Recycled Love & Reused Cards: A Pack Rat's Frugal Love Story

A love story for pack rats: With a mountain of cards and a sluggish economy, one older couple has found a thrifty way to celebrate their romance.

As an exercise in love, they each sorted through the cards that they had exchanged and saved over the years: Imagine stacks of cherished Valentine's Day cards collected during the course of a relationship or marriage that has lasted decades. Their assignment: Find the cards that have meant the most over the years and present those cards to each other.

Why buy new cards when older editions speak volumes about commitment and enduring love? That story came from my friend Christine B. and was based on the Valentine's exchange that Christine's mom and stepfather have launched this year. The gesture was frugal and very romantic. In fact, the recycled love notes prompted Christine to ask her own husband about launching their own romantic traditions.

After reading my post about frugal Valentine's gifts, Christine called to share that story with me.

Thanks Christine.

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A Frugal Valentine List: 10 Ideas for Under $10

With a conflicted history of anti-Valentine's Day rants, I offer this list of frugal romance:

No-Cost or Low-Cost Gifts

1. Love Letter: E-mails are cold; store cards are artificial and text message are temporary. But letters engrave the heart and engage the emotions. Handwritten letters are rare. But a personal note --romantic or friendship -- makes the heart sing.

2. Poem: Rhymes, meters and metaphors are nice but not necessary. Forget the couplets or the sonnets. Just sketch a few words and frame them in short verses. Create a title; date the poem and sign your name.

3. Vintage announcement. Find out what happened on the exact date on which your loved one or friend was born. Conduct online research. Print out the material on nice paper or frame the information in a pretty frame.

4. Antique Jewelry: Yard sales, craft shows, thrift shops and flea markets are great sources of (frugal) one-of-a-kind vintage jewelery for men and women.

5. Potted Plants: Grow past the cut flower/bouquet stage with a few containers of potted, flowering plants. Your gift and the memory of the gift will last longer than a week. What's more, potted plants can be purchased for as low as $2 per container.

6. Create a calendar: Use the calendar function from your home PC to create a customized calendar. Flag significant dates, relationship anniversaries and birthdays. Create special holidays that reflect past occasions and future dates. Add personal photographs or clip art.

7. Launch a blog: Use one of several free online templates to create a Valentine's Blog for a loved one or friend. Upload photographs and create meaningful links: either a song or a poem.

8. Write a song: One of my favorite scenes from the Twilight series occurs when Edward writes and records beautiful song for Bella.

9. Create a food basket of favorite foods: Does your sweetheart have sweet tooth or cravings for salt-and-vinegar potato chips? Find a customized menu of treats and create a personalized basket.

10. Labor of love: Clean the house or room; wash the dishes; vacuum the car; paint a room, give the dog a bath or commit to some other chore for Valentine's Day.

related posts:

12 Non-Valentine's Day Activities


My Playlist: Frugal Love Songs for Valentine's Day


Cheap Cupid: 11 Frugal Ideas for Valentine's Day:

Why I Hate Valentine's Day: Let Me Count The Money-Draining Ways





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12 Non-Valentine's Day Activities

I've never been a big fan of Valentine's Day. Here are 10 things I'd rather do instead of celebrating this holiday:

1) Cash in coins: I have a healthy pot of spare change, collected from random corners around my home. Today I plan to get the stash counted at a coin machine at our local supermarket.

2) Purge: I'd like to box up all the toys that my children have outgrown and give the stuff to charity or to a neighbor with young children. Note to self: Check the toy recall list. Don't pass on dangerous trinkets.

3) Apply at Starbucks: Now here's a fantasy: An interesting part-time job with free coffee and health insurance.

4) Pursue new business: My to-do list is filled with business and career opportunities. Instead of celebrating Valentine's Day, I could make a few phone calls, write a few query letters and design a long-term business plan.

5) Read a poem. Write a poem. Don't need a holiday to enjoy a good love poem.

6) Create March budget: Call it a spending plan. Call it a savings plan. Call it anything. Just crunch the numbers and outline an agenda for the next 30 days.

7) Write letters. No emails. Just buy stamps and send real letters to three people, including my Aunt Norma. Encourage my kids to write to their pen pals. Catch up on Thank You notes.

8) Update idea file. Writing, blogging and saving money will be easier if I plan ahead with stories and research about personal finance. Get a head start with a list of ideas for future columns, articles and posts.

9) Get more exercise. Go for a long walk. Pop in an exercise tape or take an aerobics class at the community center. Keep moving and strengthen the heart.

10) Collect money. Send out invoices for work completed. Earning money for the family budget is just another form of love.

11) Clip coupons: Either online or in the newspaper, look for coupons for products and services that I really need. Compare the potential savings to the quality and prices of no-name products. Don't clip mindlessly. Don't spend without calculating.

12) Study the phone bill: Do I really need call-waiting? Are there any random charges on my bill that should be purged? Review bills and ask questions.

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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere!, which will be published in June of 2008 by DPL Press.

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My Playlist: Frugal Love Songs for Valentine's Day

My favorite love songs all have a frugal theme and a bottom-line impact with this message: We don't have to spend a fortune on Valentine's Day or any other day to show appreciation, love and respect for the significant people in our lives.

Here's my playlist of love songs with a frugal theme:

Your Song by Elton John. I have loved this song since I was in Junior High School during the 1970s.

Key Lyrics:

"I know it's not much but it's the best I can do

My gift is my song and this one's for you

--Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Bernie Taupin

Bottom Line Impact: Forget the diamonds; just write me a song and mean it.

Just the Way You Are by Bill Joel. Okay, I am not a major Billy Joel fan, but these lyrics strike a chord with me. Here's why: Back in the day, I was the type of chick who would spend a fortune trying to be perfect for my dates. If they wanted me to stand on my head, I would sign up for gymnastics lessons.

In fact, I would be very, very wealthy now if I had saved all of the money I used to spend on hair, makeup, clothes and nails. I altered my appearance so much that I stopped recognizing myself in the mirror. But this Billy Joel song helped me to realize that I just needed to be accepted "as-is." (Or to accept myself as-is!) Thank You, Billy Joel!

Key Lyrics:

Don't go trying some new fashion

Don't change the color of your hair

You always have my unspoken passion

Although I might not seem to care

Bottom Line Impact: Cancel the extreme makeover appointments. Take back the new clothes and invest the money. Just be yourself and have fun.

There's Hope by India Arie. This song just makes me happy.

Key Lyrics:

It doesn’t cost a thing to smile

You don’t have to pay to laugh

You better thank God for that

Bottom Line Impact: India Arie says it all: "It ain’t about the size of your car..."

Reality Check: Of course, money matters A LOT in a relationship. It's a real downer when there's not enough to pay the rent, purchase health care insurance or save for a rainy day. But beyond the basics, many of us get carried away with stupid stuff like cars, diamonds and other status symbols. Once the bills are covered, life is too short to stress out about metal, crystals and cloth.

Other favorites from my playlist: Any song by Anita Baker, Tracy Chapman, Sade, The Four Tops and The Gap Band. I love Sarah by Fleetwood Mac (Stevie Nicks). I listen to music for free at Imeem.com.

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Sharon Harvey Rosenberg is the author of The Frugal Duchess of South Beach: How to Live Well and Save Money... Anywhere!, which will be published in June of 2008 by DPL Press.

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The Frugal Duchess Booktique
The Frugal Duchess of Beauty Store

Book Shop of Fear
The Poetry & Drama Queen
Frugal Jazz & Blues
Frugal Comic Book Connection
__

Cheap Cupid: 11 Frugal Ideas for Valentine's Day:

Valentine's Day has become just another big-ticket shopping spree with total sales of over $16 billion dollars, according to data from the National Retail Federation . But this guest post offers 11 frugal ideas for Valentine's Day.

"Last year, consumers spent an average of just under $120 on cards, candy and gifts for loved ones; total industry sales were in excess of $16 billion dollars. according to the .

While Valentine’s Day might offer a post-holiday boost for retailers, for would-be Cupid’s, the holiday takes aim directly at their wallet. "Showing someone that you care shouldn’t involve going into debt," said Jessica Cecere, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. "Thoughtful, creative gifts are much more appreciated and won’t result in late fees and interest penalties."

For many couples, agreeing not to go overboard on Valentine’s Day is important. If you set a spending limit and you don’t stick to it, it could be a sign of financial challenges in your relationship down the road.

CCCS offers some creative ideas to avoid debt on Valentine’s Day.

1. Have dinner in – Instead of making reservations, make a favorite meal and plan a night in. You can have a wonderful meal, complete with dessert and a bottle of wine for a fraction of the cost of eating out.

2. Be childish – Plan an inexpensive evening roller skating, bowling, or miniature golfing. Dine on "fun food" – pizza, hot dogs and ice cream.

3. Get crafty – Gather favorite pictures of the two of you and tickets, postcards or anything else that reminds you of good times. Compile them all in a scrapbook or photo album.

4. Valentine’s Day cards – Whether you opt for a traditional greeting card, a free e-card, or a good old-fashioned hand made card, the most important thing to remember is that nothing beats a heartfelt message telling your loved ones why you think they are special. Instead of a card this year, write a poem and print it on nice stationery to present to that special someone.

5. Skip the flower delivery – Instead of spending a small fortune on flowers, hand deliver a single rose or a hand-picked bouquet of wildflowers.

6. Make sweet music – Download and burn a CD of favorite songs, songs special to your relationship, or love songs. Add your own voice between tracks.

7. Satisfy a sweet tooth – Make heart-shaped cookies or cupcakes and deliver them.

8. Be hands-on – A massage package from the spa is always a big hit, but for Valentine’s Day it is more intimate – and cost effective – to do it yourself.

9. Volunteer – Spend an evening together helping others. Work side-by-side in a food kitchen or spend time working at an animal shelter.

10. Go parking – Arrange for a romantic evening at the park. Pack a picnic dinner, grab a lantern or candles and head outdoors. If it’s too chilly, move your picnic inside.

11. Go Hollywood – Create your own premiere event by renting the movie each of you likes best. Add popcorn and candy.

"Every day provides us with an opportunity to express our love to the special people in our lives," said Cecere. "The best gift you can give is one from the heart. Money can’t buy love."

source: Consumer Credit Counseling Service

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