It appears that Valentine’s Day will cost more this year. According to the National Retail Federation the average person will shell out $126.03 to celebrate the day of love.

But despite the increasingly commercial nature of the holiday, there are ways to light up your loved one’s day without scorching your budget. The best gifts, after all, don’t come from the wallet but from the heart.

Recreate your first date

What could be more special than recreating your first date or the first events of a budding new relationship? Perhaps it was a simple walk through the park that sparked your interest or a trip to the ice cream parlor that told you this might be the start of something special. February 14th is a great day to relive the experience.

Start a new a tradition

Forget email. Ditch text messaging. When’s the last time your wrote your spouse a heartfelt love letter? The 14th provides the perfect opportunity to compose a yearly message to your wife, sharing with her how much she means to you. Thank your husband for all he’s done for you or use it as an opportunity to let him know how he’s made you a better person.

If letter writing is not your thing consider other ways to express your appreciation. Try this. Scatter small Hershey’s kisses throughout the house. To each kiss attach a note card that lists one of the reasons you fell in love with your spouse. By the time all the kisses are collected you’ll have created a Valentine’s Day worth remembering.

Alternatively, create a gift that the two of you can build upon every year. Purchase a memory box, for instance. During the year collect ticket stubs, pictures, and other mementos that have special meaning. On Valentine’s Day spend quality time discussing each one as you place it in your memory box. The same thing can be done with a scrapbook as you add new pages and memories every year on Valentine’s Day.

Think like a teenager

Remember when you had no cash? As teenagers and young adults money was often hard to come by, but we still managed to get our romance on. Ice skating, long walks, romantic drives, and moments staring up at the stars were just as special as expensive nights on the town. On Valentine’s Day the simple moments can be the most special.

Create the perfect night in

Let’s face it, it’s a lot easier to whip out the plastic and let someone else do the cooking, but if you want to make it truly special, do the work yourself. Your wife will love the fact that you made her favorite dish. No, you don’t have to be a Bobby Flay. It’s the effort that counts.

Maybe cooking isn’t your thing. How about a romantic fireside picnic instead? Perhaps you could create the perfect spa evening. A night of pampering with a bubble bath and total body massage could be just the remedy your spouse needs to relieve everyday stress.

Or, consider renting her favorite DVDs and snuggling up for a long night of movie watching. Whatever the activity, ship the kids to the grandparents and create your special moments right at home.

When in comes right down to it, Valentine’s Day is more about spending quality time together than it is about overpriced flowers and overcrowded restaurants.

BMWK, what were some of your most memorable low-cost Valentine’s Day moments?