Published February 10, 2009 10:32 pm -
$AVING YOU MONEY: Valentine’s Day can be celebrated inexpensively
By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer
Forget the big bouquet of roses and huge box of chocolates, Rita Terry says she finds love at her husband’s fingertips — when he gives her a back rub.
“If you tied it up in a big box, you couldn’t get a better gift,” she said.
However, with Valentine’s Day coming up Saturday, you can bet there’s plenty of box tying, chocolate stuffing and bouquet-bundling going on this week. Those 12 roses could cost between $30 and $63 over the Internet.
Fortunately, a person does not have to be rich to be romantic, whether on Valentine’s Day or any time of year.
As the old song goes, little things mean a lot.
Gary Horton, owner of Lakeland Florist, said that while people do go for big bouquets on Valentine’s Day, “We have a lot of people coming in just to get some flowers.”
Not just roses, either.
“We can sell three carnations in a bud vase for $10,” Horton said. “We have white, yellow or lavender daisies.”
He said people can buy the daisies loose and put them in a vase at home.
Still, Horton said, roses are by far the biggest sellers.
“They signify love, and red is the color of love,” he said.
He said a single long-stemmed rose could be only $4.
Candy also can be a bargain.
“We can fill boxes with different types of candy,” said Cathy Edwards, manager of Candy Craze at Arrowhead Mall.