Non-Romantic Valentine's Day Activities on a Budget

While Valentine’s Day is all about feeling the love, who says you have to celebrate with romantic gestures? As long as you’re giving your special someone or a fellow girlfriend some appreciation and spending some quality time, you’re good to go. Read on to find out non-romantic was you can celebrate this year, whoever that is with. 

Have an Indoor Picnic

Valentine’s Day takes place in February when it’s usually quite chilly out, so it’s probably not the best to have a picnic outdoors. Nevertheless, as long as you’ve got a few delicious snacks, you can have an indoor picnic which is just as fun and a lot less hassle. 

What’s more, if you know of some budget-friendly picnic ideas, your bank account will also thank you.  

Plan a Holiday

There’s nothing like planning a holiday to help you through the cold winter months. So, whether you’re getting your girls together or jetting off with your loved one, put some time aside to get planning. 

Do some research to help you decide on some potential destinations, and utilise free social media apps like Instagram and TikTok to see whether the location you have in mind is the vibe that you’re after.  

Make sure you check out our handy articles on some of the best destinations for budget travellers, as well as how to find the best travel deals, Cheap Hotel Rooms on a Student Budget, and how much money all-inclusive holidays save, so you can book the vacation of your dreams, without it costing a fortune.  

Charity Shop Crawl

Don’t let a tight budget stop you from hitting the shops for some serious retail therapy. Get your friends together and check out all of your local charity shops. You’re sure to find some absolute steals, and what’s more, you never know what you might find. 

Try an Alcohol-Free Activity

With dry January coming to an end, why not start February off with an alcohol-free activity on a budget? From testing out your bartending skills by making mocktails to hitting your yearly reading goal by creating a book club, it’s the perfect way to spend the day with your friends or your special someone in a non-traditional way. 

Go on a Hike

Get out and enjoy the fresh air with your favourite person on a hike. Utilise apps like AllTrails which can help you find local routes with ratings, reviews, and tracking features so you don’t get lost. Alternatively, check out our article on some of the best UK walking spots so you don’t miss out on some of the most beautiful views in England. 

Take a Nap

If you need some serious recharge time, who better to do it with than someone you love? Napping can be a great way to help you feel relaxed, reduce stress, and even has the potential to improve your memory. 

According to the Sleep Foundation, the ‘ideal nap length is between 20 and 30 minutes [which] should help you wake up feeling refreshed.’ So, grab your favourite blanket and cosy up on the sofa for some uninterrupted downtime.  

Decorate Your Home

Whether you’ve just moved in, or your home could do with a bit of a refresh, invest some time in giving it a lick of paint. You’d be surprised what just one tin of paint can do to transform a room. 

Be sure to check out our article on ways to decorate on a budget where you can learn several simple ways to use paint to achieve your desired look, from feature walls to painted ceilings, without breaking the bank. 

If you’re decorating rented property or decorating on a student budget, we’ve got you covered too.  

Learn a New Skill or Hobby

Providing you know where you can find affordable resources for learning hobbies or tech skills, enjoy bonding with your partner or friends over learning a new hobby together. Hobbies can take some time so doing it with friends or your loved one will help keep you all accountable. 

What’s more, you can make it a more regular thing, taking turns to host your hobby-related evening with snacks and drinks.  

Have a Pamper Night on a Budget

Couples that relax together stay together, isn’t that what they say? Well, anyway, you can’t go wrong with an at-home pamper night. Be sure to read our handy article on how to level up your at-home pamper nights on a budget so you can find ways to create that spa-like feeling from the comfort of your home. 

From having a bubble bath with your favourite beverage to making your own bath bomb and trying a new facial technique, whoever you do it with, you’ll certainly appreciate spending some time for yourself, with people you love. 

Make Brunch

Brunch is the perfect option when you can’t decide between breakfast or lunch, but the cost can easily add up when eating out. Next time you fancy a bite to eat, why not have a go at making your own? 

Plan and create your own brunch menu, divide the cooking tasks between you and your partner or friends, and enjoy the taste of savings. 

Be sure to check out our handy articles on shopping in the reduced section, and how to save money on your groceries, and if you’re thinking about going vegan, find out how vegan alternatives impact your grocery bill, so you can save even more.   

Do a Workout Class

Moving your body in whatever way feels best for you is a one-way ticket to release endorphins that will make you feel on top of the world. Whether you and your partner are looking for tips on how to save on gym memberships or affordable ways to workout from home, we’ve got your back. 

If high-intensity workouts aren’t for you, try something like yoga or pilates, which involve low-impact movements that will still challenge your body. 

What’s more, don’t miss our article on the best fitness apps & trackers so you can continue to achieve your health and fitness goals together during the remainder of the year.  

Host a Craft Night

Host a craft night to get creative and learn a new craft with your partner or friends. Whether you’re looking to cut costs on jewellery by creating your own, making a bath bomb for your next at-home pamper night on a budget, or doing something that requires a little more skill, it’s such a fun activity to do with others. 

Set yourself up with affordable crafting essentials from Hobby Craft, The Works, and Amazon, and don’t miss our handy article on how to source art materials on a budget. Add a few delicious snacks to boost morale, print some photos for inspiration and go, go, go.   

Do a Self Care Activity

Make some time with your favourite person/people to do a self-care activity together. Find a book you’d all like to read and host a 24-hour readathon with snacks and drinks. Binge-watch a new series on TV and write a review. Or try a paint-and-sip evening and get your creative juices flowing. 

Whatever you decide, don’t miss our article on self-care activities on a budget so you can chill out and save money while you do.  

Do a Puzzle

As mentioned before, Valentine’s Day is really about spending quality time with someone you love and doing a puzzle is a great way to do so. Whack on a new film, one of your favourite shows, or maybe just some background music while you work together on your puzzle. 

Some great retailers where you can find a variety of puzzles in terms of difficulty levels and designs include Amazon, Temu, The Works, Waterstones, WH Smith, and more. 

If you’re after something a little special that you can frame later on, why not opt for a personalised puzzle from Photobox?  

Have a Photoshoot

Whether you’ve got hardly any photos with your special someone or your friends, or you’re trying to fill up your scrapbook, have a photoshoot to capture some memories together. 

Head to a few different locations with different vibes, utilise apps like Instagram and Pinterest for inspiration and snap those photos. Not only is it free, but it’s a fun, unique activity too. 

Try Using a Writing Prompt

If you fancy you and your friends writers for the day, get inspired to write using a writing prompt. You can find free writing prompts online, whether you’re looking for genre-specific prompts or randomized ones, you’re sure to create something interesting. 

Give yourselves half an hour to write, and then once your time is up, take turns reading out your work. It might give you that idea for the next bestselling novel, or give you something fun to do with someone special.

Plan a Themed Day

Do something different this Valentine’s Day and plan a themed day with your partner or friends. Whether it’s a pyjama day, a beach day, a wellness day, or a board game day, you’re sure to have a fun day spent together. 

Not only can you tailor your theme day based on things you’ve already got in your wardrobe or home to save yourself some money, but it also makes a change from the traditional, romantic activities you can do like the ones we talked about in our article on The Ultimate Guide for Valentine’s Day on a Budget.