The following is a guest post by Angelita Williams.

It’s only a week away—that one day that we all love to hate, the day in which we are all reminded how inadequate we are romantically, regardless of whether we  are single or taken—Valentine’s Day. Most Valentine’s Day dates are remarkably unmemorable, and the sad part is that you usually end up spending oodles of money in the process.

Instead of doing your typical date night—fancy restaurant, post-meal event, etc., why not spend more time thinking of creative, cheaper ideas, and less money on marked up Valentine’s Day menus? Here are a few ideas:

Have a fancy meal at home.

Nothing says, “I love you,” quite like cooking an elaborate meal for your significant other. Even if you aren’t the best cook, he or she will certainly appreciate the effort. If you are short on meal ideas, check out this Chow Hound forum.

Find free events in your hometown.

Free events in your hometown are perhaps more common than you think. Check out your local daily to see what’s going on that night. For example, many city parks have free movie nights in which you bring your own beverages, snacks, and blankets, and watch a movie on a large projector. Museums tend to have special nights in which admission is free or discounted. If you can’t find anything in a newspaper, be sure to Google events and see what comes up.

Have a night at the skate rink.

Although it may sounds a little cheesy, going to the skate rink together, coupled with some hot cocoa, can be a really fun time. Even if you haven’t skated in a really long time, you’d be surprised by how exhilarating it can be to skate with your loved one.

Take a lesson together.

Learning something together with your significant other makes for a surprisingly romantic and cheap experience. Most introductory lessons, like cooking or flying lessons, are inexpensive and provide you and your date with instant fun.

Volunteer for a local organization together.

Giving back to one’s community is something we should all do more often. Instead of needlessly spending a bunch of money, why not put some work in with your partner to help others who need it more? Look up your local soup kitchen or Salvation Army, and ask how you can best spend your time volunteering with your loved one.

These are just a few basic ideas for Valentine’s Day dates that don’t break the bank, but there are countless others. If you employ a little creativity, you’d be surprised by how the cheapest dates can end up being the most memorable.

Good luck!

This post was contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online courses.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.