It’s almost Valentine’s Day, the most romantic holiday of the year, but not everyone’s in a relationship.
Hey! Don’t feel bad about it. Your life is just as amazing as it would be with a significant other by your side. Besides, love has a way of popping up when we least expect it.
While some couples are already making reservations at their favorite restaurants, I’ve come up with a list of fun and free ways for anyone looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day solo without breaking the bank.
From throwing a full-blown spa day at home to Skyping with your besties, to going on a mini-adventure without having to answer to anyone, there’s something for everyone on this list.
1. Video Chat with Some Friends
Text a couple of close friends and arrange a virtual BFF date night on Skype or Zoom. You can watch a movie together thanks to Netflix Party, or play an online game until the pizza arrives. Then grab some wine and catch up on the latest events in your lives.
2. Dress Up in Something that Makes You Feel Incredible
So you might not have a date this year. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get all glammed up anyway. Find an outfit that makes you feel confident and beautiful. Take your time getting ready and do your hair, put on a face mask, and watch a few silly YouTube videos while you drink some tea. Finish off by doing your makeup the way you like it and head out to your favorite café or bar. There’s nothing more empowering than dressing up and taking yourself on a date.
3. Do Something for Another Couple
Tell your brother or sister that you’ll babysit their kids while they go out and have a good time or offer to take your parents out to dinner. Your treat, of course. Admit it. They could use this after raising you all those years!
4. Start a New Tradition
Have a favorite movie in mind? Do you secretly love cliché romance movies you’d never ask a significant other to watch with you? Then make it a tradition to play it every Valentine’s Day. Of course, the movie doesn’t have to be romantic at all if you’re not into that. Any genre will do. Watch all three “The Lord of the Rings” movies if you want to. You can try something else like bar hopping or baking all of your favorite meals. Just make sure to stay faithful to doing something you actually enjoy.
5. Decorate Your Favorite Mug
Grab your favorite cup and write an inspiring message along with a few doodles here and there using an oil-based sharpie. Then place the mug in the oven for 2 hours at 250 degrees. This will ensure that the message won’t smear off when it’s washed. If you’re up for it, you can even write a few inside jokes and give them to your best friend as a Valentine’s Day gift.
6. Have an At-Home Solo Spa Session
No need to go to a real spa. You can keep things simple (and cheap!) by recreating the ambiance of your favorite spa at home. Play some relaxing music, light a few candles, and bake a few treats. Then throw in a bath bomb in the tub and relax. Don’t forget to put on a face mask. Don’t have one? There are lots of DIY face mask tutorials on YouTube, and some of them use ingredients we all keep in the pantry.
7. Explore a New Area of Town
Head downtown and walk around until you find an area you’ve never been to before. Most cities are pretty big, so there’s bound to be a new neighborhood worth discovering, like a new shopping center, a themed café, or maybe even an amusement park.
8. Pay a Visit to an Animal Shelter
Valentine’s Day is the holiday of love, and no one needs more affection than the adorable creatures at your local animal shelter. They’re just waiting for a human to love them and show them some attention. Who knows? Maybe you’ll wind up giving them a forever home!
9. Make Valentine’s Day Cards to Send to Friends
Grab some cardstock paper, some glitter, ribbon, and some markers, and start making Valentine’s Day cards to send to friends, family members, or co-workers. The hard work placed on the decorations should be just as important as the message inside the card to let them know how much they mean to you.
10. Send a Lovely Text to Your Loved Ones
For those who don’t feel like making Valentine’s Day cards or find them to be a little too personal, try texting. Send a lovely text message and express your love and gratitude to a relative or a group of friends and let them know how much they mean to you.
11. Bake Sweet Treats and Give Them as Gifts
Show someone how much you love them or how special they make you feel by baking a couple of delicious sweet treats. It could be anything from a batch of chocolate chip cookies to brownies or even a pie with a heart shape in the middle.
12. Spend Valentine’s Day with Your Parents
Hanging out with the parents on Valentine’s Day is a pretty great way to feel appreciated during this holiday because you get to feel like a kid again as mom will undoubtedly make her famous home-cooked meatloaf. But make sure to treat them as well. Bring over some champagne or bake their favorite dessert and spend all day watching movies or playing a board game.
13. Go on a Solo Nature Walk
Look for the nearest national park. If there isn’t one available, then a regular city park will do. Then head out and disconnect from it all while you get in touch with nature and fill those lungs with some fresh air.
14. Love Yourself
There are many ways to show yourself some love by spending the day doing things you enjoy without spending a buck. I have some suggestions but feel free to add your own:
- Call in sick and catch up on your beauty sleep
- Spend the day watching funny pet videos on YouTube
- Make your favorite meal
- Invite a friend over to watch a movie at home
- Give yourself a facial
- Beat your favorite video game
- Dance in the living room all afternoon
- Try a new makeup tutorial
15. Binge Watch Your Favorite Shows
Do a marathon of some guilty pleasure shows like “Sex and the City,” “Emily in Paris,” “Gossip Girl,” “Love, Lust, or Run,” “Ugly Betty” or “America’s Next Top Model” and shamelessly get lost in all the drama, love, relationship woes, and fashion. There’s no one there to judge you!
