Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine's can cost a bomb, but it doesn't have to! Who says romance is dead? Ask our Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis

Valentine’s is a special day, certainly for the makers of cards and the purveyors of flowers and chocolates. Valentine’s follows in the distasteful tradition of charging treble for everything at a wedding, by utilising the ‘gotta do it right’ role of romance to justify higher costs. Yet with a bit of nous and romance, a cheap date doesn’t need mean you’re a cheap lover...

Free £3.50 Valentine’s card 

As the 7p card available at Asda is likely to get you the wrong kind of smacker, there is a way to get a totally free personalised Valentine’s card sent to your hopeful love.

Get £5 free credit at website CardTown by Tuesday 14 February using the code LOVEFIVE in the 'Redeem a Prepay Voucher' box. A small personalised card costs £2.99 and is usually 50p delivery – so the credit covers all of that, with some left over. If you want a card to arrive in time for Valentine’s Day, you’ll need to redeem your credit and order a card by Saturday 11 February.  

A dozen red roses courier-delivered

Here, for price, it’s all about supermarkets (not good for local high street florists). The cheapest dozen red roses you can currently get courier-delivered, which guarantees delivery on a specific day, are from Asda at £19, the next cheapest are from Serenata Flowers at £19.99 followed by M&S at £22. 

Of course, it’s far cheaper to buy flowers in-store yourself. But the cheapest for that isn’t set yet, the supermarkets monitor each other and tend to price war over them.

2for1 restaurant vouchers

Eating out on Valentine’s itself is expensive with few offers about. Far better to go at the weekend or even on Monday night (then stay out until past midnight, and bingo, it’s Valentine’s Day). These vouchers are all available from the restaurants’ own websites (bar Cafe Rouge) – although do check local restaurants for offers as well as these chains.

  • Valentine’s Day itself: 2for1 voucher at Auberge and Domino’s has 2for1 on pizzas, which you don’t need a voucher for, just order online or in-store or quote ‘2for1’ on the phone.
  • Evening before: Pizza Express has a 2for1 for £2.50 voucher, ASK has a 2for1 for £2 voucher and Cafe Rouge has a 2for£12 voucher via Vouchercodes.co.uk. 
  • Valentine’s weekend before: You can get a 2for1 for £2 at ASK on Friday night (10 February) and on Sunday 12 February. Also on Sunday, you can also get a 2for1 for £2.50 at Pizza Express voucher and a 2for£12 at Cafe Rouge (via Vouchercodes.co.uk).  

Dine-in deals

If you’re cooking to eat in at home, the cheapest champagne out there is Pierre Darcy Champagne Brut NV for £10 at Asda – though of course, a good cava is cheaper. 

Plus the usual suspects have their dine-in deals available on Valentine’s Day. M&S is three courses, a side, a box of chocolates and a drink for two people for £20 in-store only. Waitrose is three courses, two sides and either a drink or chocolates for two people for £20 in-store (and online if you spend £50+), and Sainsbury’s is two courses, a side and a drink for two for £10 both in-store and online.  

FREE IOU vouchers

Make your own IOU gift voucher and pledge to do something nice (or naughty). It’s free, plus thoughtfulness melts the heart far more than a pricey prezzie. Promise your loved one a foot massage, breakfast in bed or dinner at the in-laws.