Love Don’t Cost a Thing
Ditch pricey dinners and bank-breaking gifts for fun and affordable date ideas this Valentine’s. Our complete guide will help you craft a thrifty but memorable experience. Additionally, we paid special attention to ways to save energy and lower your Georgia gas use this month. This is because a deep wave in the polar vortex is sending winter storms across the US. With this severe weather, we could see some volatility in natural gas rates, making savings especially useful. So, welcome to your complete guide to a thrifty Valentine’s!
Thrifty Guide to Affordable Eats
Avoid dining out, takeaways, and a big bill at the end of your night. Here are some ideas to have fun and save money dining at home.
- Cook Together: Choose a recipe that’s easy to work on together, like homemade pizza. While you steam things up in the kitchen, lower the temperature on your thermostat to save money without even feeling it!
- Choose Low-Energy Appliances: big appliances like the stove and oven use more energy than smaller slow cookers and air fryers. So, lower your natural gas bill with a slow-cooker meal paired with a side of air fried veggies. The slow-cooker version of the popular Marry Me Chicken recipe is a great option!
- Don’t Cook: choose a meal that takes no natural gas or electricity to pull off. Opt for a couple cheeses with fresh bread, fruit, and veggies. After a few minutes of chopping, pour some champagne and get busy (eating)!
Thrifty Guide to Date Night Activities
Even if you are pinching pennies and cutting back on natural gas use, let’s keep Valentine’s Day fun!
- Head Out: There are often tons of free things to do around town. For example, stroll a local park. In Atlanta, several attractions are free to residents, like the Fernbank Science Center. When you leave the house, minimize energy use as much as possible, including lowering your thermostat by 8-10°F.
- Movie Marathon: Curl up under some blankets, turn off the lights, and enjoy a movie! You can get away with lowering the thermostat if you get cozy, too.
- Candlelight Game Night: hunker down with a good game and play by candlelight. You’ll keep your energy use low and have a blast. Choose less competitive games like Cards Against Humanity or even good-old-fashioned truth or dare!
Thrifty Guide to Gift Giving
Although gifts are very personal, here are a few ideas to show you care without emptying your wallet.
- Check out local thrift spots for unique items and things to repurpose.
- Put together a collection of favorite photos from the past year and pair them with a note about the memories you have from the time.
- Make a playlist that captures your life together.
- Choose a book you already own that you think your partner will enjoy and have them do the same.
Celebrate Romance with Lower Costs
You don’t need to spend a fortune to make Valentine’s Day memorable. For the cherry on top, keep an eye on your natural gas use to add even more savings to your romantic day. As you plan your thrifty Valentine’s Day, remember that severe weather is sweeping through large parts of the country. Before the storms potentially wreak havoc on natural gas market prices, take a moment to shop for a new natural gas plan with a cheap rate at https://www.georgiagassavings.com.