Did you know that back in 2015, it was estimated that Singaporean couples will spend over US$100 each on Valentine’s Day? One can only imagine how the V-Day costs may have gone up in recent years!

But there are more ways to show your love than just through costly gifts and fancy meals. If you’re worried about breaking the bank to show your love this year, try one of these creative yet wallet-friendly takes on the traditional Valentine’s Day romantic gestures:

#1 Swop the movie and dinner for home entertainment

Catching a movie and grabbing dinner has been a common date idea for years. But with crowds and spiking prices, why not stay home and start a new TV series together instead? With a multitude of streaming services and food delivery options available, you’ve got plenty of choices of what to indulge in as you cosy up with your sweetheart in the comforts of your home.

Pro-tip: Pick a show and cuisine that your partner would like but you wouldn’t ordinarily choose—it’s a great way to show respect for their tastes and in any case, love is also about being selfless!

#2 If you can’t take your dream vacation, then plan it!

Where is somewhere that you and your significant other have always wanted to visit? You might not have time to jet off for Valentine’s Day this year, but you can make concrete plans for the trip to happen in the near future.

Spend your V-Day getting excited over places of interest you’d like to visit, restaurants you want to try and other activities you’d like to do—then create an itinerary (or a savings plan to fund the trip) and in the spirit of love, commit to it and book those flights!

#3 Skip the V-Day staycay and actually explore

Staycations are no doubt a great way to feel like you’re on holiday, but if the sense of adventure and thrill of exploring a new place with your beloved is what you seek, try the more wallet-friendly alternative of exploring a new part of town for Valentine’s Day instead.

Spend your V-Day getting excited over places of interest you’d like to visit, restaurants you want to try and other activities you’d like to do—then create an itinerary (or a savings plan to fund the trip) and in the spirit of love, commit to it and book those flights!