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5 Romantic Ideas That Won’t Break Your Wallet (Much)

By U.S. News & World Report

Some weekends are minefields, and for lovers, this coming Valentine’s holiday is one of them. Expensive candies, flowers, dinners and trinkets can add up to a credit card hangover in a hurry. While it’s easy to think that spending more money will help you win affection from your significant other or love interest, maybe there are ways to impress that special someone without draining your wallet.

There are a few secrets to spending less money. Think about other assets to spend on your relationship than money. Consider spending time, being creative and sharing experiences. If you start with those ideas instead of just taking out your wallet, you’ll find that your hard-earned money can stay in your pocket and you’ll still express yourself without looking cheap.

Here are five great ways to make Valentine’s less expensive while maybe even making the holiday more special than if you’d overspent.

1. Create homemade cards with photos of the two of you together. Woo your Valentine by taking the time create a card that includes photos of the two of you and maybe a phrase you found online. I always throw away generic, store-bought cards without thinking about the printed message. However, if my Valentine took the time to write out a simple, heartfelt note? In that case, I’m excited and thrilled.

2. Instead of cut flowers, how about a trip to the place where the flowers grow? Hiking, walking or (if the weather is warm), a bike ride together can be a fantastic gift. Sure, there aren’t flowers in most places during winter months, but my Valentine and I used to take long winter hikes talking about our plans and dreams and enjoyed the fresh, crisp air. Here’s how to supersize the idea: Find a way to hide a picnic, special snacks or a small gift to present halfway through the hike. Too snowy? Head out sledding and pack hot chocolate. Is it warm where you live? Find a new trail or nearby town you haven’t visited to explore.

3. Bestow random acts of kindness on strangers. Here’s an idea for those of you who think Valentine’s Day is a sinister act by greeting card and chocolate companies to get us to empty our wallets: Make the day about someone else completely. Isn’t Valentine’s Day about showing love? Well then, here’s a unique idea. Enlist your special someone to help you complete helpful tasks for other people. Run errands for shut-ins. Make dinner for the family who just had a baby. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Make Valentine’s day unique by both showing the world how fun it is to help other people who are less fortunate than you. While the actual events of the day might not sound romantic at first, you’ll both be glowing with the thrill of giving back when it’s over.

4. Cook a special meal for two (or more) at home. Expensive restaurants are nice, but the thought that you worked hard on a meal goes farther and can be much less expensive and healthier. Find out your Valentine’s favorite meal, light some cheap candles, load up your iPod with romantic songs from their favorite artist and you’ve just beaten the expensive restaurant soundly. Plus, for many, there’s nothing more romantic than taking the time to cook something special that’s exactly what they wanted … even if you burn it a little. Trust me.

5. Spend the day together at home playing board games. Valentine’s Day is even special for nerds, and if your special someone is as nerdy as we are, nothing is more romantic than spending time together. While it’s not a surprise that a list I put together ends in board games, the point is to spend time together doing an activity at home that you both enjoy instead of showering each other with expensive gifts. I understand that not everyone’s a board game nerd, but at our house, spending time with just the two of us enjoying each other’s company and maybe a little Tokaido or Ticket to Ride? That’s something we don’t get to do often enough. For you, it might be reading books or watching Netflix. The point is, if you’re busy, get un-busy enough to notice that special someone.

Overall, no matter what you like to do, there are a few keys to pulling off a successful and inexpensive Valentine’s Day. While spending money might make an impression, spending richer assets like time and energy to create something unique can turn another “Hallmark holiday” into something truly special for both of you.

More from U.S. News

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5 Romantic Ideas That Won’t Break Your Wallet (Much) originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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