedule it for the following weekend.

Create family games. You can even think up gifts and rewards for the kids. A Question-and-Answer session, where the winner gets a hundred bob or so into their piggy bank. A dancing contest? A movie-watching day with the kids?

All these endeavours to create time together with a loved one, which is the most valuable gift ever. They are pretty inexpensive ideas, to save your money for rainy days ahead.