I Went to Hooters on Valentine’s Day and Fell in Love

It was Valentine’s Day 2003, and my then-boyfriend and I failed to make reservations early enough to snag a table a decent restaurant. So after being turned away from several packed places, we noticed there was plenty of parking at Hooters.

I had never been to the wings and boobs joint before, and I blinked back a few tears when he suggested we give it a try. Talk about the epitome of unromantic. But it turned out to be my best Valentine’s Day yet, because that was the day I fell in love … with buffalo wings. Ever since then, I’ve had no qualms at looking past the waitresses in orange hot pants, suntan pantyhose and scrunchy socks to get my hands on some of their crispy wings.

This trip down memory lane was prompted by a stupid statistic I found out today: The average consumer will spend $122.98 on Valentine’s Day this year, up from $119.67 last year. That’s according to the National Retail Federation, which reports that 61 percent of consumers plan to celebrate the holiday and will spend a collective $17 billion. Since I’m single, the thought of spending that much money on Valentine’s Day seems absurd to me (unless, of course it’s for a new pair of shoes, because as Carrie Bradshaw so aptly once said: “It’s hard to walk in a single woman’s shoes, that’s why we need really special ones — to make the walk a little more fun”).

If you’re not single, and you’re looking for ways to save money on Valentine’s Day that don’t involve taking your date to Hooters, consider these tips from Greg Karp, who just released a book called “Living Rich by Spending Smart.”

• Move the celebration to the following weekend when securing reservations and a babysitter will be easier, and post-Valentine’s Day markdowns are in effect.
• Consider dining alternatives such as making a favorite meal at home, a Valentine’s breakfast, or dessert only at an elegant restaurant.
• Instead of dinner and a show, check out free, fun alternatives such as a trip to the art museum, the aquarium, zoo or a public concert. In warmer climates try a romantic picnic and in colder regions, try ice skating, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.
• Plan ahead for gift shopping to avoid the last minute scramble that almost always results in higher spending.
• Cut down on the candy and purchase just one or two pieces of fancy, gourmet candy – satisfy the sweet tooth and forego the excess calories.
• Buy fake bling. Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend but the look-alike gemstones are nice too.

Or just save your money and give the best free gift ever: Write your significant other a good old fashioned love note (but please be sure to spell check).

Want a Free Pretzel from Auntie Anne’s?

Auntie Anne’s, the pretzel chain located in malls across America, is giving away pretzels on Saturday to celebrate its 20th anniversary, according to a news release I spotted this morning. Locally, you can snag your free pretzel from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Streets at Southpoint, Triangle Town Center and Crabtree Valley Mall.

The pretzel makers also will be launching a new feel-good campaign:

“Free Pretzel Day” will also mark the beginning of Auntie Anne’s What a Difference a Family Makes: A New Twist on Giving Back, a grant program that will recognize 20 families who volunteer together to make a difference in their communities, and reward them with grants of up to $20,000. Interested families can nominate themselves or be nominated by others at www.aTwistOnGivingBack.com.