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Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day where you let that special someone know what they mean to you. It isn’t about outdoing your friends or spending the most money or dreaming up an ultra-extravagant gif. It’s about showing the person you love most that you care. And that doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. 

Oftentimes the simplest gestures and quietest dates are the ones we remember the most. Why? Because they come from the heart – and isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about?

Whether you are strapped for cash this year, or just want to have a more memorable day, try one of these 14 cheap Valentine’s date ideas:

1. Plant some starter plants together. Don’t spend $100 on a dozen long stemmed roses that will wither in a couple of days. Instead, why not plant some seedlings together that you can create a beautiful garden that you can both enjoy for months – or years – to come.
    
2. Be spontaneous. When was the last time you were spontaneous as a couple? Go sledding. Bake a cake together. Do something new and different or old and comfortable. The key here is to not overthink it and just have fun.
    
3. Wander down memory lane. Cuddle up on the couch and watch some old videos of the two of you together. Or flip through some old photos. Spend time remembering who you were and why you fell in love in the first place.
    
4. Go for a walk together. Breathe in some fresh air and enjoy spending time just being together and enjoying your surroundings.
    
5. Go to an arcade. Games aren’t just for kids. What better way to leave your adult worries behind and enjoy being young and in love again.
    
6. Go parking. Remember the thrill of finding a quiet place to make out? Surprise your mate with a good old fashioned make out session in the car – or anywhere really!
    
7. Visit a local arboretum.  Flowers and Valentine’s Day go hand in hand, so why not stroll hand in hand through a beautiful garden?
    
8. Grab dessert. Heading out for a fancy meal on Valentine’s Day is expensive and can often become stressful as you try to get reservations, a babysitter for the entire night, get dressed up, etc. Instead, why not go out for dessert instead? Pick a quiet place that offers a special memory, or that you don’t go to often and that you know won’t be ultra crowded.
    
9. Create a massage date at home. Pick up some oils, buy some new robes and treat each other to a quiet comfortable evening of pampering one another.
    
10. Light some candles.  Even if you can’t go out, you can create a romantic mood at home with a few candles and the right lighting.
     
11. Dance together. Whether you go out to a club or simply kick up your heals on the kitchen floor, put on your favorite tunes and swing into each other’s arms.
     
12. Read to each other. There’s nothing as calming and sweet as listening to your partner read  aloud to you. Pick a book you think you’d both like and take turns reading to one another.
     
13. Hit the open road (with or without a plan). Remember the days when you were free to go wherever or do whatever you wanted? Maybe that meant looking for local haunts, good out of the way burger joints; seeking out covered bridges, antique stores or just driving down unknown roads to see where they lead. Turn Valentine’s Day into your own private wander day. Jump in the car, fill the gas tank and see where it leads you.
     
14. Just spend time together. Honestly it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you can turn any activity into a romantic date if you are willing to be present with one another; enjoy each other’s company; and leave the cares of your life behind for a few hours.

Last year, Americans spent almost $26 billion on Valentine’s Day – and for what?  Dinner, flowers, candy? Statistics show that most couples feel disappointed and stressed after Valentine’s Day anyway. So what’s the answer? Try some of these more meaningful dates instead. You may be surprised at how much you get out of such a cheap date.