Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, and suddenly, you realise you need to find a decent gift that isn’t going to break the bank!
It seems like Christmas was just last week, and if you’ve been working less because of January exams, you might be pretty strapped for cash.
You find yourself Googling ‘cheap valentine’s day gifts’. But you doubt they’ll love a dozen plastic-looking roses or underwear with your face on.
Suddenly inspiration strikes you. Instead of a gift, what about a romantic date night idea? What about a movie night in?
A romantic movie night in is the perfect option if you’re short on cash this February. It’s one of the best date night ideas for staying in.
Having a date night at home means spending quality time together and having lots of fun without spending a fortune on an expensive three-course meal or a pricey cinema ticket.
But it needs to be special. Otherwise, it’s the same as watching Netflix on any other Tuesday night. Follow these 8 simple tips to make your Valentine’s movie night exceptional…
Don’t waste the first hour of your date scrolling through Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus etc. trying to find something you both want to watch. Instead, agree on a film beforehand so you can get stuck straight in!
If you’re watching a couple of films, why not try a movie marathon and watch a whole series back to back?
A simple and inexpensive way to make the night more interesting is to create a food and drink theme. This could be based on the movie you are watching.
For example, if you’re planning on watching Eat, Pray, Love, you could eat pizza… like they do in the movie. You could even buy a couple of pre-made pizza bases & toppings and whip them up before the film starts. Or, if you’re feeling lazy, order takeout instead!
Alternatively, you could theme your food choices around Valentine’s Day. Why not try making or buying heart-shaped cookies or classic chocolate-covered strawberries?
Will students know what this film is / watch this film? Maybe we could use a more well-known example instead to make it more relatable.
An easy way to make this date night stand out is to buy some fancy popcorn or try to flavour your own…
You can get creative with the flavours, such as pepperoni pizza or peanut butter. Check out these flavoured popcorn recipes for some inspiration.
So, imagine that you’re halfway through your film, and your date is going perfectly. Or it is until your housemate bursts through the front door which completely ruins the atmosphere.
If you’re planning a big date in the living room, it might be a good idea to ask your housemates to stay away for a couple of hours. Or think about having the date in your bedroom instead.
Instead of dressing up for your movie night, you could do the opposite (especially if your having a housemate night in)… think pyjamas, onesies and dressing gowns. Cover your sofa with extra blankets and pillows to increase the cosiness factor even more. Unlike going to the cinema, watching a film at home means being as cosy as you like.
You could even light some candles and get the room smelling like freshly-cut roses for a romantic touch!
Rather than just sending quick WhatsApp inviting your date to your movie night, try thinking of a creative one. Extra points for including a pun.
You could design an invite, print it out, or even hand-make one. Ensure you include details of which movie you’ll be watching, what to wear and the food and drink you’ll have.
To make this date night extra special, buy a nice bottle of wine or even make some simple homemade cocktails*. These don’t have to be expensive – try looking for a recipe with only a few ingredients or one that uses alcohol you already have. Have a look at this list of 81 easy cocktails to get some ideas. *Split The Bills promotes responsible drinking. Ages 18+.
If you’re not a fan of movie nights, then there are still lots of thoughtful gifts and experiences that you can organise on a budget. For example, you could try a game night and purchase a couple of 2-player board games to play just the two of you. Or if video games are more your style, download some 2-player games and play game all night!
Another great experience-based Valentine’s gift is a ‘date night in a box’. This is a box filled with future date ideas for you to go on. You can buy a box ready-made or make your own and tailor it to what you enjoy! These could be expensive dates like trying a new cuisine or a simple activity like a long, romantic bubble bath.
If you’re a student or a young professional whose always running out of cash, then using a bill-splitting service like us could help you save and budget your money better. Let us work out your bills… so you have more time for the ‘thrills’ (we told you we liked a pun!).
Here at Split the Bills, we set up your utility accounts for you and manage the direct debits. We split the bills equally among your housemates and ensure everyone pays their fair share on time. So, no more arguments about time spent in the shower, moaning about late payments, or one person being solely responsible for everything!
All you have to do is pay one bill each month, meaning it’s easy to budget because you know exactly how much your utility bill will be each month. So you’ll know how much money you’ll have left over for dates and gifts.
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