Try these cheap Valentine’s Day gifts

A $340 hotel package? Forget it. $90 concert tickets? Nope. $75 fixed-price dinner? Still too much.

Instead of spending your entire paycheck on Valentine’s Day, consider these gift ideas to keep your wallet fat and your romance blooming.

Love in motion

Kaitlyn Dennihy says she and her boyfriend of four years rarely splurge on Feb. 14. They’ve done everything from hiking to playing racquetball to attending a college basketball game.

“I just don’t see the point in spending a ton of money,” Dennihy, a Buckhead resident, says. “We really like to stay outdoors or do something active.”

So go ahead, you active types — fight with your partner. Take the couple’s fitness class at Dance 101, an Atlanta dance studio. The class is inspired by the Brazilian art form Capoeira, a mixture of martial arts and dance. It’ll have you touching, laughing and moving together — for only $20 per couple.

Leisurely love

Create a home spa. Add scented candles, relaxing music and dim lighting to the bathroom. Provide bubble bath and toasty towels right out of the dryer. If you have pets, BlackBerrys or other distractions that might intrude, take care of these in advance.

A thoughtful dinner is a great end to the night, says Sarah Kathryn Smith, president of One-on-One Matchmaking in Atlanta.

“Cooking at home might sound like a drag, but the key to making it a success is to bring in elements you don’t usually indulge in. Have the fireplace going. And above all else, dress for the occasion,” Smith says.

You might even start your own tradition. Amanda Rogers of Buford says she and her husband used to always go out.

“But five years ago we were on a budget, and decided to stay home and pulled out this fondue pot we got for a wedding gift.” They’ve made fondue at home every Valentine’s Day since.

Labor of love

Smith stresses that there are other inexpensive gifts you can give.

“It’s not about the price point,” she says. “But you must do something.”

And nothing could be cheaper than doing chores. Does she hate doing laundry? Bring on the detergent. Is he dragging his heels on yard work? Get your gardening spade. To make this gift extra special, do it the whole week before Feb. 14 so your partner truly gets a rest. Your sweetie might start feeling more, er, romantic before the big day even rolls around.

What inexpensive ways are you planning on celebrating Valentine’s Day?

– By Lauren Davidson, Atlanta Bargain Hunter

See a great deal I should know about? Email me at ldavidson@ajc.com. You can also follow me on Facebook or on Twitter @atlbargains.

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