Savings to love
Cut costs with inexpensive gifts and more this Valentine’s Day
Love abounds this Valentine’s Day, but the pocketbook rules when it comes to gifts. According to a National Retail Federation survey, consumers are continuing to be conscientious with
their spending. The average person will spend $131 on Valentine’s candy, cards and gifts this year, a $5 increase from last year, the survey by BIG insight found.
With that in mind, we’re offering a collection of mon- ey-saving decor and gift tips and instructions for inexpensive crafts you can make yourself and deals.
» Raid your collection of Christmas wrapping paper.
There’s no need to buy Valentine’s-themed wrapping paper. Any red paper or cellophane will do, and it’s likely
you have some stashed away for Christmas. If you don’t, remember this idea next holiday season.
Professional organizer Cynthia Peden of Phoenix says the first thing she does to get ready for Valentine’s Day is shop the after-Christmas sales. “There are so many things that are red.”
She also buys candies that have generic red wrappers and sets them aside. For Valentine’s Day, she divides them into containers, ties a ribbon around the outside and gives them as gifts. » Spend less on flowers. Instead of buying expensive bouquets for several people, such as your significant other, mom or aunt, buy a large bouquet and divide it into several smaller bunches, Peden suggests.
You can place each bunch in a vase you have on hand or tie a ribbon around each bunch.
» Use your hair dryer to shrink-wrap treats.
Buying large store-made cookies for everyone on your Valentine’s Day list can add up.
Instead, Peden makes her own. She presses cookie dough into heart-shaped and round pans, bakes them and lets them cool. She places a doily on a piece of cardboard, puts one cookie on top and covers the whole thing in plastic wrap. She uses her hair dryer to “shrink-wrap” the plastic. (Be sure to practice first to make sure the temperature setting isn’t too hot.) » Decorate your table. If you’re making Valentine’s dinner, jazz up your table with heart-shaped napkins. You can find out how to fold them at numerous websites. One is food .com; search for “heart napkin folding.” While you’re there, look at other fun napkin-folding instructions that you can use on other holidays.
Use one of the aforementioned bunches of flowers or a handmade box (see accompanying story) for a centerpiece.