Here is the second of three “Valentine-Related” blogs I’m posting this year.

Also, while we’re on the topic of Valentine’s Day, I want to give all of you a “heads-up” about an AMAZING hour long video Coach Kimberly and I have created for YOU all about Valentine’s Day — but with an interesting twist.

It’s fun and you don’t want to miss it! So if you’re not on my newsletter list, get on it RIGHT AWAY so you will be notified when it becomes available! (To get on my list, simply go to the blue box at the top right corner of each page of the site and sign up)

OK, now back to today’s blog . . .

If anyone reading this has read me for a while, you may have seen me in the past refer to Valentine’s Day as “Happy Hallmark Day.” Some of my readers thought this meant that I am anti-Valentine’s Day.

So let me clear this up now. I am anti-Valentine’s DAY . . . but I am very much PRO Valentine. Here’s what I mean.

I for one believe that you don’t need a special day in the middle of February to celebrate your relationship and your love . . . or to give that microchip-sized diamond pendant from that jewelry chain that barrages the airwaves with non-stop advertisements around the time of every holiday. Half of you are still paying off the bills you incurred at Christmas telling your sweetheart you love them.

Do you know when I loved Valentine’s Day? I loved it when I was a kid and I got to go to school with my box of Valentine’s Day cards to give to everyone. You know the ones I’m talking about – the ones where the whole box costs about $2.00 and contains little cards that say “Be My Valentine” coming out of Snoopy’s mouth.

Reflecting back on that, and in light of the economic times in which we’re all living, it reminded me that Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to act like a kid and be creative in finding ways to make our Valentine feel special. In fact, there are many things you can do on Valentine’s Day for your Valentine that cost very little money, but will make your Valentine feel just as special (if not more special) than many of the things we do when we’re on a larger budget.

So if you are on a tight budget this year, don’t let it worry you. You can create an amazing Valentine’s Day this year. Here are five ways you can make your Valentine feel special even if you’re on a budget.

1. Do A Valentine Card Scavenger Hunt: Since you probably aren’t spending Valentine’s Day with your entire elementary school class, planning to pass out those little kid Valentine’s Day cards is probably not going to be on the agenda. You can still use those cards with your Valentine, though, to do something really special. Get a box of those little kid cards, and create a scavenger hunt.

Write a different note on each one and seal it in its own envelope. So on the first card you might write “Welcome to your Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt.” Then continue to build the clues. Slip in some “I love you’s” along the way, and end with something like “Meet me at ____ place at 6:00 p.m.” Have it end with them meeting you at some favorite spot of theirs or of you both.

2. Have An Indoor Picnic: Another thing to do is to have a picnic in your home, which is a perfect thing to do in the middle of winter. Most people don’t think about picnics in the middle of winter, so having one in the middle of winter is a lot of the fun of it. When you do it, make the presentation fun and cute. Get flowers and make a little indoor garden. Lay out the blanket. Go the whole nine yards. Your Valentine will love it.  

3. Have a Sweetheart’s Ball: Even when you have a Valentine, it is great to spend the day helping other friends to find the kind of love you have with your Valentine. Have a party – call it a Sweetheart’s Ball – and have everyone you invite bring someone who is looking for a sweetheart. Find the people in your life who really want to meet someone and and invite them to the party. Helping others find love will remind the two of you of how special your relationship is and how much your love means to each other. It’s also a lot of fun!

4. Table For Two Dinner: A great way to celebrate your special Valentine is to create an amazing dinner for them. When I say “create,” what I mean is for YOU to cook it. Cook your Valentine’s favorite meal. Set a really beautiful table. Light some candles. Do the whole production. It doesn’t matter how the meal turns out really. Anyone can call and make a reservation (and pay double because it’s Valentine’s Day). Your effort to create this for them will make your Valentine feel really special, and will be a lot of fun.

5. Create A Private Spa: There is nothing like pampering to make anyone feel special. So for this occasion, think about creating a private spa inside your own home. Give your Valentine a really long and sensual massage. Have a bubble bath. Whatever you choose, take time to make the atmosphere (and yourself) an incredible experience. Light scented candles. Use really amazing massage oil. Put on some soft music. Dress in something sexy yourself (whether you’re a man or a woman). Make the evening all about making your Valentine feel really special.

These are just some ideas for ways to be creative and to create a really special Valentine’s Day if you’re on a budget. Certainly there are countless other ideas that you may come up with that your Valentine would enjoy.

The main thing to remember that doing things like these illustrate, is that your Valentine will appreciate these things as much (if not more) than things which cost more money because of the amount of time, thought and effort that were required to do them. It is when you give those things to your Valentine that you will make them feel really special.