We don’t have too many new food freebies this week, so we’ll repeat some of last week’s deals that are still good and remind you of a few perennial freebies, including craft workshops for kids.

Perhaps the dearth of deals and coupons is a sign that we should all cook more. We are noticing restaurant coupons in the Sunday newspaper fliers, so be sure to check there.

This guest post comes from Flexo at Consumerism Commentary. It’s the final day of Flexo's 10-day, 10-venue tour.

The massive marketing push as the calendar heads toward Valentine's Day has begun. From greeting cards to diamonds, from Lexus to 1-800-Flowers, companies and brands want to be indelibly linked to the popular holiday for lovers.

With economic recovery still slow, there are still many loving couples struggling to make ends meet. Why make a bad situation worse by spending more than necessary?

• Bing: How to talk money with your spouse

Here are some of my tamer suggestions for experiencing a frugal Valentine's Day this year.

This Deal of the Day comes from Kelli B. Grant at partner site SmartMoney.

Few holidays are as terrifying for your psyche -- and your budget -- as Valentine’s Day.

“You’re trying to set the right tone for the relationship,” says Art Markman, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas. “But usually you’re not 100% sure what you want to communicate.” Go too romantic, and you risk scaring the recipient away (or worse, inadvertently sealing the affections of a more casual acquaintance). A less-thought-out gesture gambles showing too little affection for a serious relationship.

Retailers would like cupid’s arrow to bull's-eye your wallet along with your heart. Last year, Americans spent on average $102 on Valentine’s Day expenses, down from $122 in 2008, according to the National Retail Federation. To get you spending again, they are pushing promotions now (see below), with many sites throwing in free ground shipping to deliver gifts in time, says Sok Verdery, the chief executive of CouponShack.com, a deal and coupon site. But as the holiday approaches, expect fewer sales on traditional gifts.

Would you be more willing to buy Dockers or Bud Light if their ads showed average Joes and Janes wearing nothing more than their underwear? Pants literally on the ground and disgarded?

• Bing: Best Super Bowl commercials of all time

According to USA Today, here’s what we can expect on Super Sunday and elsewhere with an undergarment theme:

A Michigan company has come up with a new tool to help you find lower priced generic prescriptions near your home.

We all know that Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart and various supermarkets offer low-cost generic prescriptions, many for $4 for a 30-day supply. But not all the stores offer the same deal on the same medications, so it can take some shopping around to find the best deal for you.

A company called MedTipster lets your fingers do the walking. You can put in the name of a drug, choose the formulation and dosage, then let the Web site find low-cost generics near your home. If there is no generic, it will tell you that, too. It will also suggest lower-priced alternative drugs.

With all the problems surrounding the current Toyota recall, many drivers are confused about what they should do next and what their rights are. What you should do varies from nothing to seeing a lawyer. 

First things first

Here are the first steps you should take:

“Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.” -- Bear Bryant

One idea often put out there by personal-finance writers is the concept that we have to take care of the big things first. If we just take care of the five biggest financial holes in our lives, we’ll be fine, because those five big ones are doozies.

Paying off a credit card, for example, can save us $200 a month. Renting a smaller apartment can save us $300 a month. Doing five things of that size will make a huge difference in our monthly expenses.

On paper, I completely agree with this idea. Without a doubt, if you’re able to shave $500 a month from your monthly spending due to two or three big acts, it likely will make a big difference in your financial bottom line.

At least it will at first.

Target’s decision this week to quit selling farmed salmon brings up a perennial issue of frugal grocery shopping: How do you balance the desire for quality with the need to save money?

Farmed salmon is usually cheaper than wild salmon. But, many question the effect of salmon farming on the environment, and questions also have been raised about higher levels of cancer-causing chemicals in at least some farmed salmon.

While fish is considered part of a healthy diet, finding quality seafood at an affordable price can be a challenge.