Money Fix: Valentine's on a budget

Congratulations to all you consumers who've stuck to your resolutions of "no more crazy, impulsive spending." But don't fall off the wagon come Valentine's Day.

"One of the easiest ways to derail your budget is unanticipated spending, which most people do at holiday time, and Valentine's Day, in particular, can really kill your budget," says Carolyn McCormack, assistant vice president of SafeGuard Credit Counseling Services Inc., Hauppauge.

Here are her tips on ways to honor both your budget and your significant other.

Mindset: While, yes, you and your sweetie may need to agree ahead of time to set a limit on Valentine's Day spending, you can do it with an eye to being creative, customized and possibly starting new, more meaningful traditions, says McCormack. A dozen red roses is certainly fabulous, but it could be more romantic to wrap up a flower or plant that's been highlighted in her (or his) favorite mushy movie, she says.

Here are a couple of low-cost activities she found that could take the place of a pricey dinner:

Wedding vows: For a suggested $20 donation per couple that goes to the Montauk Food Pantry, you can renew your wedding vows Feb. 14 in a seaside setting at Gurney's Inn in Montauk, including a champagne and wedding cake reception. To reserve a spot check Gurneys inn.com/main.shtml.

Romantic readings:  How about a visit to the Rogers Mansion in Southampton on Feb. 12 for "Hearts Desire: Readings About Love," at which Suffolk County poet laureate Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan is to introduce readings, including that of A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters." This will set you back all of $10 a couple. See Southamptonhistoricalmuseum.org/calendar.asp.