Tips for Valentine’s Day on a budget

If you’re having trouble making ends meet, you don’t have to succumb to holiday pressure and spend money you don’t have just to show someone you love them. Some of our Licensed Insolvency Trustees across the country exposed their romantic side by sharing these great low-to-no-cost tips for having a memorable Valentines Day in 2017.

ALBERTA:

Freida Richer tells us how to have a romantic day in Alberta without breaking the bank!

• Outdoor skating: Bundle up and head outdoors for skating at Olympic Plaza or snowshoeing at Bragg Creek or the Kanasksis Silver Skate Festival and enjoy Edmonton’s picturesque Hawrelak Park in the River Valley. You can get hot chocolate there or bring some of your own for afterwards and have a romantic winter picnic.
• Plan and prepare a romantic dinner at home together: Staying in is a great way to save money, and enjoying a meal at home can be more romantic than eating dinner in a noisy, crowded restaurant. Set the stage with candles, and dig out your good dishes and wine glasses!
• Explore the city: Exploring your own neighbourhood with your loved one is a romantic way to spend an evening without breaking the bank. There are plenty of activities around town that are perfect for a date night on a budget including a Telus Spark adult night a few days before Valentine’s Day, the Penguin March at the Calgary Zoo, cheap seats at the Calgary philharmonic (which start at $25), or try cooking classes at SAIT or  “Get Cooking, MacEwan University”.

HALIFAX:

We discovered Rob McLernon is a romantic at heart when he shared these tips with us.

• Outdoor skating at the Emera Oval: Plan a romantic outing to the Emera Oval with your significant other and enjoy an evening of skating under the stars. Bring some hot chocolate and snacks for afterwards and have a romantic winter picnic
• Explore the Halifax / Dartmouth waterfront: Walk the boardwalk, take the ferry across the harbor, and stop into a coffee shop for a snack. Exploring your own neighbourhood with your loved one is an exciting way to spend a romantic evening without breaking the bank
• Plan and prepare a romantic dinner at home together: Staying in is a great way to save money, and enjoying a meal at home can be more romantic than eating dinner in a noisy, crowded restaurant. Set the stage with candles, and dig out your good dishes and wine glasses!
• Go snowshoeing: Consider renting some snowshoes or cross country skis (or better yet, borrow equipment from a friend) and head out for a jaunt in Shubie Park or Point Pleasant Park.

CAPE BRETON ISLAND:

Thanks to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Licensed Insolvency Trustee Blaire MacNeil for these tips for planning Valentine’s Day activities around the island.

• Venture outdoors: Consider renting some snowshoes or cross country skis (or borrow equipment from friends) and head out for a snowshoe hike around the Clyburn Loop at the Clyburn Trail in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
• Go to the movies – it’s cheap night: Movie tickets are cheaper on Tuesdays, and Valentine’s Day just happens to fall on a Tuesday this year! Take advantage of cheap night and grab a couple cheap movie tickets for you and your significant other.
• Cook a romantic dinner together: Staying in is a great way to save money, and enjoying a meal at home can be more romantic than eating dinner in a noisy, crowded restaurant. Set the stage with candles, and dig out the good dishes and wine glasses.
• Attend a community hall dance: If staying in is not your thing, the Practical Nursing Students are hosting a Valentine’s dance with a silent auction on Saturday, Feb 11 from 9pm to 1 am at Grand Lake Road Fire Dept. All proceeds go towards Loaves and Fishes, and tickets are $15 per couple! Call 902-317-1389 for tickets.

NEW BRUNSWICK:

Kristi Stuart and the New Brunswick team shared these tips.

• Outdoor Skating: Plan a romantic evening of outdoor skating at the Arts & Culture Park in Quispamsis, or skate to music under the stars at Lily Lake Pavilion in Saint John. Bring some hot chocolate and snacks for afterwards and have a romantic winter picnic
• Plan a romantic stroll through Rockwood Park: Bundle up, grab your loved one, and embark on a romantic stroll through Rockwood Park. Bring some hot chocolate and snacks and have a romantic winter picnic after your walk
• Cook a romantic dinner together: Staying in is a great way to save money, and enjoying a meal at home can be more romantic than eating dinner in a noisy, crowded restaurant. Set the stage with candles, and dig out the good dishes and wine glasses!

If your debt load is causing you stress beyond trying to plan the perfect Valentines Day gift, contact one of our debt help professionals for a free, no obligation debt consultation.