How About Breakfast For Frugal Valentine? There Are Many Low-Cost Ways To Make Sweetie Feel Special

How about breakfast for frugal Valentine?

A2 SHOPAHOLIC

TINA REED

The Ann Arbor News

There are many low-cost ways to make sweetie feel special

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and I can already sense the collective eyeballs rolling.

Why? It’s too commercial, people say. Especially in the current economy, it’s hard to justify dropping dough on something so silly, they say.

But the holiday doesn’t have to be a one-day competition between couples over who spends the most cash on public displays of affection.

A Whole Foods , Market survey of married adults in the U.S. found 81 percent preferred to receive a home-cooked meal this year. It’s no scientific study, but brings up a good point: Taking the time to pick a good bottle of wine and cook up a special dinner can go a long way and save money.

Since Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday this year, it means you can start with the best meal of the day - breakfast.

If you’ve got a sweetheart who doesn’t want sweets, make him or her breakfast in bed complete with heart-shaped eggs. Middle Earth, 1209 S University Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor, has egg shapers for sale for about $9.

Or if sweets are right up your alley, try your hand at making baked goods or visit Cake Nouveau, 206 N. Fourth St. in Ann Arbor, for Valentine’s-themed cupcakes like Aztec Hot Chocolate cupcakes to share.

If you have jewelry in mind, but you’re looking for something more low-key than diamonds, choose accessories that go better with jeans. Red Shoes, 332 S. Ashley in Ann Arbor, has a collection of aged brass accessories - including a cuff bracelet with a green heart patina for $44.

A cheaper alternative: Check out Hollander’s selection of paper and try your hand at making homemade cards for loved ones.

And remember, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be just for couples.

Downtown Chelsea businesses are hosting the Chocolate Extravaganza on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., designed for sampling chocolate and scoring discounts. For more information, visit www.thegardenmill.com or call 734-475-3539.

Remember - you don’t have to spend much to make the people in your life feel special. And in these times, anything to put people in a better mood is money well spent.

Share your shopping tips on our A2 Shopaholic blog at blog.mlive.com/a2shopaholic/Contact Tina Reed at 734-994-6843 or treed@ annarbornews.com.