1. Create a photo montage

Put all those old photos you have laying around to good use. Gather your favorite pictures of you and your honey, friend or family member and put them together in chronological order. Here’s how. Placing them on a colored paper or board, you can show how your relationship has grown over time. After Valentine’s, this gift will serve as a reminder of how far you have come and how strong your love is.

2. Use nature

With a busy work schedule, house-hold duties, kids and many other time consuming activities, there is hardly enough time to enjoy some of the most beautiful sights that occur all around us. For a romantic valentine’s gift idea, give your significant other the gift of nature. Take them to a park or shore as the sun is setting. A nice, inexpensive bottle of champagne adds a perfect touch to a picturesque setting as you can toast to the love you share. A relaxing and romantic gift; your partner will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

3. Personal coupons

For many of us, a box of chocolates and red roses are a short-lived gift. A book of home-made coupons can last throughout the year without breaking the bank. On simple paper or even on decorated V-day paper make coupons for all the things that would make your honey, friend or family member happy. For example, a husband can include a coupon for his wife giving her a foot massage after her longest work day. You can find some examples here. For a mom, a son or daughter can give the gift of peace and quiet around the house for a day with a coupon. A friend can get a borrowed outfit coupon. Make them fun and tailored specifically for their interests.

1. Fancy dinners at home

Cooking a deliciously elegant dinner for your sweetheart can be easy. There are many cooking sites such as The Food Network  that offer V-day recipes and tips on how to make a gourmet meal. For an extra special touch, try and recreate a special meal you shared: your first date meal, wedding plate, etc.

Tip: if you are on tight budget or have a partner with a sweet tooth, make it a dessert night filled with romantic chocolate treats

2. Stay in

Whether you have a backyard, balcony or complex club house, you can make a mini getaway out of it. Set up a tent, picnic blanket, or just lay in the grass and spend some quality time with your significant other. This would be a perfect opportunity to talk and catch up, for FREE!

3. Romantic Movie Night

Gather together some of your favorite love movies , a cozy blanket and a warm cuddle buddy and spend a relaxing night with some great movies. No dealing with busy restaurants, cheesey decorations or budget-busting outings, this night is just about you two and some great movies.

Tip: Choose romantic comedies as well so that you can enjoy a laugh on your relaxing night in.

4. Make your own gifts

Probably the most expensive part of V-day celebrations is the gift-giving. Showing your love doesn’t necessarily have to be in a costly manner. Making a personal gift with thoughts specifically centered on the receiver will show attention to detail on that person. Who doesn’t like to be thought of so fondly?? Old pictures, love notes, movie stubs and any other memorabilia can be used to create a touching and thoughtful gift.

Think of the big pile of money you’re saving by NOT having to finance a fancy meal, spring for a heart-shaped box of imported chocolates or dole out for long-stemmed roses. Keep exploring this idea further and you’re aligning with the Anti-Valentine’s Day movement – welcome to Singles Awareness Day!

The Anti-Valentine’s Day/Pro-Party Movement
In honor of this new tradition, many entertainment venues have begun hosting Anti-V-Day parties, featuring irresistible incentives to get you and your brethren in the door with group packages including such things, for instance, as a welcoming glass of champagne, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment. Groups of the opposite gender will have ample opportunity to mix and mingle.

Ready, set, flirt!

The alternative to this would be to celebrate at home with friends and family. Here too, the shrewd shopper can make a sound investment by catering a low-brow Anti-Valentine’s Day party. Crack open the code to getting creative on throwing a sinfully kitschy bash.

Here’s how you can throw a spectacular soiree at low-cost:

Refreshments & Dec or:
∙ Greet guests at the door with a single pink carnation.                 Average cost of a dozen carnations: $10
∙ Stock up on Penny Store candy like fireballs, hot tamales and Swedish fish. Average cost for a mix: $5
∙ Snag a few bottles of cheap champagne and serve with a splash of cranberry. Or, up the tack factor and   
   use a splash of Hawaiian Punch.                                                 Average cost of champagne, 2 bottles: $10
                                                                                                                    Average cost of Hawaiian Punch: $2.99

∙Serve cupcakes, strawberries & whipped cream.                              Average cost boxed cupcake mix: $3
                                                                                                                        Average cost 2 doz. Strawberries: $6
                                                                                                                            Average cost whipped cream: $2
Entertainment on the cheap:
∙ Chick flicks. Just turn on The Oxygen Network or Lifetime.                                                         Cost: Free
∙ Glamour Photo Shoot: turn your soiree into a poseathon. Use the best pics for your latest Facebook
   Profile Pic.                                                                                                                                             Cost: Free
∙ Watch The Bachelor, for kicks. Drink each time the women cry or argue.                                Cost: Free

Join us in celebrating the savings you can partake in just for being single this Valentine’s Day. Enter the fray and not only can you protect your heart and wallet, you can have a lot of fun in the process.
                                                                                                                                                      -Carrie Gauthier

To see the world, visit a long-distance love or family member, traveling by plane is a necessity.  But as airfare continues to rise, it has become both a privilege and a luxury, too. While most people tend to save for such an expense, frequent flyers have no choice but to shell out again and again. While prices don’t seem to be going down, there are some tips to keep in mind when you book your next flight. 

Fly Standby

A lesser known alternative, purchasing a standby ticket can be profoundly less expensive, but a bit more risky. Flying standby means your ticket is fulfilled when an extra seat is available on a plane to your destination, so you have to be flexible. To guarantee you’ll get a flight, you’ll get a 4-day window from the website or airline — though waiting 4 days is rare. Also, if there is availability, airlines will provide seats based on check-in times, so the earlier you check-in, the better. You can purchase a standby ticket from sites like AirTech.com or directly from the airline.

Timing is Everything

Surprisingly, the time of day you book is an important factor on the price. If you checked plane ticket prices at 6pm and then again at 1am on the same travel website, you’d be shocked to find that prices go down by $20 or $30. Another variable is the day of the week you make your online ticket purchase. Most travelers purchase their tickets on a Saturday or Sunday, but Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are when prices tend to drop.

Insider scoop: prices are said to be the cheapest on Jan 27-29, Feb 3-5, Sept 7-9, Sept 14-16, Sept 21-23, Sept 28-30, Oct 5-7, Oct 19-22, Nov 3-5, Nov 30-Dec 2 and Dec 7-9

Join the Club

Being a member of AAA, AARP, NRA, or any other organization has its benefits. Airlines often give discounts to members of certain organization, so when you book, be sure ask the airline if they give discounts to members of your organization. Or, contact your organization directly and tell them you’re looking for a discount rate on airfare.

Consider Alternative Airports

If you’re flying to a major city, you probably have at least two airports to consider as options. Some small- and medium-sized cities tend to have another nearby airport and even if it’s an hour or two away, this alternate destination can be much less expensive without being much less convenient.

How to save on Cosmetics

Makeup that works wonders is hard to find, but finding great makeup that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg is even harder.  If you see most of your paycheck flying out of your hands and into the pockets of Mac, Sephora and the like, then it might be time to trim down the cost.

Do You Really Need It?

There’s a big difference between wanting and needing. Sure, smoky eye shadow and red lipstick might be so in this season, but probably won’t be the next. However, if you’re running low on mascara that you use every day, then you have a good reason to buy another one. If you’re impulsive (like me), the trick to avoid splurging is to stay away from the stores until you really need something.

Find a Cheaper Version of Your Favorite Product

I understand the deep love one can hold for a department brand lipstick or eye shadow, but this love does not come cheap! High-end cosmetics can get very expensive, so try to find a cheaper drugstore version of your favorite makeup products. That peach blush you spotted at the drugstore may turn out to be the same quality as the one you pay over $20 for.

Ask & You Shall Receive

Department stores and makeup brands will give out free samples just for walking buy or sitting through a makeover. Using trial sizes of products for a few days can help you decide if you really want to spend money on the full-size version.

It takes money to make money. When referring to gas, it takes gas to get to work to make the money. Unless you live close enough to walk or bike, there is no way around spending hefty amounts of your dollars on gas for your car. Or is there? The following are a few tips that can save you some green at the pumps.

 1. Carpool

Get together with a group of coworkers and plan out a schedule for carpooling. Not only are you each saving on gas expenses, but there is less wear and tear on your car since you are using it less.

 2. Slow down!

Driving at a slower rate has been proved to reduce your cars gas usage. Not only will you be saving on gas expenses but you will be avoiding costly speed tickets.

 3. Public transportation

Many cities offer public transportation routes and services tailored to the working professionals in areas of high 9-5 congestion. Maps and route information are usually available on city sites along with monthly pass discounts.

 4. Walk

If you can’t walk to work, then walk everywhere else. At work, skip the lunch outings and eat in. At home, walk to the store and your local pit stops. Not only are you saving gas money, but you are saving yourself calories as well.

 5. Use technology

In today’s tech day-and-age, there are apps for everything. In this case, there are gas apps that help locate the nearest gas stations with the best prices. These apps also allow you to compare between stations to get the better deal. With you’re texting, take a second to check the cheapest gas prices on your app.

Whether you are vegan or a junk food aficionado, you make weekly, if not daily, trips to the grocery store to stock up on the necessities. Each trip can be a chance for you to either blow the bank or be a smart shopper. With the following trips, the latter will be the most common occurrence.

 1. Forget brand loyalties: Although you may be partial to a specific brand, don’t be afraid to look around. Grocery stores typically carry their own brand which is almost always the cheapest — and tastes just as good as the brand-name items!

 2. Double check your receipts: As you are checking out, pay close attention to the screen to make sure your products are ringing up at the right price and then check your receipt afterwards to make sure you didn’t miss anything.  Every penny counts.

 3. Stick to your list: Make a list of the products you need for the time being or for a specific meal and stick to it. If you don’t stray from your list then there will be no room for you to spend more than you anticipated.

 4. Buy in bulk: Warehouse shopping may be a bit intimidating but once you get past the huge carts and large items there is a chance for big savings. With many products coming in packs of more than one, you are paying less per unit than you would if you only purchased one unit at a regular store.

 *Tip for bulk shopping – buy your non-perishables at warehouses as they can sit on your shelves longer while you consume them.

 5. Eat, then shop: A surefire way to stock up on unnecessary extras is to shop for groceries on an empty stomach. In essence, you are shopping with your eyes and not your head. Shopping on a full tummy may also prevent you from purchasing snacks that your wallet and waistline might not necessarily need at the moment.

Winter is an extreme season, and due to its harsh conditions it can get extremely expensive too (even if you live in the warm south). However, keeping cozy while still keeping your wallet full IS possible:

1. Buy Winter Clothes Before Winter: In the summertime, clothing stores have great deals on winter garb. Even now, the fashion industry is already prepping for spring, so you’ll find great deals on winter wear at all your favorite stores.
2. Out With the Old, in With the New: Consignment stores often buy gently used items from customers, allowing you to trade in and trade up. You’ll most likely receive store credit, but these shops have great finds at great prices. Anybody with a passion for fashion can benefit from this.
3. Consider your climate: If you live in Florida, California, Texas and the like, you won’t need a down coat and full face mask. Just stock up on a few warm sweaters and light coats to lighten the cost.
4. Make Your Clothes More Versatile: Wear your summertime clothes all year round!  Items like tank tops and t-shirts can keep you warm by layering under a long sleeved top.
5. Mix & Match: Stock up on basics like leggings and cotton long sleeve shirts in solid, versatile colors to wear and pair all winter long. Stores like Old Navy and T.J. Maxx carry oh-so-cute basics at great prices.

Okay okay, we know cutting spending is much easier said than done, but we have some tips on how to get there that may have not come to mind immediately. They may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how underused and effectual these tips really are!

Log Your Weekly Expenses: We’re talking ALL expenses; Starbucks, cocktails, cable bill, groceries and so on. Logging expenses also inadvertently gets you to spend as little money as possible anywhere we go because you have your expenses laid out in front of you at all times. After you’ve done this for a week….

Analyze Your Results: Pay attention to what you’re buying. Do you have a high cable bill but don’t watch a lot of TV, or have high grocery bills but lots of unused groceries? Make sure your spending is going somewhere that you get leverage from, whether it’s something you need or something you want. There’s always trimming that can be done!

With that extra money that you’re able to cut out, put it in savings. Adding savings here and there will rack up fast, too, so you might be tempted to touch it. Keep this word in mind: WILLPOWER. Give yourself a minimum of 6 months to dig into it; after a while, you’ll be surprised at how much you have to play with.

1. Put yourself on a bare-bones budget. Jot down your monthly expenses. Then, cross out anything that isn’t essential. Apply all money that you free up toward your debt.
2. Put off purchases.“Make it last or do without” needs to be your motto until you pay off that debt.
3. Forget about your credit cards. Throw them into a cup of water and toss them into the freezer if you have to. Of course you do need to continue paying the minimum or a little more if you can.
4. Stick to your plan. After creating your repayment plan, be sure to follow it strictly. If you have a family, let each of your family members understand about your repayment plan. Encourage everyone to do their share. The cooperation from each family member will certainly contribute greatly to your efforts to take control of your debts.
5. Cutting back doesn’t have to mean cutting out all fun. Look for free concerts and events to keep you in good spirits while you’re paying off your holiday debt