With Valentine’s Day just a few days away, it’s tempting to get sucked into the consumerism message you hear and see everywhere.
But don’t let Valentine’s Day break the budget… remember, it’s a day to celebrate love, romance, togetherness and family.
“Think a little outside of the box this year,” Richard Mukheibir, CEO of Cash Converters said.
“Bring Valentine’s Day back to basics. Make it a day about Random Acts of Kindness, speak tender words to your loved one, and make them laugh. Spend time together.”
To take the consumerism and commercialism out of Valentine’s Day, Mukheibir suggests making a gift for your loved one this year.
In fact, with the Day of Love falling on a Saturday this year, you could even consider making it together instead of spending hundreds of rands at a restaurant.
Some easy Do-It-yourself (DIY) gifts ideas:
• Turn an old CD into a photo coaster. Simply glue an old photograph of the two of you onto on old CD. When the glue has dried, use a crafter’s knife to carefully cut the edges into the circular shape of the CD. Paint over the picture and the edges of the CD with acrylic varnish to make it extra hard-wearing.
• Turn an old CD case into a scrapbook.
• Let the soft sounds of a wind chime remind you of your loved one. Find an old tea pot or metal bowl, drill holes evenly around the side of it – this is for you to attach the chimes. Collect old items like cutlery, disused keys, old shells, etc., anything that will make a pleasant sound when they knock together. Don’t forget to add some beads to make the wind chime extra pretty. Attach the wind chimes to the bowl or tea pot with fishing line.
• Breathe new life into an old vase by painting it with some chalk paint.
“You should be able to find many of these items lying around your home,” Mukheibir said.
“If not, simply pop into your local previously-owned store to see what they’ve got. Chances are, you’ll get a few more great up-cycling ideas when you’re browsing.”
