Don’t let Valentine’s Day break the bank

Okay gang, with the fabulous Super bowl Parade in the rear view mirror, another Valentine’s Day is upon us. Honestly, any day of the year that specifically steers men toward gifts of chocolate and flowers gets a rousing review in my book. My only gripe – Valentine’s Day gifts are insanely overpriced. Luckily, opportunities abound for V-Day gift givers to look like romantic heroes without breaking the bank. Read on, fellow frugal romantics.

Gorgeous Roses: I don’t care how liberated ladies appear to be, trust me, it’s built right into a woman’s DNA to adore these heavenly flowers, myself included. This classic gift is also one of the highest priced gifts out there on Feb. 14. Online websites like chocolate covered nougats are offering red roses delivered that always feel like they’re going for $150, not including tip. Well, to pull out a filling. Not cool. here’s MY tip: get to your nearest For the chocolate gift givers out flower warehouse. Personally, my there, do yourself a favor and hit hands down favorite flower store the local dollar store, where adorable is Produce Junction. These local empty candy boxes and tins gold mines are more famous for await you. Frugalista’s hint to their top notch, low price produce, the wise – this is a great opportunity however they also have absolutely to prove the “more is more” beautiful flower selections, for a mentality in chocolate gift giving. fraction of the price of retail. Translation: get the big box. Then Helpful hint —- Produce Junction hit your local discount grocery, is cash only, so hit the automatic where gorgeous gourmet chocolates teller machine on the way. are waiting for you to purchase The Chocolate: I know what in bulk, often for $3 or less you’re thinking. Heart-shaped per pound. Best of all, you can boxes of candy. So clichéd. So ridiculous. customize the gift to the recipient’s So fabulous. However, taste! Does your Valentine $20 per box (in the respectable adore chocolate covered cherries? chocoholic size) is completely insane. Go for a full pound (or better yet, I also take issue with those hello, five pounds) of those! Truffles? “combination” chocolate boxes Vanilla Cremes? Coconut where half the contents are magnificently clusters? Go for it! Another hint compatible with your from my experiences – if you’re tastes, but the rest are things putting these boxes together yourself

for friends, be sure to purchase at least one extra pound of goodies. For, ummm, quality testing. Yeah, that’s it.

The Valentine’s Day cards: Is it my imagination, or were these on store shelves around Jan. 5th? Don’t get me wrong. They’re poetic, they’re beautiful, they’re filled with romantic sentiment that our tough guys would rather fling themselves off a cliff than write themselves. I get all mushy in the knees at this flowery prose myself. These cards clearly have their place in society, especially amongst our adorable yet otherwise romantically-mute menfolk. Unfortunately, when a fivecent piece of paper (pretty words or not) goes for $6.95 retail, it gives me a serious itch between the shoulder blades. Gentlemen, I would like to suggest an idea so terrifying that only the bravest of you will dare attempt it. Write something yourself. Be modern and send it via email, or get wild and write it by hand. Something short and sweet, and depending

on how brave you are, it can range anywhere on the romantic scale. Your Valentine’s Day message could be a passionate essay on how her blue eyes still remind you of a perfect Tuscan sky. This rates a solid 10 on the romantic scale, with extra credit if you go to Google Translate and translate it into Italian first. Be creative. Be daring. Be a dork. Valentine’s Day only comes once a year.

Frugal on! Kristen Hagopian is a syndicated radio talk show host and columnist. She cohosts WCHE 1520’s Morning Show, as well as “The Kristen Hagopian Show” Thursdays at 3 p.m., 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