Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and let’s face it, we are all still trying to recover from all the money we spent on Christmas! But planning a romantic date for your spouse does not have to cost a lot of money. Here are some date ideas that are affordable and can be executed last minute, but are still very thoughtful and romantic.

Create Something Together

A really great way to bond together and share a romantic moment is to create something together. A scrapbook is one really great idea. Before Valentine’s Day, go online to a photo printing website and order a bunch of pictures of you two throughout the years. On Valentine’s Day, light some candles, put on some romantic music, pour some wine, and tell your sweetie that you want to create a memory book together.

You could also create a time capsule together. Go through pictures, concert and movie tickets, etc. and pick out your favorites. Put them in a time capsule and put the capsule away until your 25th or 50th wedding anniversary. The capsule can be something as simple as a coffee can, which gives you the opportunity to decorate it together.

Make a Romantic Meal at Home

You can easily create romance at home. Cook something simple and wholesome like spaghetti, garlic bread, and salad. Serve the meal with wine over a candlelit table. Play some soft music in the background. After the meal, you can offer your spouse a massage. Go to the store and buy real massage oils to really make a lasting impression.

Wine Tasting

You don’t have to go to some expensive wine bar or winery to do wine tasting. Create your own wine tasting event right at home. Go to the store and buy five different types of wine and some cheese. At home, lay out all five wines and make a cheese plate. Light some candles, put on music, and open one bottle at a time. Pour only one glass from each bottle and swirl, smell, sip and exchange thoughts on the wine. If you're not sure what to purchase, ask the specialist at the store for some pointers. Knowing your spouse's taste should give them enough information to point you in the right direction (that goes for the cheese as well).

Go On a Picnic

Pack some sandwiches, chips, and a couple of sodas and take your spouse to a really nice park. Don’t bring your phone with you so that you can give your spouse your undivided attention. Before you arrive at the park, make a list of 10 things you love about your spouse and then read it to them during the picnic. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, move your picnic under an overhang and listen to the rain fall—a romantic backdrop. If the weather is just too fierce to bare, move some furniture around in your place and do a little decorating to set the mood for your own stay-at-home picnic.

Breakfast in Bed

Get up early and cook your spouse’s favorite breakfast. Be creative and put the food into the shape of a heart. Serve it to them while they are in bed with a rose in a vase. You could also cut out a simple heart-shaped Valentine's Day note and put it on the plate. Ladies, if you are the one doing this, serve it in a cute nightgown to really impress your husband!

Michele is a romance expert, who specializes in romantic date and proposal planning. She owns The Heart Bandits and has been featured in New York Times, Fox News, Houston Chronicle, Orange County Register, and KTLA news. Contact The Heart Bandits to have them plan your romantic date. For more information about The Heart Bandits, visit www.theheartbandits.com.