Celebrate Valentine’s Day without Breaking the Bank

What’s so good about Valentine’s Day? For one, it is a special day when we stop whatever it is that’s keeping us busy and do simple things to show our loved ones how important they are to us. Another good thing about V-day is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money just to show someone you love them. In fact, most of the times, cheap (or free) gifts are better than expensive ones. They convey the sweetest message and create lasting memories.

Here are creative, romantic and CHEAP ways to say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day

♥    Watch romantic movies together

♥    Prepare a meal or cook a special meal together

♥    Take a moonlit walk in the park.

♥    Sing him/her a love song

♥    Burn a CD with your honey’s favorite love songs or any songs that remind him/her of fond memories you both share

♥    Create a list of things you like best about your partner.

♥    Create a homemade card or write a love letter.

♥   Play some entertaining board or video games with your sweetheart or with the whole family

♥   Create gift coupons. It could be a voucher for a romantic dance, a song number, a massage, anything your partner might need or are sure to enjoy.

♥    Focus on bringing a smile or laughter to your special someone or to every people you love.

♥    Write a love note and tuck it in his/her pocket. Just a simple “I love you” could mean a lot.

♥    Take a bottle of wine and plan a sunset picnic.

♥    Bring out old photo albums and reminisce over your photo memories.

See, creating a romantic and memorable valentine’s day is easy, and it only takes some effort and thought. Any more great ideas that you’ve done or would like to add? Let us know in the comments below!

 

Image credit: emitea

 

Fast Facts About Student Loan

Now more than ever, student loans have become one of the biggest issues that Americans are facing. College cost are rising and outstanding student loans have grown to $1 trillion. And as if that is not worse enough, average graduate earnings of full-time employees aged 25-34 are falling, causing more student loan debtors to fall behind on their payments.

from the Business Insider article: GUNDLACH: These 4 Charts Show How Student Loans Have Become A Real Problem http://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-gundlachs-student-loan-charts-2012-12?op=1

If you are a student loan borrower yourself, read these fast facts on student loans from The Financial Services Roundtable. Be sure to visit their website to learn more about the student loan debt situation in the U.S.

  • More Americans are attending college at a time when college is getting more expensive.
  • Many students borrow money to pay for a college degree.
  • Student loans are now the largest form of consumer debt outside of home mortgages, eclipsing both auto loans and credit cards, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
  • The vast majority of student loans are federal loans.
  • Private student loans often supplement higher cost college of their choice.
  • Private student loans have a significantly lower default rate than federal student loans.
  • The federal government can recover defaulted student loans through administrative wage garnishment, offsetting federal tax refunds, and even part of Social Security checks.
  • Seventy-two percent of college that they have paid off one-quarter Workforce Development.
  • On average, Americans with a college degree are twice as likely to be employed as thenational average.

Source: The Financial Services Roundtable

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The History of the Credit Card

Long gone are the days when you need to carry cash with you in order to buy the things you need, or want. Thanks to credit cards. Now all you have to do is bring one piece of plastic in your wallet and VOILA- purchase your goods instantly even if you don’t have cash. But did you know how credit cards came about? Take a look at the infographic below to learn about credit card history from 3000 BC to the 21st century

 

Infographic: America’s 2013 Savings Resolutions

In the last two months of 2012, TheStreet asked over 1,006 adult Americans about their saving resolution for 2013.

What are they planning to save money for in 2013? Will people save less in 2013 if they won $1 million in the lottery tomorrow? The below infographic provides answers to the above questions:

How about you? What are you saving for in 2013?