Valentine's Day is often touted as the made-up Hallmark holiday, designed to make us spend money to prove our love and buy heart-shaped items. Millennials are expected to spend over $200 this Valentine's Day! If your wallet is still recovering from the holiday season, try some of these alternative options to spending half a paycheck on February 14th.

Cook a Meal

An oldie but a goodie — cooking a meal for someone special shows that time can be one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate that you care. If this seems daunting, look for recipes that are no-fail and delicious. Even grocery stores like Whole Foods offer take-home and make dinners that give that home-cooked feel without all the chopping, seasoning, and grocery shopping. Good Cakes and Bakes in Detroit also offers a lovely DIY cookie decorating kit that makes for a delicious and fun dessert option.

Participate Together

Memories are gifts that last a lifetime. If you want to be romantic and a bit outside the box, do a workshop together. Many businesses offer their expertise while you learn a new skill — screen printing, painting, and cooking are all great options for Valentine's weekend. A few unique class suggestions happening across Michigan and virtually include:

• Cooking Class (Online)
• Galentine's Day Shopping Event (Livonia)
• Valentine's Art Box (Take Home)
• Nature Hike (Otsego)

Netflix and Chill

Choose your favorite streaming service and hunker down for some serious couch time. Jazz up your night by lighting candles, ordering in, and baking brownies for dessert. Scatter some rose petals from the door to your living room, adorn the windows with twinkling lights, and create a masterful movie-watching experience with a few dollar-store items. Some of the best memories are made in the coziest of settings.

Just like every relationship is unique, so should be your Valentine's Day celebration. Remember that going non-traditional doesn't have to be stressful or expensive — but it should always be fun!