14 Budget-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to break the bank – after all, it’s about showing your partner that you love them, not that you spent money on them. Below, we’ve listed 14 different types of gifts that cost little to nothing, because you should be able to enjoy the day together without stressing about the price tag.

1. Breakfast in Bed

   Start your Valentine’s Day the right way with some heart-shaped pancakes, bacon, eggs, and hot chocolate with heart-shaped marshmallows (or coffee) in bed. Making breakfast for your loved one is a nice, simple gesture that will leave a lasting impression throughout the day – and who doesn’t want to spend an extra few minutes in bed before work?

2. Homemade Cards

   Personalized, homemade cards will never go out of style! You can purchase a pack of pink, red, or white construction paper from a craft store to keep the Valentine’s Day theme. Fold a piece of paper, cut half a heart from the centerfold, unfold the paper, and write a message that shows your Valentine you care.

3. Love Notes

   To create unique, unconventional love notes, use a standard deck of cards (you can purchase a deck for as little as $1). Write different love notes on all 13 hearts in the deck, punch a hole in the top corner of each, put a binder ring through the set, and before you know it, you’ve made a keepsake that your significant other can flip through forever.

   You can also arrange the 13 hearts on a poster board, or give just one to your significant other in a small, simple frame. If you don’t want to use a deck of cards, you can write various sentiments on pink post-it notes and stick them all around the house for your significant other to find throughout the day.

4. Sweet Treats

   Surprise your loved one with some sweet treats like chocolate covered fruit (strawberries, cherries, whatever fruit your partner prefers), cinnamon “red hots,” or conversation hearts. Conversation hearts also make great decorations! Gluing them to the perimeter of a picture frame adds a homemade, heartfelt touch.

   If you enjoy baking, consider making some treats like cinnamon rolls, fudge brownies, heart-shaped cookies, or truffles. You can get all of these materials at your local grocery store for less than $10, and you can turn it into an activity by baking the treats together rather than giving them as a gift.

5. Flowers

   Red roses, while traditional and beautiful, are more expensive in February because they aren’t in season, so browse your local grocery store for cheaper flowers. If you want them to be special for the holiday, try to find pink, red, or white flowers and purchase a simple vase to place them in. You don’t have to buy a huge bouquet to get your message across!

6. DIY Newlyweds Game

   If you and your partner enjoy a little competition, write a bunch of questions about where you met, each other’s favorite foods, etc. on small slips of paper and play your own version of the Newlyweds game.

7. IOU Coupons

   A booklet of personalized IOU coupons for your partner to redeem whenever they want is the gift that keeps on giving. You can include coupons like free back massages, hugs, kisses, control over the remote for a night – the options are endless.

8. A Mixtape

   Ok, so no one really makes mixtapes anymore, but you can put together a playlist or two of songs that make you think of your significant other that they can listen to anytime, anywhere.

9. A Bubble Bath

   While this isn’t a traditional gift, taking a few minutes to run a bath for your partner can go a long way in showing you care.

10. Acts of Service

    To help your partner relax even more, consider surprising them by taking over their chores for the day (or even the week).

11. Dinner

    Cooking dinner at home relieves a lot of the pressure surrounding the holiday, not to mention the pressure to spend money on a nice dinner. To keep the mood romantic, you and your partner can get dressed up as if you were going out, dim the lights, scatter candles and tea lights around the room and on the table, and pick a playlist for some background noise.

12. Movies

    Instead of paying to go out to a movie, you can watch a movie at home for free if you have Netflix, or you can rent a movie for cheap On Demand.

13. Pajamas

    What’s the perfect gift to pair with a movie date night? Cozy pajamas! You can find a cheap pair of Valentine’s Day themed pajamas, fuzzy socks, and slippers at your local T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Walmart, or Target.

14. Free Wine Tasting

    There are many different ways you can have a cheap date night, so if your partner loves wine and you want to get out of the house for the day, surf websites like Eventbrite for free wine tastings near you. And if wine isn’t your thing, Stateside Vodka’s distillery tour only costs $10.

The point of Valentine’s Day is to express your love and affection for your partner, not to burn a hole in your pocket! Celebrate with those you love most – because your presence is the best gift you can give them.