Life isn’t all rosy for a college student who has to rely on his meagre pocket money from parents to sail through his college years. To make things worse, with Valentine’s Day casting its romantic hues and expectations of a blissful night with your lover, it’s difficult to splurge when you have money only for bare essentials. So, how can you make this day special in your limited means and without coming off as a cheap skate? Here’s how:

1. Go For a Walk – Ever tried walking leisurely with your special someone under the stars in a serene place with a beautiful view, on the beach side, or in a nice mountain park? If not
then give it a try for once and you’ll surely not regret it. There’s something about nature that imparts the best ambiance of romanticism infused with mysticism that brings people closer.

2. Cook For Your Date – There’s no better way to make the other person feel special than to show that you have put in the time and efforts to bring a smile on their face. Cooking for
them is a great way to let them know that you care. Sure, many of you don’t know how to cook. So what? What’s the Internet for? Search through the videos for his/her favorite recipe and get started. If you’re staying in a hostel, you may request the kitchen staff to help you out a little and give you the permission to cook, under their vigilance, of course!

Want to earn some bonus points? Put on a tidy sheet of cloth on the dinner table, dim the lights, put on some romantic music and light on a few candles to create the ambiance. Old school, yes! But it still work wonders as there’s a good chance that your special someone has not been swept off their feet this way before.

3. Have a Fun Movie Night – Rent out your favorite DVDs and watch them together all night long. Have some cupcakes and popcorns stacked with you and you’re all set! Spending quality time together can be so much more fun than simply visiting an extravagant restaurant or going to the theatres that offer lesser privacy and comfort.

4. Reminisce – Looking back in time to the day you first met, or the beautiful moments that you shared together can make your hearts melt in seconds and bring back the sweet
memories that has led you two to where you are today.

Finally, spending quality time with your special someone is a lot more important than any material gifts or lavish outings. Do not feel compelled to buy an expensive gift on a credit card or by borrowing money from anyone when you’re broke and are not sure if you will be able to pay back in time. The consequences of unpaid credit card debts can be negative credit reports of the credit card holder and credit repair may take a while, ranging from a few months to sometimes even a few years.

If you really want to gift something, you can always start saving now and give them when you’ve saved enough funds. There doesn’t even have to be an occasion. Just make your loved one feel special in your own way and your gesture will surely be appreciated.

Lisa Godreche is a finance expert and specializes in busting credit repair scams.