Here’s how to do Valentine’s Day on a Glasgow student’s budget

The dreaded day of love is creeping up on us once again, and for us students with rent due next week, it can feel like a heart-shaped nightmare.

Is it even worth splashing out to make the day memorable when Valentine’s is more about capitalism than love? Well, that’s for you to decide—just don’t blame us when your SO ditches you for not putting in the effort.

But hey, don’t let your shrinking student loan crush your romantic dreams—we can still make this day fun on a budget. Whether you’re winning over your SO or giving that Hive fling another shot, romance doesn’t have to be a financial disaster!

So, if your partner’s idea of “planning” is waiting for Cupid to do all the work, don’t be afraid to send this article their way, because honestly, you deserve more than petrol station roses.

And for those who “forgot”, if your idea of planning is “just show up,” here’s your wake-up call. Don’t disappoint your date with last-minute nonsense—consider this your guide to a perfect Valentine’s that won’t make your wallet cry… or your date! Let’s turn this day of love into one of laughs, carbs, and maybe a little bit of romance—on a budget, of course!

Brunch

Most Read

Guys! A FOURTH Islander has quit Love Island All Stars and this is so messy

Retiring, religion and legal troubles: The Buffy cast members we probably won’t see back

Two Love Islanders have finally admitted they’re a couple after years of speculation

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Valaria (@valariaeatery)

Start your Valentine’s Day with some Parisian charm at Valaria on Byres Road.

You might not be able to whisk your date off to Paris for a romantic getaway—after all, you’ve got class on Monday and your overdraft is already in the red—but this is pretty much the next best thing. Glasgow also might not have the Eiffel Tower, but at least you’ve got pain au chocolat and a luxurious Parisian hot chocolate with enough whipped cream to make up for it (for only £10).

If your date isn’t swooning over you, at least they’ll be swooning over the food. Très romantique…ish.

Flowers

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Roots, Fruits & Flowers (@rootsfruitsandflowers)

If your man claims flowers are “pointless because they just die”, tell him you’re considering the same approach to your relationship.

Real love is found in Roots, Fruits & Flowers on Great Western Road—an independent florist that does beautiful, reasonably priced bouquets (that don’t scream “I picked these up from the Tesco reduced section”).

Drinks

Looking to find a little chemistry of your own? The Alchemist in the city centre is offering a Mini Cocktail Masterclass for just £18 per person, which is basically a cheap excuse to get drunk in the name of “romance.”

Whether you’re trying to impress your date or just need something to do before the inevitable awkwardness of the night kicks in, this is the perfect solution.

Plus, at £18, you’ll still have enough left for a kebab afterwards. Cheers to keeping the spark alive… or at least getting buzzed enough to pretend!

Dinner

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sugo Pasta (@sugopastaglasgow)

Valentine’s wouldn’t be complete without dinner of course, because you can’t expect to get lucky without first treating your special lady to a good meal – it’s the least she deserves after your terrible patter.

Paesano Pizza is the obvious choice for dinner—cheap, cheerful, and objectively the best pizza in Glasgow. Plus, it’s loud enough that if your date says something cringe, you can pretend not to hear.

For something a little more intimate, Sugo offers affordable yet delicious handmade pasta, and nothing says romance like watching your partner attempt to elegantly eat spaghetti while failing miserably.

Evening plans

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by R-CADE Glasgow (@rcadeglasgow)

If the sound of a romantic dinner makes you want to hurl your spenny supermarket flowers at the wall, The Stand Comedy Club’s Anti-Valentine’s Party on February 13th is your perfect pre-Valentine’s escape.

Whether you’re in a smug couple sick of the sappy marketing or flying solo and about to cancel all your social media accounts to avoid the “#couplegoals” posts, come laugh in a basement full of like-minded cynics.

It’s the ultimate way to dodge all that pink-and-red nonsense and just have a good laugh—plus, you’ll have a better story to tell than your mates who spent half their student loan on a fancy dinner. This event has £10 concession tickets, so don’t forget your student ID, or you’ll be stuck paying full price for a night of sarcastic laughter.

Not feeling the anti-Valentine’s vibe? Still want to impress your date without spending more than your weekly food budget? Head to R-CADE’s How-Do-Ken? Retro Games Night for an evening of nostalgic gaming and some cheeky competition. No matter if you’re battling it out on Street Fighter or reliving your childhood Micro Machines nightmares, you’ll have the chance to show off your skills— or at least pretend you’ve still got it.

Staff will provide a solid selection of multiplayer games, or you can request your faves. It’s BYOB, so feel free to bring your own cheap vino or whatever mystery drink you’ve got left from last week’s Sports Wednesday. This will be £14 per person – because what’s more romantic than thrashing each other at Mario Kart while sipping on Tesco’s finest?

Love is cheap, and so is this date

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Firewater (@firewaterglasgow_)

Who says Valentine’s Day has to be all overpriced set menus or sad supermarket meal deals that scream “I’ve got no idea what I’m doing”?

With a little creativity—and a lot of patience for your partner’s indecision—you can pull off a killer date on a budget, packed with food, fun, and just enough romance to keep you out of the doghouse.

And if your date totally bombs (which, let’s be real, is highly likely), Firewater’s throwing a traffic light party. That way, you’ll know exactly who’s still single… or who’s about to be after this disaster of a date.