By Felicia Czochanski Bisaro
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and love is in the air. With it comes the reminder to show your appreciation for the loved ones in your life through thoughtful moments, experiences or gifts. I’ve personally always loved Valentine’s Day because it’s more personalized than some of the other holidays, making it an opportunity to show your loved ones how well you know them and how much you care for them.
Holidays can be expensive, especially this year when it felt like so many holidays were back-to-back! But Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be. In fact, you can get creative with a cute Valentine’s Day date idea that won’t break the bank: a thrifting date at your local Goodwill store.
Valentine’s Day Date Idea: $20 Thrift Challenge
I sent my sister, Cristina, and her boyfriend, Ben, on a Valentine’s Day thrift date experience at their local Goodwill in Ventura, California. The instructions were simple: head to Goodwill with a $20 total spending limit and pick out special items for each other. I couldn’t wait to see what they’d find, whether it was clothes or décor, I knew they’d find something perfect for their upcoming Valentine’s Day picnic on the beach.
Keeping with the Valentine’s Day theme, there were a lot of pink, purple and red sections to shop from.
They shopped around the store together and came across some great designer finds. Ben found a red lace top with a ruffle neck. It’s trendy, perfect for layering and from Anthropologie, which made it even more of a steal for just $5.99.
Cristina found a like-new Neiman Marcus purple linen button-down shirt that was just $6.99. It’s great for California weather, where you want something lightweight that you can layer while still being able to easily roll up the sleeves and soak up some sunshine.
With a few dollars left to spend, they moved on to look through the home goods and décor racks and found some great Valentine’s Day-themed items. A nonstick heart-shaped cake pan would be perfect for baking up a special sweet treat, the heart donut vase is a unique find that can make Valentine’s Day flowers really shine and the full bath and body gift basket that looks brand new and has a price tag of only $7.99.
You never know what you might find at Goodwill and how what you come across could shape your next experience. Goodwill is one of my favorite places to shop when I’m looking for creative inspiration. It’s also a feel-good spot to shop because I know I’m helping a nonprofit that supports unemployed and underemployed individuals in my community with training and resources to help them find new, higher-wage jobs. Shopping secondhand also diverts would-be waste from landfills by giving it new life and purpose in my wardrobe or home.
Check out your favorite Goodwill store for your own version of this Valentine’s Day date idea. Tag us on Instagram @goodwillintl to share your finds.
