Valentine’s Day Tips for Every Stage of Your Love Life in Malaysia

Ah, Valentine’s Day in Malaysia. A day when love is in the air, and the pressure to spend is everywhere. But fear not, whether you’re single, tangled up, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered with some financial planning tips and budget-friendly date ideas to keep both your heart and wallet full.Here's the comprehensive list, jump to the section that most applies to you! (We weren't joking when we said 'every stage of your love life').For the Singles: You’re not single; you’re just in a

By Finlit7 min readUpdated
Valentine’s Day Tips for Every Stage of Your Love Life in Malaysia

Ah, Valentine’s Day in Malaysia. A day when love is in the air, and the pressure to spend is everywhere. But fear not, whether you’re single, tangled up, or somewhere in between, we’ve got you covered with some financial planning tips and budget-friendly date ideas to keep both your heart and wallet full.

Here’s the comprehensive list, jump to the section that most applies to you!

(We weren’t joking when we said ‘every stage of your love life’).

1For the Singles
2For Situationships
3For New Relationships
4For Struggling Relationships
5For Committed Relationships
6For the Married

For the Singles: 

You’re not single; you’re just in a committed relationship with your finances. Congratulations, you two are perfect for each other! Now in order to keep this relationship well and healthy, we have a few suggestions for you. 

Allocate some money to personal development, wellness, or discover new hobbies and passions, like:

1. Gym Memberships

Invest in your physical and mental well-being with a gym membership. Here are a list of options for you to choose from:

Anytime FitnessAvailable in 16 locations.RM150+
Celebrity FitnessAvailable in 21 locations.RM170+
ClasspassAccess to many different fitness studios, gyms, spas and salons.Min. RM39 for 5 credits, (The cost of one class, in credits, depends on the sport, popularity and the place)
Walk-in gymsCheck your area!RM12+

Pro tip: Considering your finesse skills, you can actually bargain your gym membership costs. 

Be in control of the love you’re pouring into yourself emotionally and financially. If you feel like there’s something lacking, it’s a sign that it might be time for a change.

2. Self-development

Take part in activities that stimulate and enrich your mind, like:

PotteryCheck out Good Times DIY Pottery Studio in Paradigm mall.RM90+
Sip and paintIf you’re in the Klang Valley area, check out Art and Bonding!RM150+
Rug tuftingTuftme has 3 outlets across the Klang Valley!RM188+
Cooking and baking classesABC Cooking Studio offers comprehensive classes on either cooking or baking!RM85+
Batik paintingJadi Batek offers a variety of workshops regarding batiks.RM35+

Pro tip: Bring your friend along or make new friends there! 

This Valentine’s Day, splurge on the one who truly deserves it: you. 

A woman rubbing her temples as a man argues with her

For Situationships:

If defining the relationship is more complex than Add Maths, maybe it’s best to keep V-day lowkey. Movie night at home, perhaps? It’s easy, affordable and free of any relationship-defining implications.

Netflix subscriptionMukhsin (2006), Set It Up (2018), Always Be My Maybe (2019), No Strings Attached (2011), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)RM17+
Fast food5-pc combo at KFC, HB 07 (2 Chick n Crisp + 2 Cheesy Fries + Taro Pie + 2 Coke) at Burger King, MyBox Duo Pizza at Pizza HutRM45.99 RM34.90 RM36.80

Pro tip: Take advantage of V-Day and finally ask where the relationship is going, but you have to be ready for the answer, otherwise don’t ask!

For New Relationships

By new relationships, we mean like a 2-3 months long. If you’re only three dates in, then maybe you should skip out on V-Day.

But if you’ve already DTF (defined the relationship) plus said the L word and all of that, here’s what we suggest:

Small, yet thoughtful giftsIf you both love yapping, get conversation starter cards like this., If they love food, cook for them! Here are some recipes to consider., If they love games, have you heard of It Takes Two -available on PlayStation, Nintendo and PC., If they love money, recommend Mr Money TV to them.RM20+ RM50+ RM150+ FREE
Expensive and thoughtful giftsPersonalised jewelry like a handmade ring engraved with both of your initials., Limited edition items that aligns with your partner’s interest, such as limited edition notebooks, a collector’s edition of their favourite game, or a special release of a product that they like!, Concert or event tickets that they’re a big fan of.(SupaLapa is happening in March, if you want to check out who’s performing.)RM500+ RM90+ RM400+

Pro tip: Talk about your expectations for V-Day to make sure you’re both on the same page!

A man on his knees giving a bouquet of flowers to a woman with her arms crossed.

For Struggling Relationships

If your love life needs CPR, forget your wallet! It’s time for genuine, heartfelt gestures.

Small gestures usually speak volumes. Think back to what made two get together in the first place and put those memories to paper.

Consider making a scrapbook with pictures of significant moments you and your partner shared together to reignite the spark.

Fancy photo booksPixajoy has a V-day themed photo book promotion!, So does Photobook MalaysiaRM10+ RM20+
DIY photo booksFind your nearest camera shop, they usually have photo printing machines. All you need is your phone or USB., Buy a scrapbook online or at your nearest stationary store., Don’t forget glue and marker pen!RM5+ per photo RM15+ RM5+

For Committed Relationships

In a committed relationship and feeling like your partner might not be seeing the big, flashing “I’m ready for more” signs you have up? Don’t worry, we got you!

Here are some ways to make your intentions clear, without making your partner run away:

Ring-making classesPakanira lets you choose from five different ring designs and you can engrave whatever you want on it.RM500+
Flower arrangement workshopsDear J Flower by Jane has a Floral Jamming Afternoon Tea workshop that teaches you how to arrange flowers and even provides tea and cakes!RM500+
Property huntingDrive around your neighbourhood and point out houses for sale/rent. Then tell your partner the life you imagine in those houses. This will really seal the deal.FREE

A woman on her phone while her two daughters play fight in the background

Finally, for the Married

There’s only one thing parents want on Valentine’s Day. Alone time in the bedroom to finally get some good quality sleep. What were you thinking?

DaycaresYou most likely have a daycare for your child already, so it doesn’t seem right for us to suggest one. But since V-day is on a workday, why not take the day off?Annual Leave
FamilyThe best, most cost-efficient babysitter are your parents. They love their grandchildren! So on V-Day, surprise them with a visit and then leave the house as fast as possible (without your kids, of course).FREE

Happy Valentine’s Day from Mr Money Tv!

There you have it — a Valentine’s Day survival guide for every type of relationship in Malaysia, from the blissfully unattached to the happily tangled.

Remember, whether you’re swiping right, dropping hints for something more, or just trying to catch some Z’s away from your kids, the best V-Day is the one that makes you happy!

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Frequently asked questions

What are some cheap Valentine's Day date ideas in Malaysia?
For a low-key night, stay in with a Netflix subscription from RM17+ and fast food like KFC's 5-pc combo (RM45.99), Burger King's HB 07 (RM34.90) or Pizza Hut's MyBox Duo Pizza (RM36.80). If money is tight, make a DIY scrapbook with photo prints from RM5+ each and a scrapbook from RM15+, or drive around pointing out houses for sale, which costs nothing.
How much does a gym membership cost in Malaysia?
This Valentine's guide lists a few options. Walk-in gyms start from RM12+, Anytime Fitness from RM150+ across 16 locations, and Celebrity Fitness from RM170+ across 21 locations. ClassPass starts at a minimum RM39 for 5 credits and gives access to many studios, gyms, spas and salons, with the credits per class depending on the sport, popularity and place. You can try to bargain your membership too.
What self-development classes can I try in Malaysia and how much do they cost?
The guide suggests several hands-on classes. Batik painting starts from RM35+ at Jadi Batek, cooking or baking from RM85+ at ABC Cooking Studio, pottery from RM90+ at Good Times DIY Pottery Studio in Paradigm Mall, sip-and-paint from RM150+ at Art and Bonding in the Klang Valley, and rug tufting from RM188+ at Tuftme, which has 3 outlets across the Klang Valley.

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