Making Valentine's Day special doesn't have to cost a lot Published Feb. 12, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78thABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, GA -- As gas prices soar and the price tag of living escalates, many people may be left thinking they can't afford a special Valentine's Day celebration. But, some people at Robins have found that spending more time in thought and less money from their wallets can make their loved ones feel special without exhausting finances. Master Sgt. Brian Pollreis, 402nd Electronics Maintenance Group superintendent, said tight funds in the past have caused him to drum up some creativity to make Valentine's Day special for his wife, Llisa. "Growing up with two kids in the military, obviously we didn't have a lot of money, especially (when we were) just starting out, so I resorted to not spending a whole lot of money," he said. "I did things that had a little bit more meaning than a Hallmark card. Anybody can go out and buy a Hallmark card for $3 and write their name in it and give it to somebody. I'd rather sit down and hand write a letter, maybe draw a picture on it or something of that sort." Even though the 42-year-old father of two has planned to take his wife of 18 years to a Bon Jovi concert for a late Valentine's celebration in April this year, he said he still believes in the little things mean a lot approach. "I like making dinner for my wife, something that she likes, not something that I like," he said. "Something I do throughout the year is write little love notes to her in different languages by using an Internet site called 'Babel Fish.' I can write whatever I want and it translates it to a different language and I give it to her. That way, she has to translate it back." Jessica Burkett, a logistics management specialist in the 560th Air Combat Sustainment Squadron, said since she and her husband of three years, Senior Airman Ryan Burkett, are saving to buy a house, they're putting more thought into how they spend Feb. 14. "I think the most meaningful things are things you really thought about and are not your ordinary kind of things," she said. "Take a walk or just sit and talk to each other. Make a special dinner and eat it on the floor with a picnic blanket and candles. Do something to make it more memorable." The 23-year-old Cincinnati, Ohio, native said her husband's creativity with mapping out a treasure hunt to her Valentine's Day present one year revealed his deep affection for her. "It was a simple thing," she said. "He didn't spend a lot, but it was something fun and creative so I knew he had thought about it and took a lot of time. That meant a lot." Sometimes physical distance from a loved one can cause a person to have to stretch their imagination at Valentine's Day. That has certainly been the case for 2nd Lt. Julia Ma, a communications engineer in the 54th Combat Communications Squadron, whose boyfriend, Calvin, lives in California. The Ellicott City, Md., native said she and her boyfriend sometimes use a free Internet-based video teleconference program and their webcams to enjoy a movie together. When schedules permit the couple to be together, Lieutenant Ma said she and her boyfriend tap into her love for art and his love of sports to make their time spent together fun. Valentine's Day can also be a time to show friends you care. 2nd Lt. Matthew Kahley, a communications and information officer in the 54th CBCS, said having a potluck meal where friends can gather and have a good time is always an enjoyable, inexpensive way to spend the day. No matter how the holiday is spent, most people agree that it's the thought that counts. "Anything that comes from the heart and not the store is best," Sergeant Pollreis said. Mrs. Burkett agreed. "I think anything that comes from the heart, homemade or not, shows you put in some extra time and love for that person," she said. "It shows you don't take them for granted and you appreciate all that they do."