Looking to woo your Valentine this year without breaking the bank? The average person will spend roughly $128 on their Valentine-- according to the Brand Keys Bi-Annual Customer Loyalty Index.
Say, “I love you” for less and up the romance factor with these frugal yet thoughtful Valentine's Day gift ideas.
1. Hand Delivered Flowers
It’s a frugalista’s take on the classic idea on sending flowers. Use your lunch hour to pick up some flowers for your sweetheart and hand deliver them yourself. Not only will this save you a small fortune in Valentine's Day flower mark-ups, delivery fees and tips-- it will also up the romance factor.
2. Sweet Surprises
If subtle is more your style, try a sweet or sultry note tucked into an unexpected place accompanied by a sweet treat. The treat could be individually wrapped home made cookies-- or mini versions of your sweetie’s favorite candy bar.
Related: Get the Best Price for Roses this Valentine's Day
3. Take On Your Valentine’s To Do List
We all have those tasks that we dislike doing. Whether it's the dishes, getting our oil changed, or cleaning the rain gutters-- you know your Valentine’s list. Tackle at least three between now and V-Day. Snap pictures of your finished work and present them in a card or just create a “To Do” list with all the items checked off.
4. A Guided Tour of Your Love
The place you met, where you had your first date, your first kiss, where you got engaged, where you married… these are all landmarks of your life together. Make a mix CD and take your love on a guided tour of those familiar places where your history was made.
5. Dinner at Home, With a Twist
Cooking a romantic dinner can come as a little cliché. To make it memorable, call your honey’s mom and get the recipe for their favorite childhood dish. Nothing evokes warm and fuzzy feelings like comfort food… and your Valentine will be touched you went to the extra effort for them.
Related: Ingredients for a Romantic Dinner for Two
6. Plant Your Valentine a Rose Garden
Give your Valentine flowers 365 days a year, without any gardening skills required. Head to your local garden center and pick up a window box, some potting soil, and a few plants you think they'll love
7. Proclaim Your Love For All The World To See
Whether you use seaweed on a sand dune to create a heart with your initials, carve them into a tree, or use Christmas lights to spell out your love on a hillside—your Valentine will be thrilled to see your sentiment super-sized.
8. Send your Valentine via Snail Mail
In the age of email we rarely get anything in the mail other than bills. So imagine how happy your Valentine will be to get a little red envelope in the mail.
9. Romantic Scavenger Hunt
Send your love on a romantic goose chase. Leave them a note on the door telling them to go straight to the bedroom. Have an outfit laid out for them, with directions to check the pocket once they have it on. In the pocket place the first clue sending them to the place where you had your first kiss or some other romantic spot. The final destination should lead to you.
10. Start Checking Daily Deal Sites for Jewelry Now
If you are looking to give your Valentine a shiny token of your love, start checking out daily deal sites now. Sites like DailySteals.com and 1Saleaday.com offer up a jewelry deal or luxury deal every day. You can find diamond, pearl or gem stone necklaces and earrings for as low as $10, and cuff links as low as $5. Check in daily, as the sales don't last more than 24 hours.
Whatever you choose to do this Valentine’s Day you don’t need wads of cash—with some thoughtfulness and a little effort, you can make your special someone feel like a million bucks!
More from GalTime:
- Valentine Day Looks for $100 and Less!
- Your Guy's V-Day Gift, Decoded!
- 8 Heart-Healthy Valentine's Treats
- 10 Most Complained About Consumer Services
Teri Storelli is the founder of DiscountDame.com and has devoted herself to sharing the art of frugal living with her ever expanding audience through her site and seminars as well as creating and distributing her own unique coupon binder and organizational system. A pioneer of the "Smart" Couponing movement, Teri is making extreme savings through coupons easy and accessible to all. Her frugal living and DIY expertise has been featured on GalTime, Yahoo Shine and CNN.com. Visit DiscountDame.com for more information or contact Teri at DiscountDame@gmail.com.
