A recent personal Facebook post:
Tom: I was thinking maybe we could go out for Valentine’s Day for a nice dinner
Me: That sounds fun. Where to?
Tom: (name of restaurant)
Me: 
😱
Me: How much what that be?…
Tom: I heard about $80
Me: 😱
Me: Or we could go to the Waffle Food Truck
There was a ton of thoughtful enouragement for us to have a wonderful night on the town. However, when you are on a path of reducing debt from a long battle of unemployment, charging a big expensive meal looses it’s appeal.
At the same time, we thought…. maybe just a little fancier than the yummy waffle truck.
So in true salvaged style, we wanted to see how to make the most of this Valentine’s Day.
We checked out Yelp for some options and came upon a little local gem – Elements.
Our Valentine’s Day needed to be celebrated early, since Tuesday is a work day, and The Mister works late. What do you know, they had Happy Hour on a Sunday with $5 tapas.
We got dolled up, to us, (me in my thrifted fashion), took some pictures, and headed out.
There was even getting the car door for you happening.
TRUTH BE TOLD – Sometimes it just seems easier to stay in your comfy jeans and order in a pizza. It really did sound good….easy. It is a lot of work to get dressed up and go out, but once we did, it felt special. It was fun to do something you don’t do often……to try a little harder…..to get out of that comfort zone.
Off to our new restaurant and it was G-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-D! Like WOW, are we eating off of a food show good. It was decedent, well prepared, layered in flavor….deliciousness.
{And just for the record, Salvage Sister doesn’t throw around the term good lightly in regards to food! }
(We didn’t focus on getting perfect food shots and forgot to take a picture of the Tortilla Espanola..sorry)
One of the things that we like to do is sample different kinds of food off the menu so tapas (appetizers) was the way to go. We were able to order a several items and it was half the price of our 😱 dinner option.
Since the restaurant wasn’t overly busy, we leisurely ate, talked, and sat close together. We really had an ah-mazing time.
Moral of the Story – Sometimes the way we treat ourselves is to live within our means. That will help eliminate the stress over the credit card bill which is the #1 thing a couple fights about.
Sometimes the way we treat ourselves is to live within our means.It might just take a little “salvaging” (thinking outside the box) to do the things that you want despite whatever challenges lie in front of you.
Here are some ideas for you to be able to celebrate on a budget-
- Picnic
- Progressive Meal with Friends
- Culinary School
- A Special Table at Home
- Happy Hour or Lunch
- This Idea
If you enjoyed this post, we would appreciate you sharing it with your friends.
How do you celebrate on a budget?
Mmm! Tapas are so good! And usually they get pretty expensive, so it’s awesome that you found a budget-friendly restaurant. We ended up going out for an Indian buffet lunch yesterday. It fit our schedule best. With the kids in school, we didn’t have to hire a babysitter, I got to enjoy food that the kids would complain about, and the bill was less than $30! I don’t even remember the last time we had any meal out that cost so little. Even pizza delivery would cost more.
Leslie recently posted…The Happy Now Blog Link-Up #47
Leslie, That sounds perfect and very smart! Glad you had a good time!!
If you like Italian, there is a wonderful place in East Medford that my hubby & I enjoy whenever possible!!!
Vinny’s Italian Kitchen <3 Their 'early bird' menu is from 4pm-6pm…. soup or salad to start, your entrée AND dessert {a slice of either triple chocolate or NY style cheesecake!!} it's $16.50 each <3
Oooooohhh, and you can take your dessert home if you're too full 😉
Good to know Carri, Thanks!
“Sometimes the way we treat ourselves is to live within our means.” I totally agree! Thinking about the future over immediate wants is such a good thing to be able to do. I’m always happier when I make the less expensive choice.
Sara @ finditfixitorbuildit.com recently posted…Home Matters Linky Party #123
Thanks Sara. Yeah for now this was def a better option for us. Appreciate you stopping by!!!
Yum that food looks so delicious! I’m glad you had a nice Valentine’s Day date, and on a budget, too. #HomeMattersParty
Nicole recently posted…e-cloth Chemical-Free Home Cleaning (Baby Care Starter Set)
Nicole,
It was nice. Hope you had a great one too.
That is great that you had a fabulous and relaxing Valentines Dinner and on a budget! Tapas is great ! I love variety when I dine out! I’m with you though…..I’m happy staying home in my jeans and ordering delivery! Thanks for the tips!
#HomeMattersParty
Jeannee
Jeannee, It really was a nice night out and didn’t break the budget which is always a good thing.
Love this idea! You can get great deals and treat yourself at Happy Hours too — without breaking the budget. Great post. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai recently posted…Bathtub Full Of Bubbles – A Great Way To Relax
Lorelai, It was a great evening and gotta love the price
That all looks so good. Glad you found a great place to go
kirstin troyer recently posted…Veggie Sandwich and growing your own Sprouts
It was a lot of fun and much more reasonable.