中英双语新闻——106 Budget your V day

 　　The sweetest holiday is just around the corner. How much do you plan to spend? One hundred yuan on chocolates? Another hundred on flowers? Two hundred yuan on dinner for two? The totals can rack up.

 

　　最甜蜜的节日马上就要到了。你做好开销预算了吗？巧克力，100元？鲜花，100元？情侣套餐，200元？加起来恐怕你的钱包要吃不消了。

 

　　You don’t have to break your budget to keep from breaking your lover’s heart – just use some imagination and initiative.

 

　　其实你不必为了不让爱人伤心而让预算超标，只需要拥有一些想象和创意就好了。

 

　　We’ve rounded up some ideas for a Valentine’s Day on a budget.

 

　　这里，我们集合了一些情人节省钱小诀窍。

 

　　Do the time shift

 

　　时空转换

 

　　On Valentine’s Day, flowers and restaurants can be more expensive. Why not time shift your Valentine’s Day, say, a few days earlier or later? After all, who said you have to celebrate your love on February 14?

 

　　情人节这天，送花和吃顿大餐都花费不菲。为什么不将你的情人节“乾坤大挪移”呢，也就是说，要么早几天过，要么晚几天过？毕竟，谁说你一定就得在2月14日这天庆祝你的爱情呢？

 

　　Meal

 

　　情人节大餐

 

　　If the romantic meal out is a must-have, go check local newspapers, as restaurants may be doing special promotions¹. Group purchasing websites often have special offers on meals.

 

　　如果一顿浪漫大餐是必需品的话，去查阅一些当地的报纸吧，一些餐厅可能正在进行情人节特别主题促销活动。许多团购网站也常常会有一些特别优惠套餐。

 

　　Scrap² the card

 

　　丢掉情人节卡片

 

　　Is there a more overpriced piece of paper than a Valentine’s Day card? No worries, we can make our own.

 

　　这世上还有任何一种纸片比情人节卡片的定价更过分的么？不用担心，我们可以制作自己的卡片。

 

　　Run a search for Valentine’s inspired stories on newspapers and magazines, cut out relevant words and phrases and attach them to a piece of cardboard.

 

　　在报纸杂志上寻找一些情人节的温馨故事，剪下相关的词句，并将它们粘贴在一张卡片上。

 

　　Or choose a photo of you two, and write when and where the photo was taken and how much the moment means to you.

 

　　或者选择一张你们的合影，写下合照的时间和地点，以及这个时刻对你意味着什么。

 

　　Don’t be afraid to gush³ a little, too. It is Valentine’s Day.

 

　　同时，不要担心自己看上去会有些过分肉麻。因为这是情人节。

 

　　Make the gift

 

　　自制情人节礼物

 

　　Stuffed toys and flowers are everywhere, and that’s why they lack sincerity⁴.

 

　　毛绒玩具和鲜花到处都是，这也正是送这些礼物缺少诚意的原因。

 

　　How about writing down 10 things you love about your partner on a sheet of paper and sticking it somewhere they will see it first thing in the morning?

 

　　为什么不试试这种方式呢？在一张纸上写下另一半身上你最喜爱的10件事情，贴在他（她）们情人节早上醒来就会看到的位置。

 

　　Or you could make a memory box of ticket stubs, photos, and things that remind your partner of the shared sweet memories.

 

　　或者你也可以用票根、照片以及一些能够使他（她）忆起甜蜜时光的物件来制作一个“记忆盒子”。

1 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。

2 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

3 gush   

v.喷，涌；滔滔不绝(说话)；n.喷，涌流；迸发

参考例句：

• There was a gush of blood from the wound.血从伤口流出。
• There was a gush of blood as the arrow was pulled out from the arm.当从手臂上拔出箭来时，一股鲜血涌了出来。

4 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。