Valentine's Day on a Budget

Summary

All Of It: Valentine's Day on a Budget – Detailed Summary

Release Date: February 10, 2025 | Host: Alison Stewart | Guest: Gabby Relo Duffy, Senior Editorial Director, Brides Magazine

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Introduction

In the February 10, 2025 episode of All Of It hosted by Alison Stewart, the focus centers on celebrating Valentine's Day without straining the wallet. With Valentine's Day falling on a Friday night, the episode delves into various strategies and creative ideas to help listeners plan meaningful and budget-friendly dates. The episode features expert insights from Gabby Relo Duffy of Brides Magazine and includes valuable contributions from listeners sharing their unique suggestions.

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The Challenge of a Budget-Friendly Valentine's Day

Alison Stewart opens the discussion by highlighting the common pressures associated with planning the perfect Valentine's Day, especially when financial constraints come into play. She introduces Gabby Relo Duffy to brainstorm affordable yet meaningful date ideas tailored to different types of couples.

Notable Quote:

"Valentine's Day is actually my birthday, so I am, you know, partial to this holiday. And I think that you can do it in a way that's really low pressure. I actually think the simplest Valentine's Days are the best."
— Gabby Relo Duffy [04:05]

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Adapting to a Friday Night Celebration

Valentine's Day falling on a Friday night presents unique challenges, including higher costs and reservation difficulties. Gabby explains how the timing affects restaurant pricing and the competitive nature of securing reservations.

Notable Quote:

"Restaurants especially are trying to recoup what they would make on a normal Friday night, plus more because they know it's a holiday and that makes it difficult. You're also competing with so many people for reservations and plans, and that all contributes to costs."
— Gabby Relo Duffy [03:09]

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Eliminating Financial Pressure

The core of Valentine's Day is celebrating love, which doesn't necessitate expensive gestures. Gabby emphasizes the importance of heartfelt actions over costly expenditures.

Strategies Discussed:

• Home-Cooked Meals: Preparing a special dinner at home can be both intimate and cost-effective.
• Daytime Alternatives: Opting for brunch or lunch instead of dinner to avoid premium pricing.
• Simple Gestures: Words of affirmation, heartfelt notes, and personalized surprises hold significant emotional value.

Notable Quote:

"What's the heart of this holiday? It's about celebrating your love and your partners. And we should do those things in ways that involve low cost."
— Gabby Relo Duffy [04:11]

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Listener Contributions and Creative Ideas

Listeners contributed various creative and affordable ideas, enhancing the discussion with practical suggestions.

• Improv Theater Visits: Rhea from Asbury Park suggests attending improv shows, which are generally more affordable than Broadway productions and offer interactive experiences.
  "It's typically a little bit cheaper than your average Broadway or off Broadway show. You get to go and participate with your partner."
  — Rhea [05:43]

• Wine Tasting at Home: Gabby advises organizing a home wine tasting by selecting a few varietals from a local wine shop, making it a special yet inexpensive activity.
  "You can do a really nice at home wine tasting with two or three bottles. There's no pressure to go crazy and try as many as you would at a..."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [06:51]

• Alternative Flower Options: To avoid the high costs of traditional Valentine's flowers, Gabby recommends opting for live plants or less conventional blooms, which are both economical and long-lasting.
  "Live plants. They are such a good gift, something you can enjoy for years."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [07:30]

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Tailored Ideas for Different Couples

Gabby categorizes budget-friendly ideas based on couples' interests, ensuring personalized and enjoyable experiences.

At-Home Couples

• Relaxing Nights: Cooking dinner together or transforming the bathroom into a spa for a romantic and restful evening.
  "Turn your own bathroom into a great spa with music and candles and robes and a drink in the bath."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [11:38]

Affirmation Couples

• Words of Affirmation: Writing heartfelt love letters or revisiting wedding vows to strengthen emotional connections.
  "Write that love letter. Give them a really beautiful handwritten note."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [12:05]

Sentimental Couples

• Reliving Memories: Watching wedding videos or looking through photo albums to celebrate shared history.
  "Reliving that day. You could also drink the wine you drank on your wedding day or recreate the meal you had at your wedding."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [12:39]

Outdoorsy Couples

• Nature-Inspired Activities: Enjoying Central Park's scenic spots like Bethesda Fountain or Strawberry Fields, or engaging in seasonal activities like ice skating at Bryant Park.
  "Take advantage of the beautiful parks. Go watch the sunset or the sunrise."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [14:36]

Artsy Couples

• Creative Engagements: Visiting museums with free admission or hosting a paint-and-sip night at home to unleash creativity together.
  "Have a really fun craft night. We see all these trending videos on social media of couples painting each other or painting their ideal date and then they reveal them."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [15:54]

Couples Who Love to Give Back

• Volunteering Together: Donating time at local shelters, nursing homes, or soup kitchens to foster a sense of gratitude and shared purpose.
  "Holidays are hard for these places to get volunteers...this is a really meaningful thing you can do."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [16:34]

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Innovative Listener Suggestions

• Cooking with Specialty Ingredients: Jono from the West Village recommends purchasing a high-end pantry item like white truffle oil or Modena balsamic vinegar, which adds a luxurious touch to a home-cooked meal without the need for expensive ingredients every day.
  "Purchase a very expensive pantry item, which the cook would never dare buy by themselves...then you have them in your pantry."
  — Jono [17:49]

• Cat Cafés: Alice from the East Village suggests visiting local cat cafés, where couples can enjoy time with feline friends in a relaxed setting.
  "They even have something called a kitten party where you can go and spend a half an hour with a bunch of kittens."
  — Alice [15:05]

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Experiencing Local Events

Gabby highlights the opening of the New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show as an affordable and beautiful outing option.

Event Details:

• New York Botanical Garden Orchid Show
  "The orchid show is just beautiful. It costs $35 for non-members, free for members."
  — Gabby Relo Duffy [19:57]

Additionally, she mentions seasonal activities like ice skating and movie nights at home as accessible and enjoyable options.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a reminder of the multitude of affordable and heartfelt ways to celebrate Valentine's Day. From staying in and cooking a special meal to exploring New York City's parks and cultural venues, couples are encouraged to prioritize meaningful interactions over expensive outings. Gabby Relo Duffy's insights provide a comprehensive guide for listeners to create memorable Valentine's experiences without overspending.

Final Thoughts:

"Look around your own home, figure out what you guys like to do and get creative."
— Gabby Relo Duffy [20:39]

Listeners are encouraged to share their own budget-friendly Valentine's Day ideas by calling WNYC, fostering a community of shared experiences and creative solutions.

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Contact Information: For more budget-friendly Valentine's Day ideas or to share your own, listeners can call 212-339-692-2433 or text the same number to join the conversation on air.

Transcript

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[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Listener Supported WNYC Studios.

[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. Coming up on the show later this week, we have some Oscar nominees coming to the studio. Nominee Mikey Madison stars in the new film Honora. On Wednesday she'll join us to discuss. And on Thursday, nominee Monica Barbara will be here. She plays Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. Plus, on Friday we'll continue our Big Picture series of conversations with Oscar nominees who work behind the camera. Dan Bloomberg will join us to talk about how he created the score for the film the Brutalist that is in the future. Now let's get this hour started with something fun, simple yet elegant. Valentine's Day Ideas Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching this Friday. There can be a lot of pressure to plan the perfect date by going all out and breaking the bank. But you know, maybe you got laid off. So money's tight. The price of eggs is 10 bucks so you know you're on a budget and then factor in. Valentine's Day is on a Friday night. So cue the surcharges. You know what we say, hold up. There are simple ways to make a meaningful, more budget friendly gesture to your better half. We have you covered. Now a few days left to plan. Gabby Relo Duffy is the senior editorial director for Brides Magazine. She has ideas for the the outdoorsy couple, the artsy couple, the sentimental couple, the at home couple, and a whole lot more. She's here now to brainstorm budget friendly date ideas. Welcome back to the show, Gabby.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Thanks for having me Allison.

[Alison Stewart]

Listeners, we want to hear from you. Are you struggling to plan Valentine's date for this Friday? And you some advice? We're here to help with some budget friendly ideas. Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. Maybe you have a great budget friendly date planned. Tell us what it is or do you have any advice on how you can help others try to plan a similarly successful date? 2124-3396-9221-2433-WNYC and finally, any great New York Valentine's Day advice that's not a restaurant reservation, call us at 2124-339692-22433. WNYC. You can text that number or you can join us on air. So while they field calls, let me ask you this, Gabby. It's interesting that Valentine's Day is on a Friday night. How does that change the calculus of planning a VD date?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I think it's tough because, you know, a weekday you kind of have an excuse and you can say, let's keep it casual, let's do night, let's stay home. But a Friday night, you really largely don't have any other plans. So I think restaurants especially are trying to recoup what they would make on a normal Friday night, plus more because they know it's a holiday and that makes it difficult. You're also competing with so many people for reservations and plans, and that all contributes to costs.

[Alison Stewart]

Why do you think we feel so much pressure around Valentine's Day?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

You know, the holiday of love? It's tough. Valentine's Day is actually my birthday, so I am, you know, partial to this holiday. And I think that you can do it in a way that's really low pressure. I actually think the simplest Valentine's Days are the best. But I, I think it's hard in our social media driven world, so many people are posting, you know, what they're doing or their bouquets of flowers or what their partner surprised them with, and we all feel this pressure to keep up.

[Listener]

How do you feel about, or how do you think about balancing the financial pressure of Valentine's Day?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

You know, first and foremost, I think that you should try to eliminate the financial pressure. So what's the heart of this holiday? It's about celebrating your love and your partners. And we should do those things in ways that involve low cost. Of course. Who doesn't love a bouquet of flowers? Who doesn't love a nice dinner? But, you know, words of love and encouragement and a really heartfelt note I think is the thing that everyone wants from their partner.

[Listener]

Many couples like you said they like to go out, have a nice dinner on Valentine's Day. It's not easy in New York where reservations are hard enough. I think one of our guests one year called it the Waterloo, trying to get a reservation. Let's talk about alternatives. What's an alternative to a reservation?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah, you know, the average couple is spending $179 on Valentine's Day in the U.S. that's data from LendingTree. So, you know, that is expensive. That's also not New York prices. That's the national average. So think about that. $179, you can make a really great, delicious dinner at home for a lot less. You can order takeout from your favorite restaurant. For a lot less. You can do a day date that's not a D reservation. If you really want to go out. What about a breakfast or a brunch or a really good lunch? Dinners are typically associated on Valentine's Day with a prefix menu and those can be upwards of 75 a person. And in my opinion, 75 a person is if you're lucky. So I love the idea of staying in for Valentine's Day. I think cooking or ordering in can be just as special, if not more than going out.

[Listener]

Let's take a call. This is Rhea calling in from Asbury Park. Hi, you're on the air.

[Rhea]

Well, hello. Thanks so much for taking my call. Yeah, so I run an improv theater here in Asbury. And I have to say there's a lot of really great improv in the New York City area. And the great thing about going to those shows is that they're typically a little bit cheaper than your average Broadway or off Broadway show. You get to go and participate with your partner. It's fun. There's usually reservations open and you can make a whole date of it.

[Alison Stewart]

Love that. Who loves to. Everybody loves to laugh.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I think that's such a fun idea.

[Alison Stewart]

Gabby Relo Duffy, she's Brides magazine editorial director. She's helping us ahead of Valentine's Day. If you're struggling to plan Valentine's Day or you need some advice or you have some great advice on budget friendly ideas, give us a call. 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC one of your stay at home activities is a wine tasting at house. How do you organize that?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I would go to a wine shop that you love, somewhere that you, you know, regularly shop. Obviously support a local small business if you can, I think that's so important. And ask them for a couple varietals of, you know, things you like. Tell them, tell them what you do like, but also be open to trying new things. And I would say you don't have to get too many, you know, it's just the two of you, presumably, so you can do a really nice at home wine tasting with two or three bottles. There's no pressure to go crazy and try as many as you would at a.

[Alison Stewart]

You mentioned flowers. They can be expensive, especially around this day. How can we go about finding some more budget friendly flower options that are a great gesture.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah. In New York, the average cost of a dozen roses is $93, which is steep.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, my gosh.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I know so. And you know, that can range, too. If you're talking long stem, it's going to be more. So first and foremost, you can consider things alternative to roses. I would always just be honest with your local flower shop, what you're looking to spend, and they can help create something great in that price point. Sometimes going too far a field, you know, going for something that is not a red rose at Valentine's Day can be tough too, because they don't have those in store. So don't be too prescriptive about what you want. My poor husband chases down yellow flowers for me every Valentine's Day, but no stores have them, so they bring them in special for him for Valentine's Day. And it costs a lot, so be flexible about what it is and be willing to just, you know, work with the florist. I would also suggest live plants. They are such a good gift, something you can enjoy for years. If you want a flower, you can do an orchid. You could otherwise just do a really beautiful houseplant, Something that you can get for a little less money but really enjoy for a long time.

[Listener]

All right, you have an idea for surprising someone with something they like, and it might not necessarily be Valentine's Day esque. First of all, what do you mean, and why? Can, like, a simple surprise like this go a long way?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

No, a surprise can be anything. So if it is their favorite dessert or their favorite wine or beer, or just their favorite movie that you typically don't want to watch, it's just noticing them and, you know, acknowledging that you are trying to make this day special for them. So it doesn't have to be anything crazy. It can be as simple as just saying, you know, you get to pick the Netflix show tonight and treating them to something that maybe is, like, not what they typically get to enjoy. If their favorite dessert is ice cream and you somehow don't like ice cream, just acknowledging that, you know, that this is something they love can really go a long way.

[Listener]

Let's say you're with your partner. You guys decide, okay, we're gonna. We're gonna have this special night. We're gonna do something, but you can't quite figure out what. What it is that you want to do. What are some questions that we can ask ourselves about having a good date night?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah, I think first and foremost, I would ask each other, you know, what do you prioritize In a date night, when we have a great date night, what have we done? Is it that we stayed home and we cooked together? Is it that we tried a new cocktail at a local bar? Did we explore? Were we outside? Were we home by 9? I think asking yourself what you really love is a great first step. I think secondly, asking, is there anything you really want to do that we have never done or haven't done lately? Maybe you guys love going to movies and you don't typically have a babysitter and you could, you know, go to a 9pm movie after the kids are asleep. This could be a really, you know, that's low cost, all things considered. Movies aren't super, super affordable these days, but it's less than a dinner. You could have dinner at home and then go out. So I would just start by asking each other what you're looking for in a date night or things that you would want to do and then figuring it out from there.

[Alison Stewart]

Got a text. Celebrated an early V day this past weekend. Enjoyed a great date night in Harlem with a pre show dinner at Archer and Goat, followed by live jazz and the famous speakeasy Bill's Place. That's a really good idea. Let's talk to you.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I love an early Valentine's Day.

[Alison Stewart]

I love the early. That's so smart. Let's talk to Howard. Hi, Howard, thanks for calling, all of it.

[Howard]

Yeah, hi. This is what I think of for Valentine's Day to drink. There's a type of Beaujolais, one of the better ones called Saint Amour, and it has a picture of a heart on the label.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, so cute. Thank you so much for that recommendation. All right, Gabby Rillo Duffy, senior editorial director at Brides Magazines. We have a couple of different couples that you have aligned for us and we have suggestions for each kind of couple. Let's start with the at home couple. They want a relaxing night. What would you suggest?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I would say either dinner at home or a spa night. So if you want to relax, you don't want to go out, you don't want to get dressed up, cook a really nice dinner or turn your own bathroom into a great spa with, you know, music and candles and robes and a drink in the bath. I think it can be a really fun way to do a little self care and not spend a ton of money.

[Alison Stewart]

You have something called the affirmation couple. It's for people who their love language is words of affirmation.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

How do we go ahead with this?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah. Write that love letter. Give them a really beautiful handwritten note. You don't even need a card. Like just do this on beautiful stationery that you already have. If you want to get a card, that's great. But those Hallmark cards can feel a little trite and this can be a lot more sentimental. I also love the idea of revisiting your wedding vows. If your partner loves words of affirmation, I think that could be a really sweet and sentimental way to celebrate the holiday.

[Listener]

Let's go to the sentimental couple. What's a sentimental couple? How are they spending the night?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

They are looking at their wedding photos and video. They spent so much money on this stuff they should be enjoyed as often as possible. So I love pulling out the photo album or pulling your video up, putting it on the TV and really reliving that day. You could also drink the wine you drank on your wedding day or recreate the meal you had at your wedding and make it feel a little bit extra special.

[Listener]

We are talking about budget friendly Valentine's Day gifts with Gabby Rillo Duffy, Brides Magazine Senior Editorial Director if you're having trouble figuring out what you're gonna do for Valentine's Day or if you have a great suggestion that doesn't cost a lot of money, give us a call. 212-433-969-2212-4433 wnyc. We'll have more recommendations after the break.

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[Alison Stewart]

You are listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest is Gabby Rillo Duffy, Brides Magazine Senior Editorial Director. We are talking about brainstorming budget friendly date ideas and we are taking your calls. I knew we were on the right track, Gabby cause I passed walking to work this morning. I passed one of those link NYC kiosks and it had a list of different things you could do for Budget Valentine's Day.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

So there you go. Everyone wants to save a little money this holiday season.

[Alison Stewart]

It's true. Let's talk about an outdoorsy couple. What's your what do you suggest for an outdoorsy couple?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah, if you're right here in the city, take advantage of the beautiful parks. Go watch the sunset or the sunrise. If you are an early bird couple, take a walk around the park. Go onto your rooftop if you have one. If you're lucky enough to have a backyard, that's great. Just get out there and enjoy some fresh air. We might have a beautiful snowfall this weekend, so that could be a really fun way to celebrate too.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to Alice, who is calling.

[Listener]

In from the East Village. Hey, Alice, thanks for calling all of it. You are on the air.

[Alice]

I love your show. I have gone to the cat cafe and it is open on Friday nights. Not late, but it's in Brooklyn and it's a great place to visit with cats, especially for people who, like, don't own cats, but they want to fraternize with cats. And they even have something called a kitten party where you can go and spend a half an hour with a bunch of kittens. And I've done it for people as a surprise, but I would think that would be a wonderful Valentine's present.

[Listener]

Oh, come on. You get to play with kittens. Do you know the name of the cat cafe?

[Alice]

It's literally called the cat cafe.

[Listener]

Well, there you go.

[Alice]

It's catcafebk.com awesome.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I love that already.

[Alison Stewart]

You're an arty couple.

[Listener]

You probably don't call yourself an arty couple, but you are. What should an arty couple do?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah, I think obviously an option would be to go to a museum. There are some great ones with free admission fit, Queens museum, Bronx museum. They're, they're options for you. Otherwise, go to the craft store and get a couple of, you know, inexpensive craft materials and do an at home, you know, sip and what do they call it? Paint and sip.

[Listener]

Paint and sip. Yeah.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah. And have a really fun craft night. We see all these trending videos on social media of couples painting each other or painting their ideal date and then they reveal them. And I think that could be a really fun option.

[Listener]

And finally, you have advice for a couple who likes to do good. You like to volunteer together. What do you suggest?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

I love the idea of volunteering somewhere. An animal shelter, a nursing home, a soup kitchen. Holidays are hard for these places to get volunteers. Their usual volunteers are probably busy. So if you have the ab to donate your time, this is a really, really meaningful thing you can do. There are so many places that are really looking for people who can donate their time and not necessarily money. So this is a great low cost option. You guys can do something you feel great about and you can then go home and celebrate after.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah, why can helping others help you in your relationship?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

The couple that does together stays together. We always say it, but, you know, it's something that you can share this experience and share good feeling that you get from it. Giving back makes us feel really good. Seeing your partner give back will actually, you know, I think changes how you look at them. There's nothing more attractive than somebody who really cares about other people, in my opinion. So watching your partner do for other people on a night that a lot of people are indulging and spending a lot of money, giving back to the community is. Is really meaningful.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's take another call. This is Jono from the West Village. Hi, Jono. Thank you so much for calling.

[Howard]

Hi. Hey. This is a great segment. So this is what you do instead of spending, like, $600 on a dinner. If you're a New York couple, if one of you is a cook or a foodie, you go out strolling, you do something public for free. You go to the beautiful park, and you hold hands. But then you cook at home, and you purchase a very expensive pantry item, which the cook would never dare buy by themselves. Every time you've looked at the white truffle oil for, like, $50 or the balsamic vinegar from Modena for $80, you're never gonna buy that except on Valentine's Day. And then you cook with it, and it lasts past Valentine's Day, so you have that practical element and the romantic element and the food element. And otherwise, you're never gonna buy those expensive items. But then you have them in your pantry. So there you go.

[Alison Stewart]

That was a great suggestion. You know, you mentioned some of the things we can do in New York, and one of them you sort of glossed over, but I want to go back to it is Central Park.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Yeah.

[Alison Stewart]

Did you have any place in rom com? Yeah. Why do you say that?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

You know, it's the scene of so many rom coms, right? I mean, Harry Met Sally. I'm trying to think of some of the other ones, you know, we see so many times. It is the iconic backdrop to our favorite movies. So I would say go and explore your favorite favorite places. Bethesda Fountain is probably the most iconic one, but people love Strawberry Fields. You know, they're just, you know, roam and enjoy the places you like. Grab a hot cocoa, sit down on a bench together, do a little people watching. It's one of my personal favorite pastimes. And I think people watching on Valentine's Day is probably at its peak in Central Park.

[Alison Stewart]

Another great timing pick for New York is the New York Botanical Garden Orchid.

[Listener]

Show, which opens, just opened next weekend.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

It opens on the 15th or it runs through the 15th. I'm sorry, or does it open on the 15th? It's soon. It's opening soon.

[Listener]

And why is orchids, why does orchids play such a big role in Valentine's Day?

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

You know, a lot of people give orchids as a Valentine's Day gift. What I was saying earlier about this affordable, more affordable alternative, they last longer. You can keep the orchid and enjoy it for far longer, which is great. And the orchid show is just beautiful. I mean, there is nothing more gorgeous than seeing all of these beautiful flowers in bloom. And it's $35 for non members, free for members. So, you know, not under a hundred dollars for two people to go and, and take it in and really enjoy. I think that's a great option.

[Listener]

And it opens on the 15th so you can do it on Saturday. Anything else that I didn't ask you about? Having a budget friendly Valentine's Day, you.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Know, there are so many fun things like think about the things that you maybe missed at the holiday season. Ice skating at Bryant park is happening. That's $20 a person. You know, go to a movie or watch your favorite movies at home. I love the idea of putting on your favorite rom coms, opening a bottle of, you know, your favorite champagne and making some popcorn. You can do it for under $50 and have a really great night. Skip the champagne and you can do it for free. So there are a lot of things I would say just look around your own home, figure out what you guys like to do and get creative.

[Listener]

Gabby Rillo Duffy is Bride Magazine Senior Editorial Director. Thanks a lot for your help.

[Gabby Relo Duffy]

Thank you guys. Have a great.

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