Frugal Valentine's Or Any Old, Romantic Day Ideas

Make your own card. Break out old, construction paper that might be lying around or simply printer paper. Break out crayons, markers, gel pens, whatever coloring utensils you have on hand. Stickers, glitter and small items such as buttons, also make nice adornments to add to your homemade card. Sum up your feelings in a short phrase and scribble that in. Sign with love.

Dine-in with a homemade meal. Homemade meals are always good to do, especially if you're not the cooking type. Create an easy meal, like pasta or stir fry. No need for anything complicated (unless you have the means and skills to!) Think of how happy your significant other will feel, as they smell the aromas and taste the wonderful flavors you made in your meal.

Whether it is a favorite or something new, cuddle up on the couch and watch a romantic movie together. Turn off the phones, turn down the lights, grab some light snacks, get cozy and hit play. If you don't have a big screen, see if a local and cheap theatre is playing a classic or current movie.

Can't getaway? Instead, getaway in the comfort of your own home. Try to relax as often as possible or do the activities you like to do together. Sleep in the living room, with cozy blankets or if weather permits, camp out in the background. With a little creativity, you can set different scenes - the scent of the ocean for a beach theme, etc. You can combine a lot of frugal ideas with this one. Bottom line, take real time out for the both of you.

Give one another a massage. Dim the lights down. Get your massage table or other surface ready. Use massage oil or lotion will do too. Maybe play some, soft relaxing and/or romantic music in the background. Take your time in massaging your partner. You never know where it might take you...

Put together some of their favorite songs and make a playlist or burn it onto CD. Or gather all of your songs, songs that hold a lot of memories and the same feelings you want to convey to one another. So the next time you or they want to listen to something at home or in the car, that special playlist or CD is just a heartbeat away.

Clear some space in your home, turn on some tunes and dance together. Slow, fast... it's entirely up to you. Have fun, laugh if you take a wrong step or miss a turn. It's good for exercise as well as romance. Let the music take you away and refocus on just the two of you.

Read to one another. Curl up on the couch together, in bed, on the floor, wherever you feel comfortable. Read one of your favorite, childhood stories or a poem of your favorite poems. Read with passion, use different voices for characters, etc. To amp things up. you could also read romantic or erotic stories or poems to one another. Don't be embarrassed; let your passion and love flow in your spoken words.

Take a romantic, bubble bath together. No need for anything fancy - just something simple and smells delicious. Forget the world and sink into wonderful suds with your love. Cuddle and touch as much as you want. If space is an issue, one partner can bathe and dote on the other. Relax before retiring for bed or let it be a prelude to something more...

Look at old photos together. Take a trip down memory lane. Shots from the first party you two attended together or a memorable trip to the zoo. From the silly, to the lovely. Let it spark conversations about those fond memories.

Take new pictures together. Make them as nice or as silly as you want. Or explore your neighborhood, taking shots of what nature has to offer or whatever random objects or things you can find. Make a game out of it. Play around a lot and enjoy the pictures.

Dress up for no reason. Go out on the town and window shop. Eat at your favorite place for bargain meals or hop between places, snacking on appetizers and desserts. Pretend to be celebrities for one night. Play around with themes as well, maybe funky one night or preppy the next. Enjoy whatever you see and experience, and enjoy one another's company.

Assemble together some finger foods, snacks, drinks and supplies for a picnic. Pick out a nice spot in nature, out in your own neighborhood. Or if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, have a bit more change to spare, someplace further out and maybe a bit more remote. Take turns feeding one another. Lay back, cuddle close and watch the clouds go by.

Make some art. Draw, paint something, even use crayons or markers. Something they would enjoy. Or throw some paper, and create art together. Make it realistic, make it silly, make it fun. Even if all you can draw is stick figures. Or if you can only color, share a coloring book.

Write something. A poem. An old, fashioned love letter. A list of all the reasons you love and appreciate them. If you're not the creative type, figure out what your partner's favorite poem or song is, then write it in your own handwriting. Make it special. Spritz it with your cologne. Seal it with a kiss.

Serenade them with a song. One of their favorites or one you feel expresses your feelings the most. If you're creative, write your own song for them and sing it. No matter how good or bad you sound. It is the thought that counts and they will hear the love and sincerity you put into your choice.

If you have pets, incorporate them into the date. Go to a dog park and play. Simply go for a walk in the neighborhood. Take a day to pamper one another, pets included. If you don't own any pets, visit some at a pet store or shelter.

Go for a walk together. May it be long or short. Maybe around the neighborhood or through a park or forest preserve or if you live near one, on or by the beach. Hold hands. Skip over cracks like when you were kids. Make it fun as much as relaxing. Stop and smell the roses, enjoy nature as you walk through it. Keep hydrated and take breaks as necessary, preferably by a body of water and enjoy the view.

Go to a local playground and just play. Go on the swings, the monkey bars and down the slide. Play old, childhood games like tag and hide-and-go-seek. Laugh, pretend, fly.... let your imagination run wild. Let your inner child run wild.

Is it raining or snowing outside? Can you bear the weather and temperature for a while? Then go outside and play. Dance in the rain. A kiss takes on a new sensation when there's droplets of water cascading down over you. Build a snowman together. Make snow angels. Alternatively, if it is real hot out, throw on your bathing suits and take a dip in the pool if you have one. No pool? Run through your sprinklers or have fun with the hose. Who says less-than-stellar weather has to stop you from having a little fun?

Play games together. Whether it's video games or board games. Play the classics or something new. For something deeper, play 20 questions and ask things you always wanted to know about your partner. For something more romantic or sexier, play one of the many games out there geared toward couples.

Go stargazing. Go to a local park, lay down a blanket and wait for the stars to come out. Or stay in your own backyard. Try to point out constellations or look for planets. Maybe you'll catch a shooting star.

Make some hot chocolate or coffee or pop open a bottle of wine. Pour into cozy mugs or pretty glasses. Sit by the fireplace and just sip your beverages together. In silence or with mood music in the background. Just be together... just be.