Spice up your love-life without spending a fortune

Operation Don’t Go Broke is devoted to bringing readers helpful tips on ways to save in college.
Valentine’s Day is coming up, but winning a heart doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Plan an affordable date that will reignite the spark in your relationship. Start by analyzing the dynamic of the relationship and listing shared interests. What is your couple style?
Nature Lovers:

• Go caving.
• Picnic in the park.
• Watch the sunset.
• Test the waters kayaking.
• Take a nature hike.

Home-bodies:

• Serve up breakfast in bed.
• Play a multiplayer video game, board game or strip poker.
• Offer an at home massage.
• Have a Netflix movie marathon.
• Soak in the tub.

Urban Love:

• Go out for ice cream or frozen yogurt.
• Watch a movie at McMenamins for $3.
• Hit a local dive bar’s “Happy Hour.”
• Take a tandem bike ride.
• Rock out at a free concert.

Geeky Sweeties:

• Take an art, photography or martial arts class together.
• Visit a museum or historic landmark.
• Join a book club.
• Hang out at the library.
• Browse antique shops.

Food-lovers:

• Make a meal together. Collaborate on a menu, splurge on a fancy beverage, appetizer and dessert, like chocolate covered strawberries.
• Take a couple’s cooking workshop.
• Grow a vegetable garden.
• Hit the local farmer’s market.
• Bake some fresh bread and make homemade pasta.

Sporty Sweethearts:

• Hit a bucket of balls at the golf range.
• Join a couple’s softball league.
• Work-out together.
• Train for a marathon.
• Play Frisbee golf.

Activists:

• Volunteer together.
• Plant a tree.
• Donate to charity.
• Clean up the streets by picking up trash and recycling.
• Chain yourselves together to protest something.

Whatever date you decide on, make it a memorable one by taking the time to show your significant other just how much you care. Ignore the rest of the world for a day and leave your phone on silent to get reacquainted with all the things you love about that special someone.
First year COCC nursing student, Anna Quesenberry is a wife and mother of two who is passionate about saving money.
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Next on ODGB: Tips on cutting small expenses.