Valentine’s Day is about celebrating the ones you love, but the costs can add up quickly. Between flowers, gifts, dinner reservations, and tours of town, you can easily spend hundreds of dollars without even realizing it.
The good news is that by using shopping portals and taking advantage of built-in credit card offers, you can offset a significant portion of your Valentine’s Day spending without changing your plans.
Here’s a guide to some simple strategies to help you save money and get rewarded on your Valentine’s Day purchases.
Use shopping portals to earn bonus points on your Valentine’s Day shopping
Shopping portals are one of the easiest ways to earn reward points or miles on purchases. Here’s how to use them to buy the items you’re already planning on buying for Valentine’s Day—from flowers and chocolates to jewelry and gifts.
What are shopping portals and how do they work?
Shopping portals are a great way to easily earn points when you shop. These third-party websites work with various retailers to offer you points, miles, or cash back when you click on their links. When you click through the portal to a retailer, it tracks your purchases and credits bonus points or miles to your account. In addition to the points or miles you earn through your credit card, you can also earn these portal bonuses, making it easy to double your rewards.
To take advantage of the portal, simply register your loyalty account (frequent flyer, hotel or credit card program) with the online shopping portal and shop as usual, making sure to activate the offer at checkout.
For example, if you purchase flowers through the AAdvantage e-shopping portal of global flower network FTD Flowers, you can earn 30 AAdvantage miles for every US$1 spent. Just by first clicking on the portal, a $100 flower arrangement will earn you 3,000 bonus miles, and that’s not counting the additional points or miles you can earn through your credit card.
Portal bonuses often increase during holidays such as Valentine’s Day, especially for popular gift categories. Common Valentine’s Day portal partners include:
- Flower delivery services like FTD, ProFlowers and Teleflora
- Chocolate and gift brands such as Shari’s Berries and Personal Creations
- Department stores and beauty retailers such as Nordstrom, Saks and Sephora
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Since portal prices change frequently, it’s best to compare quotes before buying. Sites like EVReward make it easy to see which portal offers the best returns.
Before taking a look, here are some portal best practices to keep in mind:
- Only use coupon codes listed on the portal – external codes may disqualify rewards.
- Clear cookies or use an incognito window to help ensure proper tracking.
- Save the confirmation email in case points don’t post correctly.
Related: How to Make the Most of Your Online Shopping Portal Purchases
Use credit card statement points for dining, delivery and transportation
Credit card statement points are one of the most effective ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs on Valentine’s Day. Many popular credit cards offer revolving points on dining, food delivery, and ride-hailing services that align perfectly with date night expenses.
Catering and restaurant reservations
Some premium cards offer points that you can use toward restaurant reservations or dining-related purchases, including reservations through platforms like Resy and OpenTable. These points are especially useful on Valentine’s Day, when fixed-price menus and special tasting menus can add up quickly.
Cards with dining points include:
Related: How to maximize your dining experience and save money with Resy
Meal delivery for date at home
If you’re planning a cozy date night, bill points associated with food delivery services like DoorDash or Uber Eats can help pay for dinner, dessert, or even breakfast the next morning. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to enjoy those points before they reset.
Cards with food delivery points include:
- American Express Gold Card: Earn up to $120 in Uber Cash per year per calendar year (and earn up to $10 in Uber Cash per month on Uber Eats and Uber Ride in the U.S.). * When you add Amex Gold as a payment method and redeem using any Amex card, Uber Cash will only be credited to one Uber account.
- American Express Platinum Card: Get up to $200 in Uber Cash per calendar year (divided into up to $15 monthly points, plus up to a $20 bonus in December) on Uber rides and Uber Eats orders within the U.S.* Note: When you add Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem using any Amex card, Uber Cash will only be credited to one Uber account.
Related: How dining out and DoorDash can help fund your next trip
Transportation to and from your appointment
Whether you use Uber, Lyft or another eligible ride-hailing service, ride credits and annual travel credits can offset the cost of a round-trip dinner. This is especially valuable in cities where parking or peak pricing would otherwise increase the overall cost of the evening.
Cards with transportation points include:
- American Express Platinum Card: Get up to $120 in Uber One bill credits toward an auto-renewable $96 annual membership or $9.99 monthly membership in full. *^
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Get $120 per year with Lyft (up to $10 per month; through September 30, 2027; not valid with Wait & Save, bike or scooter rides).
Related: The best credit cards for ride-hailing apps
Fun and Family Date Points
If you’re planning a low-key Valentine’s Day, some cards also offer points toward streaming and digital entertainment services. These can offset the cost of movie rentals, subscriptions, or other family date night essentials. this American Express Platinum CardFor example, offers up to $300 in digital entertainment bill credits each calendar year (earn up to $25 per month). *These points can be used as long as you pay directly to eligible merchants each month, including Disney+ and Hulu.
*Certain benefits require registration.
^Indicates new or enhanced benefits.
Related: How to Use American Express Platinum Digital Entertainment Points
Important reminder
Before using claim points, keep these tips in mind:
- Many statement points require registration, so be sure to check your card’s benefits page.
- Some points reset monthly, while others reset annually or semi-annually.
- Points generally do not stack with other promotions unless explicitly stated.
- Set calendar reminders so points don’t expire if they’re not used.
RELATED: Checklist of Forgettable Statement Points: Maximizing Your Card
bottom line
Valentine’s Day spending doesn’t have to exceed your budget. By earning reward points through shopping portals and using credit card statement points to pay for dining and transportation, you can significantly reduce costs while enjoying your vacation.
A little planning ahead of time (like checking portal prices, signing up for credit card offers, and using the right credit card for every purchase) can help you celebrate with that special someone without overspending.
Related: The most romantic Valentine’s Day hotel packages from around the world
