Love on a Budget

Does the current economic crisis have you feeling like there is no love in the world? Are you too depressed to think about Valentine’s Day? Well cheer up, because there are plenty of ways to show someone you care while staying on a tight budget.

1. Make chocolate rice krispie treats with pink and red sprinkles.
Ingredients: 4 cups mini-marshmallows
6 cups chocolate flavored rice krispies
1 stick of butter
-melt the butter in a large saucepan
-add marshmallows
-add rice krispies
- spread into pans
-sprinkle with red and pink sugar and let cool
Total cost: $3.00
Bonus buck: Kellogg’s chocolate rice krispies are now on sale at Lucky.
Buy 4 boxes for $6. You can make enough for all your friends and still have some cereal left over for breakfast.

2. Hot chocolate
Surprise your special someone with a mug of piping hot chocolate Saturday morning.
Total cost: $0.40

3. Make heart-shaped brownies
Use the box mixes, they are always better than from scratch. I recommend Betty Crocker.
Use heart-shaped cookie cutters and cute wrapping paper for a full-fledged gift.
Total cost: $2.80

4. Take your valentine to Fro-Yo
Win your valentine’s heart with a creamy treat from the beloved Solano frozen yogurt. Total cost: 2.80 including festive sprinkles

5. This year, instead of that Tiffany’s necklace you have been contemplating, make your love a friendship bracelet using all their favorite colors.
Total cost: $0.50 – $2.00 depending on colors

6. Make a mix CD
Be sure to create a song list with little blurbs for every song explaining why it is special.
Total cost: 0.50

7. Make a homemade card
Use the colors red, white, and pink exclusively.
Don’t be afraid to use hearts profusely.
There is no such thing as too much glitter.
Total cost: $0 if you mooch art supplies from a teacher or friend

8. Instead of expensive roses, give your valentine a hand-picked bouquet of wildflowers.
Total cost: $0