I’m a chocoholic, which makes life easy for my husband on Valentine’s Day. A card and a big box of Russell Stover assorted creams, and I’m over the moon. But not all women (or men, for that matter) are so easy to please. Here are some gift ideas that will put a smile on your Valentine’s face without leaving a huge dent in your wallet.
Valentine’s Day gifts for women
Flowers and candy
It seems so cliché, but there’s a reason people still buy flowers and candy for Valentine’s Day. It’s because women like flowers and candy. Before you go shopping, check our Daily Deals site (and also your local Living on the Cheap site) for discounts from 1800Flowers, Teleflora, etc. National flower delivery sites often run deals just before Valentine’s Day that can save you up to 50 percent.
Spa certificates
A word of caution on the spa certificates. Don’t buy one unless you know your Valentine well enough to be sure she’ll use it. Not all women are comfortable going to the spa (if my husband is reading, this, please ignore my earlier comment and continue reading). Spa deals can be found year-round on your local Living on the Cheap Daily Deals page, and they’re even more popular around Valentine’s Day.
The deals change day-to-day, but today I found especially goof deals on the Kansas City on the Cheap site. Although it’s OK to buy Valentine’s Day gifts from daily deal sites, your Valentine doesn’t need to know you got a discount. Call the spa before you buy and ask if you can trade in the discount certificate for an actual spa gift certificate. The spa certificate will be much more impressive.
Photos on canvas
Find a photo you love of you and your sweetie and have it made into a canvas print. You can upload your photo and order online at Walmart, Walgreens or CVS. Prices start at $19.96 for an 11×14 canvas (Walmart is the least expensive).
Valentine’s Day gifts for men:
Movie night
Pick up a copy of his favorite movie and wrap it with some theater-style popcorn and his favorite movie candies. You can add some hot cocoa or an inexpensive bottle of wine.
Beer-making kit
What guy doesn’t like beer? OK, I’m sure some of them don’t, but I’m guessing they’re in the minority. In any case, making beer seems like a good guy project, so I’m adding the beer-making kit to my list. You can buy one for as little as $49.95 from HomeBrewers Outpost or for $39.68 at Amazon.com (the Amazon kit qualifies for free shipping).
Get creative
Pick up a nice basket ($5-$10 at Walmart or a thrift shop) and fill it with your Valentine’s favorite sweet treats. Bake his favorite cookies and decorate them with pink frosting, sprinkles, or Valentine’s Day M&Ms.
Buy a pound of his favorite Starbucks coffee and add a nice mug, some shortbread cookies, flavored stirrers, and foil-wrapped chocolate hearts.
What ideas do you have for cheap Valentine’s Day Gifts? Share your comments below.
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