Valentine's Day is the pinnacle of romantic holidays — today's the day you get to show all the love you have for your significant other in the form of gifts or experiences. It's a bit materialistic yes, but everyone loves feeling special and being showered with presents! However, if your budget's a bit tight, it can be hard to show your partner you appreciate them. So, we've compiled a list of five tips you can use to ensure that you have an amazing Valentine's Day without spending that holiday money.
1. Make sure you buy flowers the right way
Don't get cheated and buy your flowers online for delivery — even if they're ensured fresh and come with discounts, shipping trucks don't come with refrigerators. So if you order from a company with a warehouse far away from you, they might be wilted by the time your SO sees them.
Instead, get your flowers from grocery stores or the florist — both will keep their flowers cold until pick up time and some florists would even deliver in a chilled van. Be sure to ask for flowers that haven't quite open yet — that way they'll bloom in the hands of your SO and will keep for days.
2. Don't skimp where it doesn't count
A definite no-no is buying flowers from the side of the road — even though they're the cheapest, they definitely won't last more than a day. These flowers also won't come with flower food nor replacements if they turn out to be spoiled.
Regarding dinner, don't order cheaper foods just because you need to save money — worrying about money every step of the date will definitely spoil your night.
3. Eat at home
Come to think of it, spend your special night at home instead of a kitschy Valentine's Day restaurant. Even if it doesn't seem that special, eating at that dining table you never use or in front of the fireplace, or even in bed will give it that special feel.
Light some candles, throw around a handful of rose petals and put on some Frank Sinatra — your SO will definitely give you brownie points for your thoughtful DIY.
4. Order smart
If you're bent on going out for dinner, you can totally pull that off too — one tip is to go for the cheapest champagne or Prosecco. No one can really tell the difference between expensive and cheap champagnes so there's really no use ordering the one that's going to break bank.
If the night is going to end in romance, be sure to order light. Not only will it stop bloating, but lighter dishes will also be less expensive — choose fish over steak, or sorbet over chocolate mousse.
5. Do your research with jewelry
Look online for the jeweler with the best prices, but never buy online — it's much better to go in store to make sure that ring or necklace looks the way it's supposed to. Also be sure to check its certificates — this is to make sure the piece will last for a long time, not something you should obsess over.
Now that you're equipped with all these tips, enjoy your day of romance with your SO — and don't forget that this holiday is for love first and foremost. Even though you're encouraged to splurge a bit, losing sight of the spirit of Valentine's Day will definitely screw you over.
- 6 Clever Ways to Save Money This Valentine's Day | HuffPost ›
- 5 Ways to Save on Valentine's Day - NerdWallet ›
- Save money by ordering Valentine's Day flowers now — and more ... ›
- Valentine's Day gifts under $20: Gifts for him and for her on a budget ›
- Valentines Day Ideas: 6 Ways to Save Money without Looking Cheap ›
- Get farm-direct flowers and save money this Valentine's Day - Salon ... ›
Every time payday rolls around, I’m on top of the world. Jeff Bezos-level rich - even though I’m anything but. And then somehow the very next day, rent is due.
The cycle continues. The next payday, bills for my apartment. I find myself without a surplus of savings since I just moved and newly-furnished my apartment completely.
Even more terrifying is the looming presence of the holiday season. Halloween’s officially over and before we know it, hello Thanksgiving…and then there’s Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s. It’s insane.
I’ve been feeling very British lately. Not in a Union-Jack-obsessed, “Keep Calm and Carry-On” way. I went through that phase in 2012 with everyone else… no thank you. And it’s not even a surge of patriotism catalyzed by the Queen dying — I’m firmly team Diana and team Meghan.
Now that fall is officially here, the holidays will sweep in and I’ll have to contend with the fact that I won’t be spending them with my family in the UK. I went home to London earlier this year, so there’s not much left in my travel budget for another trip across the pond. A few domestic jaunts might be in my future, but the closest I’ll get to England this winter is watching Love Island and Love, Actually.
So in that spirit, I’ve been filling my days with content from my favorite Brits. I’m listening to all the old British rock bands I grew up listening to, patiently awaiting the new Arctic Monkeys album, and rewatching anything with Michaela Coel in it. I even shipped myself an order of British Baked Beans, so you know it’s dire.
I’ve also been watching British YouTubers like Grace Beverley — my favorite. Generally, I only go on YouTube to watch Vogue Beauty Secrets and AD Open Door videos. But I’m so glad I stumbled on Grace. Her content is a mix of London lifestyle (what lured me in), relatable entrepreneurship, and mindful productivity. I’m not a hustle-and-grind-girlboss, but as a creative person in a 9-to-5, I need all the help I can get to stay plugged in. So, the video “how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmed” changed my approach to WFH.
Grace outlines her own productivity method: the to-do table. Instead of making a simple to-do list, she divides her tasks into a table that anyone can follow. As someone who’s survived with to-do lists for years, I recently implemented Grace’s method, and it’s revolutionized my workdays.
how to be really really really productive without getting overwhelmedwww.youtube.com
I follow her routine to a tee. Here’s how it works:
Essentially, she divides her daily responsibilities into four categories: quick ticks, tasks, projects, and non-negotiables.
- Quick Ticks: Actions that take less than 5-minutes
- Tasks: To-do’s that take up to 30-minutes. Probably don’t take too much brain energy.
- Projects: Long-term list items. These help guide your priorities, even if you’re not crossing them off in one day.
- Non-negotiables: Pick 3 things each day that you must get done. This is how you’ll truly measure success.
With everything written down and sorted, next address your schedule. Meetings, deadlines, and time blocks — whatever works best for you. Write it down. Then make a pact with yourself to stick to them.
This way of categorization provides a roadmap for prioritizing your day — making you far more productive. Have you ever spent the entire day on small tasks and then suddenly realized you hadn’t moved the needle on any task? Or do you spend way too much time on tasks that aren’t a priority? No more. With your non-negotiables laid out, you know what to laser-focus on and what to dedicate energy towards.
Also, it pays to know your working style. I’m not a morning person. Yet, I have to be up and at ‘em super early. So, first thing in the morning, I march through my Quick Ticks to warm me up. I set a time limit, so I can knock out some easy wins which is totally inspiring. Then I move on to bigger things without lingering on emails or admin. For others, it might be more helpful to tackle the big things with all that early-in-the-day brain power earlier.
Grace has great tips on avoiding overwhelm and burnout. My favorite is taking more intentional breaks rather than scrolling through social media. I call this scrolling “productive” because I’m “coming up with pitches.” Oh, the lies we tell ourselves. It’s more productive in the long run to giving my brain a break with non-screen related stimuli.
Grace’s solution? Set a timer to read a real, an actual book. I’ve never thought of this. It’s a genius way to check off some books on my TBR and kickstart my creativity. After reading a good book, I’m completely inspired to write. So having books near my desk helps me step away from the computer during my lunch break for an actual reset. (And yes, the current books I’m reading are by British authors: Assembly by Natasha Brown, and Love in Color: Mythical Tales from Around the World, Retold by Bolu Babalolu.)
In my pursuit of switching out my WFH set-up and getting my life together, I’ve engineered my workstation for success. With my new WFH essentials and Grace’s productivity technique, I’m revitalized for work — despite the fall blues and my melancholy about the pending holidays.
Here are the things getting me hyped for work and helping me crush my Grace Beverley-inspired to-do tables — no lists in sight:
Southwest Airlines Sale 2022
Pack your bags — Southwest Airlines is having a major sale! Fares are as low as $59 one-way if you book by October 3rd.
This end-of-summer super sale is a game-changer for your travel plans through the end of the year. Summertime travel gets all the glory. But why not take advantage of your long weekends, holidays, and PTO this fall. You’ll be surprised at how much travel you can fit in. Keep the fall/winter season exciting with domestic trips that give you all the excitement without breaking the bank. All thanks to Southwest.
Here’s the breakdown:
Where can you go?
You’ll find discounted tickets to and from most airports. Sale fares apply to cross country travel, and even Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean! Whether you’re visiting a new city or revisiting your last beach vacation, this sale has fares to make your travel dreams come true.
What do the fares cover?
Southwest Airlines has multiple fare tiers, each with various benefits. Wanna Get Away fares start at $59, while Wanna Get Away Plus fares start at $89. You can also find great deals on Anytime fares, which offer priority boarding and express lanes. Then there’s Business Select tickets for a luxe experience at an affordable price point.
Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member?
You may think these sale fares are too good to be true. Is there a catch? Do you have to be a Southwest Rapid Rewards member to access them? You’re in luck — anyone can attain these fares for a limited time.
But, insider tip, you should consider signing up for Southwest Rapid Rewards. With a free sign up, you earn points and miles with each trip you take. And with this sale, each dollar you spend on these discounted tix can stretch super far until you eventually earn free travel. The only thing better than a sale is free stuff.
So pack your bags and brace yourself for those chaotic airport lines. Everyone’s hopping on this deal so get on it. Don’t miss out — grab your sale tickets by October 3rd!
I’ve been browsing the Southwest Airlines site, checking out flights and dreaming.