6C UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
advice
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2006
Date on a dime
BY BETTY KASPAR editor@kansan.com KANSAN CORRESPONDENT
The average American spends $99.24 on Valentine's Day according to the St. Louis Business Journal. Unfortunately for college students, some do not have that kind of money to spend on significant others. No matter what spectrum of the spending curve you are on, here are some ideas to make your Valentine's Day special.
Many people want to stick to the traditional roses and candy which can be fairly expensive. However, there are ways you can still be a traditionalist and still save money. If you would like to stay really cheap, stores like Wal-Mart, 3300 S. Iowa St., and Target, 3201 S. Iowa St., sell individual flowers and small bouquets. An individual rose can start as low a $1. The downfall to buying from a superstore is that the flowers may not be near the quality you could get from a florist and will not last as long.
For those of you interested in the candy route, Russell Stover Candies, 300 W. 23rd St., has boxes of chocolate starting at $.99 and chocolate gift baskets starting at $10.
Look online for more tips on how to plan a date on a budget
If you want to steer away from the typical flowers and candy, you have many options no matter what your budget is.
Nothing says you care as putting time and effort into a gift. A perfect way to do this is to make a gift that can be inexpensive and your loved one is sure to appreciate it.
Love coupons allow for Valentine's Day to be special after the day is over. Ideas for coupons are endless, but some ideas could include giving a back rub, a date night, a foot massage, get out of a fight free card or something a bit more risqué for those who want a more playful Valentine's Day. The cost of the gift is spare paper and crayons.
You can also try to put your feelings into words and write your loved one a poem or love letter. This will allow your loved one to appreciate the feelings you felt long after Valentine's Day has ended. All you need to do is pick up a pen and
some paper.
If you have many pictures of you and your loved one, it's a great opportunity to make a scrapbook. Include pictures, memories of old dates, or quotes from songs or movies that remind you of that person. You can make your own scrapbook out of construction paper if you want to save a lot of money.
Make a card with all the trimmings and with a special message inside. Double the effect that a card has by sending your lover an e-Card.
Gifts are not the only thing on Valentine's Day that can strain your wallet.
The date itself can be fairly costly. However, you can still have a great time without spending too much money.
Staying at home allows you to have the intimacy of one-on-one time.
Even though it is in a familiar atmosphere, you can still make the evening special.
If you live in a residence hall,you probably don't have the opportunity to make a five-star meal.
You can still set a mood, with lighting you can put up Christmas lights and turn off the overhead light. Buy refrigerated or frozen food that allows you to have something different than the food from
the cafeteria and is easy to create. Don't forget to ask your roommate for a little privacy.
Do something you wouldn't normally do for your significant other. Maybe watch a game or SportsCenter or watch an episode of Oprah or Desperate Housewives. Either way, it's a win-win situation; you are spending time with the person you care about and doing something special for him or her.
If staying in doesn't sound like your idea of a good Valentine's Day, you can still go out and have a good time while showing off your loved one in public.
It is a bit cliché, but picnics are always a cute way to have a nice afternoon. You can make it as formal as you like with a main course meal or as simple as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The point of a picnic is to enjoy one another's company. If weather does not permit for a real picnic in the park, you can always take it to a gazebo or porch.
Go to the park and take a stroll, explore Massachusetts Street or other parts of Lawrence that you may not be familiar with.
Enjoy the city as you take pleasure in being together and learning a little bit more about the place you live.
Go to a place that serves ice cream and share an ice cream sundae. It brings you physically close together as you share it from one container.
- Edited by Vanessa Pearson