LOVE ON A BUDGET

 WITH VALENTINE’S DAY AROUND THE CORNER THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) IS AWARE THAT MANY PERSONS WILL BE DRAINING THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS AND ENTERING INTO DEBT, SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE THEIR LOVED ONE(S) THE PERFECT GIFT. MIGHT WE SUGGEST A LESS COSTLY METHOD? BELOW IS A VALENTINE'S DAY GIFT GUIDE ARRANGED ACCORDING TO COST; USE THIS GUIDELINE AND YOU WILL CERTAINLY SAVE WHILE STILL MAKING THE OTHER PARTY HAPPY.

NO COST

1. HAVE AN ONLINE VALENTINE BY SENDING ELECTRONIC CARDS AND VIRTUAL GIFTS. EXPLAIN THE IDEA BEHIND YOUR GIFT SELECTION.

2. TELL YOUR PARTNER/FRIEND WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM BY LISTING QUALITIES, IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ON PAPER AND THEN PLACING THESE IN A DECORATED BOX, A BOTTLE OR GIVING THEM INDIVIDUALLY TO THE PERSON IN THE DAYS PRECEDING OR EVEN ON ST. VALENTINE’S DAY.

3. CALL YOUR LOVED ONES AND REMIND THEM JUST HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU.

4. WRITE OR IDENTIFY LOVE POEMS OR LETTERS THAT CAPTURE YOUR FEELINGS AND PRESENT IT ON ATTRACTIVE PAPER. IF YOU FEEL TRULY BRAVE THEN READ IT ALOUD.

5. FIND 365 WAYS TO TELL YOUR PARTNER HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU.

6. GIVE HIM/HER A ROMANCE CALENDAR. FILL IN THE CALENDAR WITH NOTES, MEMORIES AND PROMISES FOR EACH DAY OF THE YEAR, E.G. A REASON I LOVE HIM/HER, SPECIAL DATES, FIRST TIME WE KISSED, FIRST DATE ETC.

7. WRITE AN APPLICATION FOR LOVE AND DELIVER IT. YOUR COVER LETTER SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY YOU APPLIED FOR THE POSITION AND WHY YOU ARE QUALIFIED. FILL YOUR RESUME WITH THE HISTORY OF EVENTS AND TIME SPENT TOGETHER. UNDER SKILLS, LIST THE SPECIAL THINGS YOU DO TO MAKE THE OTHER PARTY HAPPY.

8. MAKE YOUR PARTNERS FANTASIES COME THROUGH BY ASKING HIM/HER TO LIST THEIR INTIMATE DESIRES AND GRANTING A FEW.

9. BE YOURSELF. THE BEST WAY FOR A PERSON TO BE ROMANTIC IS BY BEING YOUR OWN SELF. DON'T LET OTHERS TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. COME UP WITH SOMETHING NO ONE WOULD EXPECT.

10. MAKE HIM/HER SMILE BY DELIVERING KISSES EVERY HOUR OR BY ANOTHER MORE PRIVATE MEANS.

LOW COST

$500 AND UNDER

• COUNT DOWN TO VALENTINE’S DAY BY GIVING A SMALL TOKEN SUCH AS, A CANDY BAR EACH DAY LEADING UP TO VALENTINE’S DAY. COMBINED THIS WITH A NO COST IDEA FOR A REALLY BIG REACTION.

• CHOCOLATES.

• SCRAP BOOK OF LOVE. CREATE A SCRAPBOOK THAT CONTAINS ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS AND MEMORIES OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP. BUY A BLANK WRITING BOOK PASTE SOUVENIRS AND PHOTOS.

• SAY IT WITH BALLOONS. FILL A CAR OR SMALL ROOM WITH RED AND WHITE BALLOONS OR USE YOUR PARTNER’S FAVOURITE COLOUR. RECRUIT FRIENDS OR CHILDREN TO BLOW THE BALLOONS.

• BAKE COOKIES FOR PARTNERS WITH A SWEET TOOTH. ICE THEM WITH A SPECIAL MESSAGE.

• MAKE A CD OF YOURS AND HIS/HER FAVOURITE SONGS.

• GIVE TINY TEDDY BEARS BEARING MESSAGES.

• GIVE FLOWERS AND NOT NECESSARILY ROSES.

• ARRANGE A ROMANTIC DINNER, BY USING SCENTED CANDLES, BACKGROUND MUSIC AND A PLACE SETTING FOR TWO. ALTHOUGH ANY MEAL INCLUDING PIZZA MAY BE SERVED, IT MIGHT BE BEST TO SERVE UP YOUR PARTNER’S MOST LOVED DISH.

• GIVE A MASSAGE WITH SCENTED OIL.

• PURCHASE OR CREATE ROMANTIC GAMES AND PLAY WITH YOUR PARTNER.

• BUY AND READ A ROMANTIC NOVEL OR A HOW TO BOOK AND RECREATE ONE OF THE ENCOUNTERS.

THESE ARE BUT A FEW OF THE GIFTS YOU CAN GIVE WITHOUT SPENDING TOO MUCH. THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) WISHES TO REMIND YOU THAT YOUR CHOICE OF GIFTS FOR VALENTINE’S DAY WHETHER CHOSEN FROM ABOVE OR NOT, SHOULD NOT LEAVE YOU FINANCIALLY DESTITUTE.