14 Ways to Save on Valentine's Day

1. Where to Dine

What you need to know first: “Our number 1 money-saving tip is: Stay out of the restaurant and bring your celebration home,” says Elizabeth Mascaali, one half of an event company called Party BluPrint. But doing that right means:

1. Eat elsewhere. Romance means special, and eating in the kitchen doesn’t cut it. “Make a move from the table to a cozy spot in your home,” Mascaali says. If you have a fireplace, she recommends spreading a blanket in front of it and dining “picnic style.”

2. Burn for your love. Let’s face it, flames are sexy. “Get a fire lit, whether it’s a fireplace or candles,” Mascaali says.

3. Put the petal to the metal. “Make one red rose work for you,” Mascaali advises. “Take the petals off the rose and sprinkle them all throughout the area. It really adds a luxurious look and feel to your celebration.”

4. Don’t pay double for your bubbles. Most people can’t tell good Champagne from bad. So why bother? Mascaali’s business partner Dawn Sandomeno suggests, “Keep the cork on the Champagne and pop the Prosecco. A really good bottle will run you $15 – a fraction of the cost of Champagne.” A sparkling white wine from Italy, Prosecco is not too sweet and cloying.

5. Flirt with dessert. The last thing you want on a romantic evening is a heavy dessert to weigh down the romance. The best solution is also a cheap one: sorbet. “It’s inexpensive and refreshing,” Sandomeno says. But it can look pricey and exotic if you buy several flavors. Sandomeno’s sexiest combo: “Tangerine and pomegranate with a sprig of mint.”