A recent poll on Offers.com found that 40 percent of the people who responded plan on “thinking outside the box” this Valentine’s Day and “will be making their own gifts or they will look for something that has sentimental value for their significant other.”

You don’t have to blow your savings to show someone you love him or her on Feb. 14.

Inexpensive ways of saying “I love you” include serving your sweetie breakfast in bed or tucking a special message in your honey’s lunch like a note wrapped around a banana that says “I go bananas for you.” Kind of corny, but still lovable.

Come back to Cheap in Erie tomorrow for more ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without going broke.

If you have suggestions to share, e-mail them to dana.massing@timesnews.com. Don’t forget that I’ll be giving a $25 gift card to one lucky person who submits a tip this month.