Valentine's Day is coming fast this year, and it always seems to sneak up on couples. With Christmas being over with, most people think that the holiday shopping and gift giving is over with. This, until mid-January comes around and the stores fill up with their Valentine's Day stuff. Endless aisles of chocolates, teddy bears, roses and all kinds of lovey-dovey stuff to give to your Valentine this year.

For a college student in a relationship, this time of year is dreaded. With our ramen and mac and cheese diets, we can barely afford a date to Chili's, let alone taking out our special person on a grand date for Valentine's Day. We simply cannot afford to shower our loved one in the gifts they deserve. The biggest thing to worry about is the date. How do you make a fancy and special evening out and treat your special person like the royalty they are, when you are broke? My solution is listed here in 15 ways to save money on Valentine's Day but still spoil that special someone:

1. Plan a romantic evening at home

This could involve giving each other massages, cooking dinner for each other, taking a romantic bubble bath together or spending the entire night focused on your significant other. Wait on that person hand and foot, and spoil them in a night of relaxation.

2. Ice skating

This is a great idea for newly dating couples. It is fun, active and a great way to get to know your Valentine on an even deeper level! Spending the evening holding hands, wearing sweaters and drinking hot chocolate is definitely a warm way to spend your night if you live in a colder climate! It is not so overly-romantic and intimate that it would scare off your significant other.

3. Take him or her to a cooking class

This is great for couples who have been dating for a while and are starting to get serious. It is a great way to get to know your partner on a deeper level, and this also inspires both of your creative sides!

4. Visit the ASPCA

Who does not love puppies? Take your significant other to your local ASPCA and volunteer to play with puppies or kittens for an hour! Everyone loves baby animals, and this is a sure-fire way to get your significant other to feel happy, relaxed and loving.

5. Movie date

This does not require having to go out and drop $40 at the movie theater. Simply "Netflix and Chill," or go to Redbox and rent movies for $1 each. You could also rent or buy your significant others' favorite movies.

6. Indoor picnic

This is extremely romantic and a cheaper way of having a nice dinner without having to fight for reservations. Light some candles, dim the lights, turn on some soothing music and have a nice indoor picnic curled up next to your loved one.

7. Stargazing

This is a cool date to go on if you are an outdoorsy couple. Lay out a blanket in the backyard or drive to a park, and just lay under the stars with your significant other, curled up in some blankets and each other. Very romantic.

8. Dinner and dancing

Once again, this does not mean you have to spend a bunch of money to do this. You could go out to dinner, have dinner delivered to your home or cook for each other. Then, turn on some romantic music and dance the night away in your socks in the living room or kitchen.

9. Go to a museum

This one is for all of the art lovers out there! Museums are free, and what better way to appreciate masterpieces than by doing it with your masterpiece of a lover?

10. Build a fort

This is a really cute date night idea if you both are very busy people and need a night of relaxation. Also, it is a nice date night idea if you two are not into getting all dressed up and would rather have lazy days.

11. Nighttime paintball or laser tag

This is an exciting date to get you and your significant others' heart beat racing and a way to create memories! Yes, there may be little kids there, but who says growing up means you have to give up being a little kid every once in a while?

12. Go camping

This is a nice way to do a weekend getaway without spending an extensive amount of money. For the outdoorsy couple, this is a great time to get to know your significant other on a more personal level and an excuse to hold each other close at night.

13. Spend the day outside

For the people who are experiencing a lot of snow storms at this time, this is a great excuse to get outside! Go outside this Valentine's Day, and build a snowman or have a snowball fight! Either way, it will end up with both of you exhausted, inside and cuddling to warm back up!

14. Spend the night downtown

Spend the night downtown window shopping or just walking around. For the guys, take candid pictures of your significant other during this time. It will create memories and make that person feel very special. You also never know what you might find downtown!

15. Go hiking

What is a better way to spend Valentine's Day than to accomplish something? Go hiking with your significant other and accomplish walking up that big mountain nearby. This is a great way to build team work between you two.

Valentine's Day does not have to be expensive, as I have proven. The only thing that should matter is the thought and that you and your loved one are doing something you both enjoy.