How to Love Saving Money After Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is a time of romantic gestures, grand surprises, and thoughtful gifts… but it can also be a time of money worries, especially since it occurs not too long after Christmas and the New Year celebrations. With the rising cost of living crisis affecting households across the UK, many people are choosing more budget-friendly gestures, or have even skipped the occasion altogether.

If you felt pressured by the cost of Valentine’s Day this year, you’re not alone. A survey by Money Wellness found that 60% of the people surveyed planned to spend less this year because of financial concerns. Meanwhile, UK retailers reported a sharp drop in Valentine’s Day spending compared with previous years (Retail Times).

But the good news is that opportunities to save more don’t stop on February 14th. In fact, the best deals start after Valentine’s Day. If you missed out on gifts or feel like you overspent, now’s the perfect time to refocus on savings and get more from every pound you spend.

How to recover from Valentine’s Day overspending

If you went over budget this Valentine’s, don’t stress – here are some simple ways to rebalance your finances without feeling deprived.

Start earning cashback.
If you splurged a little too much, consider earning some of that money back by using a cashback card for everyday purchases like groceries, clothing and petrol. Some cards, like the UW Cashback Card, offer up to 10% cashback, meaning your next purchases could help recover some of the Valentine’s Day spending.
Shop smarter moving forward.
If you felt the pinch this Valentine’s, now’s a great time to reassess your spending habits. Apps like the Utility Warehouse (UW) app can help you keep track of how much cashback you’re earning. And as the UW Cashback Card works is a prepaid card that you can top up, it can help you budget and keep on top of your spending, too.
Cut ties with expensive, unreliable suppliers.
Just like relationships, not all utility providers are worth holding onto. If you’re frustrated with high bills, poor customer service or hidden charges, now might be the perfect time to ‘break up’ with your supplier. In fact, the UK’s first Utility Break-Up Helpline has just launched, helping Brits fix their broken relationships with bad energy and broadband providers.
Plan ahead for upcoming expenses.
Whether it’s Mother’s Day, anniversaries or birthdays, learning from this Valentine’s Day can help you budget better for future occasions. Setting aside a small savings fund for special events can ease financial stress and make celebrations more enjoyable. Impulse buying can not only make an unexpected dent in your budget, but it can hurt feelings too if you’re prone to panic-buying gifts last minute. So even if someone’s special day is far off, there’s never a better time than now to make plans to get it right – both for them and your wallet.
Don’t get pressured into overspending on special occasions
It’s easy to get carried away when celebrating special days. But when it comes to commercialised holidays, you don’t have to give in to the pressure to keep up with what everyone else seems to be doing. For example, a thoughtful homemade dinner can be just as lovely as a meal out, and at half the price too.
Take advantage of post-holiday discounts.
February and March bring massive markdowns on items like winter clothing and home decor as styles change with the seasons. Retailers clear stock before spring, making it an ideal time to grab quality items for less. As well as the spring sale for clothes and homeware, the few days after Valentine’s Day are the perfect opportunity to snag some bargains on chocolates, perfumes, jewellery and gift sets.
Save on your household bills.
As well as offering a cashback card to their customers, one of the benefits of joining UW is being able to get multiservice discounts by bundling their services. You can also reduce your energy bills even further with UW’s Free Energy Club.

While Valentine’s Day may be over, smart spending never goes out of style. By using cashback rewards, tracking expenses, and making financially savvy choices, you can enjoy life’s moments without worrying about the cost.

And if you overspent this Valentine’s or missed the chance to celebrate, don’t worry – there are always new opportunities to surprise and share love in meaningful ways without breaking the bank.