Making Life Sweet...one deal at a time!: valentines day

Friday, February 6, 2009

Frugal Living Friday: Valentine's Day on a Budget

Welcome to Frugal Living Friday! Each week I will feature a tip that can help us stretch our budget and live more frugally! If you have a tip that you want shared on Frugal Living Friday, let me know and you could become a guest blogger for a day.

There are so many fun things to do for Valentine's Day that don't cost much money. Here are a few simple and fun ideas:

make heart shaped pancakes in the morning
make brownies and use a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut them out
make a heart shaped pizza for dinner (or buy one at Papa Murphy's for $7)
use a coupon booklet that you made as a gift for family members

Here is one idea that I did last year. I got the idea from Family Fun magazine. You take old, broken crayons and put them in a mini tin, melt, and make crayons. I have a silicone heart one, which is perfect for Valentine's Day. You could use a regular mini muffin tin too.

When they are done you have colorful valentine crayons! HERE are the complete instructions from Family Fun. They show you how to make them into valentines you can give away that say "You Color My World." Super cute.

This year for my kids I am making giant Hershey Kisses...but instead of chocolate they will be giant rice krispie treats! My mom used to do it when I was growing up. Use a funnel as the mold, then wrap in tin foil and use some ribbon...and whalla! What kid wouldn't like that? Really friendly on the budget too. Use chocolate rice krispies for something different.

Here are some more fun, creative, and cheap ideas for Valentine's Day! Please share your fun traditions or ideas that you have.

Valentine Matchboxes from PonyBoy Press

Butterfly printable Valentine from Skip to My Lou

Heart Shaped Creature Cookies from Make and Takes

Egg Carton Heart from A Little Hut

Lots of printables and great ideas from Family Fun

Valentine Candy Maze from Zakka Life

Easy Creative Cards from Make and Takes

Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls from Gourmet Mom on the Go