I think Valentine’s Day is a lovely day. So much so, that twenty-six years ago, I married my husband on that day. So, I consider myself just as romantic as the next person. What I am not, however, is tied to any romantic financial pitfalls. I know that within a few hours after midnight on Valentine’s Day, all those romantic flowers, boxes of chocolates and anything that remotely points back to V-Day will be marked down drastically.
So, as always, I got up early the day after Valentine’s Day and headed over to the stores that had carried all those romantic goodies and bought whatever I wanted for 75% off. That means I got boxes of chocolates for only 2 bucks, ditto for the bags of chocolates, Whitman Samplers for only forty seven cents (you read that right! .47) and a bouquet of flowers with three red roses (really, do we need much more than that?) for only five bucks. Truthfully, I think I gave myself the best Valentine’s Day gift ever. For less than one dozen red roses, I bought myself and hubby all these goodies:
Since it’s also our anniversary, our favorite restaurant in town sent us a 20% off coupon for any day in February except Valentine’s Day, of course! We’ll be there this weekend to order whatever we’d like (within reason, of course!) and enjoy the 20% savings. We do this every year.
In case you’re wondering that it must have sucked not getting anything on the actual day of Valentine’s you’d be incorrect. Hubby graciously took over the weekly chore of cleaning out the bathroom. He meticulously scrubbed the Jaccuzzi whirlpool tub and especially made me a very luxurious bubble bath for the evening.
I also bought two Valentine’s Day cards at the Dollar Store (two for $1.00) for each of my daughters and mailed them out in time so they’d get them on Valentine’s Day. My daughters loved them! And my gift to hubby was letting him know I appreciate all his hard work by always keeping a careful eye on all his hard earned money. (Even though it gets deposited in a joint account) LOL! 
I used my ECB’s to purchase chocolate for the kids so they were FREE. Hubby did buy me a $4.99 heart box of chocolates and a beautiful card out of his own spending money. I warned him not to buy me flowers, but that he could ‘surprise’ me some day when they weren’t marked up 200%. Hubby paid me the nicest compliment by taking the day off and spending it with me. That’s worth more than anything money can buy, right?
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Happy Anniversary!!!
OMG! Is it ever so!
Some of the discounted chocolates are from CVS. I applied for my card today so I am anticipating some of those ECB’s soon. Wish me luck. Can’t wait to start saving even more money.
Thanks.
Great post on how good it can be living within your means. You are making so many wise choices. You seem to enjoy your choices and I would too with all that chocolate!
Thanks. I get to have a bit of chocolate now, each and every day. I’m hoping it lasts till the day after Easter!
Hmmmmmm. Jelly beans and marshmellow bunnies here I come! (hopefully for 75% less).