Have a fabulously frugal Valentine’s Day!

With January well in the rear-view mirror, another fabulous Valentine’s Day is upon us. And you know what? I love it. Sure it’s schmaltzy and a purely consumer-esque Hallmark holiday, but hey – anyone who wants to dedicate a day to chocolate, flowery cards, jewelry and romance isn’t going to get a lot of argument from me. Sign me up!

The best part is that a fantastic Valentine’s Day – the romance, the flowers, the jewelry – can all be had for a fraction of the price of retail, if you know how to look. Read on for fabulous lastminute gift ideas and tips for creating a gorgeous celebration with your Valentine for easily 75 percent off…and for this frugalista, that’s romantic!

The Jewelry – Is lovely jewelry on someone’s wish list this Valentine’s Day? By all means, go for it. Simply steer clear of the regular jewelry stores, and head to the upscale consignment and thrift stores (yes, thrift stores) near you, where gorgeous cases of spectacular jewelry – watches, diamonds, rubies, pearls, you name it – can be found at incredible prices. One of my favorite discoveries while jewelry shopping in local thrift stores is that much of it is vintage antique – impossible to recreate and simply gorgeous.

The Flowers – whatever you do, don’t do a last-minute panic and go for flowers online. I know it’s tempting – website after website will happily deliver two dozen roses anywhere for you, so long as you fork over $150 for it, not including tip. You’ve got to be kidding me! Do yourselves a favor and head to one of the best kept secrets in the flower world – your local Produce Junction. Renowned for high-quality fruits and veggies at fabulous prices, your local Produce Junction also carries gorgeous long-stem roses and other lovely flowers, often for $10 per dozen or less. The only catch: bring cash, Produce Junction doesn’t take credit cards.

The Romance – whoever said romance requires big money never went shopping with me. Hit your local secondhand book store and peruse the shelves for an older copy of the classics — Lord Byron, Shakespeare, maybe some Keats. If you really want to get wild and brave, try writing some poetry of your own into a card you create yourself. Sure, a card from the store is always appreciated, often including an “Oh, how sweet!” for good measure. But the card (or dare I suggest – love letter?) you make yourself will get sobbed over, shown off at work, framed, and quite likely, insured. The choice is yours.

Above all else, whether you’re with friends, family, or significant sthers this Valentine’s Day, embrace it for the marvelous holiday it is — one revolving around love, laughter, working the fabulous red dress in the back of your closet, and — yeah baby! — heart-shaped boxes of chocolate for 50 percent off come Feb. 15. Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody!

Kristen Hagopian is a Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host, Columnist & Author of Brilliant Frugal Living. She co-hosts WCHE 1520’s Morning Show, and “Dad and Daughter Talk Real Estate” with local Keller Williams Realtor John Herreid Wednesdays at 3 p.m. (www.johnherreid. com). She was raised in Delaware County, and now resides in Chester County with her husband and kids. You can find her online at www.BrilliantFrugalLiving. com