Valentine's Day is right around the corner, which means it's time to start thinking about how to show your loved ones you care without breaking the bank. Sure, you could drop a ton of cash on an overpriced dinner or store-bought teddy bear. But where's the thoughtfulness and effort in that?
The best Valentine's Day gifts don't have to be expensive. In fact, some of the most memorable and meaningful presents can be homemade or purchased on a budget. Not only will your sweetie appreciate the creativity, but they'll be touched that you took the extra time to personalize something just for them.
In this post, I'll share a bunch of fun, outside-the-box Valentine's Day gift ideas that prove money can't buy love (but creativity sure helps). I'll also include tips for how to pull them off while sticking to a budget.
Cheap Valentine's Day Gifts for Her
Guys, listen up! Just because chocolates and flowers jack up their prices before February 14th doesn't mean you have to empty your wallet to please your lady. Check out these affordable Valentine's Day gifts for girlfriend ideas that are sure to melt her heart:
DIY Voucher Book
Make your girlfriend feel like a queen by creating cute homemade vouchers she can cash in for your time and attention. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Breakfast in bed
30-minute massage
Trip to her favorite bakery
Watch a chick flick with no complaints
Handwritten love letter
All you need is some cutesy paper or cardstock, a bit of craftiness, and a promise to make good on those vouchers. This thoughtful gift shows you want to pamper her in the little ways that matter most.
Photo Canvas Keepsake
Transform one of your favorite pics of the two of you into a decorative masterpiece for her place. With sites like Snapfish, Walgreens Photo, and Shutterfly, you can easily create a customized canvas print without destroying your budget.
"52 Reasons I Love You" Jar
Dig out an old mason jar or repurposed container and make a list of 52 things you adore about your leading lady. Twice a week, she can pick a new reason and be reminded just how smitten you are.
Cozy Night In Basket
Pamper bae with all the fixings for a relaxing "date night in." Fill a cute bag or basket with:
Bath bombs or bubble bath
Cozy socks or slippers
Scented candles
Her fave book or magazine
Chocolate-covered strawberries
Bottle of wine or craft beer
Snack mix
Add a sweet homemade card with a promise for a movie night complete with cuddles and you've got the ultimate Valentine's Day gift for girlfriend on a budget.
Cheap Valentine's Day Gifts for Him
Ladies, don't let gift-buying anxiety get you down. You can still make your main squeeze feel special without spending a ton. Take your pick from these wallet-friendly DIY Valentine's Day gifts for boyfriend he'll be stoked to receive.
Be His Valentine Bacon Bouquet
Nothing says love like bacon roses! Skewer strips of crispy pork goodness into flower shapes and stick them in a mug filled with Great White North Super Unscented Candle for a manly Valentine's Day gift with a sense of humor.
Game Night Gift Basket
Treat your player one to an epic guys' night in bundle. Load up a cool basket with:
Video game gift card
His favorite snacks and beers
Themed t-shirt or mug
Multi-player card game
Mini basketball hoop for the office
It's the ideal personalized Valentine's Day gift for boyfriend for less than $50 bucks.
Spotify Love Song Playlist
Use the "DJ for a day" powers Spotify gives you to create a customized mixtape stacked with mushy love songs and dedications just for your dude. Burn to a CD or send via email so he can bask in your musical affection.
Adventure Date Coupon Book
Print up vouchers for getting outside your comfort zone together as a couple. Mountain biking, salsa dancing, cooking classes...the options are endless. Then promise to join him no questions asked when he redeems a coupon.
Sweet and Simple Valentine's Day Gifts for Spouses
Married folks, gone are the days of blowing your paycheck trying to impress your other half. But you still gotta make your sweetie feel special on the international day of love.
These thoughtful DIY Valentine's Day gifts for husband or wife cost next to nothing, are easy to pull off, and are sure to put spark back into your partnership.
Heartfelt Card and Dance Party
Pen a sincere, from-the-heart card about why you love your spouse and how they make your life better. Pop it in the mail so they discover it before February 14th.
When the big day comes, crank up "your song" and boogie like nobody's watching over a bottle of bubbly. Corny? Yes. Memorable? Absolutely! And it'll cost you nada.
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
Dig up those old love letters, venue photos from your wedding, ticket stubs from your first date. Create a nostalgic memory book or collage for your partner to flip through. The blast from the past is sure to make 'em misty eyed.
Breakfast in Bed
Cliché? Maybe. But is anything more delightful than waking up to French toast, fresh OJ and coffee delivered to you in bed by the person you love most? Bonus points if the kiddos help make Valentine placemats to complete the leisurely meal.
At-Home Movie Night
Why dish out $40+ for movie tickets and popcorn when you can screening romantic flicks from the couch? Make some cheap snacks, light a few candles and snuggle up under a blanket to enjoy your very own private film festival.
Cheap DIY Valentine's Day Gifts for Kids
Showing the kiddos in your life some Valentine's Day love doesn't have to bust your budget. Get crafty with these cute and nearly free DIY gift ideas for kids:
Decorate Cookies
Let those munchkin master chefs loose in the kitchen to concoct custom sugar cookies or Rice Krispie treats. Hand them bags of pink/red/white candies and sprinkles so they can deck out heart and cupid shaped goodies to their liking.
Make Mailbox Surprises
Help your kids craft nifty handmade Valentines to tuck inside the mailboxes of family members, friends, and neighbors. Spread the love around your community for free!
Host a Craft Party
Gather up any leftover craft supplies and host an impromptu creation session. Set out doilies, stickers, glitter glue, markers, and more for the kids to design their own Valentine's Day cards, paintings and keepsakes. Get messy, get creative and make memories.
Bake Cupid's Arrow Cookies
These adorable sugar cookies shaped like arrows pierce hearts and steal sweet kisses. Let the kiddos help mix up heart shaped pink cookie dough and guide the piping process. Then dunk in sprinkles and devour.
The best part of these thrifty gift ideas? Children get the hands-on fun of DIY while you instill the satisfaction of giving.
Creative Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts on a Budget
Uh oh. Valentine's Day snuck up faster than you realized and now you've got less than a week to come up with a gift. No need to panic! These easy last minute DIY presents require minimal supplies, time and money.
Quick and Crafty Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts
Photo DIY Coasters
Mod Podge or glue your favorite couple snapshots onto the tops of dollar store ceramic tiles. Let dry fully then add another coat to seal. Write a romantic message around the edges to complete these one-of-a-kind custom coasters.
Love Coupons
On colorful cardstock paper cut into ticket shapes, create vouchers for little acts of love and kindness your partner can cash in when they choose. Foot rubs, back scratches, breakfast in bed...get creative! Tie together with ribbon.
Homemade Cake Pops
Blend up a box of cake mix then roll into balls and dip into melted chocolate or candy coating. Top with sprinkles and set in Styrofoam to harden. Arrange in a box or bag with ribbon for an eleventh hour sweet treat.
Book of Love Notes
Collage together various papers and cardstock to create a handmade notebook. Fill the pages with reasons why you love your partner, favorite memories together and sweet nothings. Super simple but incredibly heartfelt.
Picture Frame DIY
Hot glue craft sticks, popsicle sticks or clothespins around a dollar store picture frame for a rustic romantic feel. Print and display a favorite couple selfie inside. Custom artwork without the work or cost!
Last Minute Experience Gifts
Sometimes the best presents can't be wrapped up in a box. Give your honey the gift of doing something special together with these last minute ideas:
Plan a Mini Getaway
Book a cozy cabin for the night or scenic hotel with amazing views. Then sneak away, even if just locally, for a romantic overnight adventure minus the kids.
Couples Massage
Schedule side-by-side massages at the spa or with a mobile massage therapist. Light some candles at home and bliss out under the healing power of touch without blowing big bucks.
Cook Together
Plan a special multi-course menu for Vday dinner then shop ingredients and whip up tasty dishes as a team. Split costs but share intimacy.
As you can see, coming up with unique last minute Valentine's Day gifts doesn't require loads of effort, money, or advance planning. With a dash of creativity and sprinkle of romance, you can pull together thoughtful DIY presents in little time that will make your significant feel oh-so-special.
Romantic and Budget-Friendly Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Under $10
Want to wow your sweetie in a big way without spending big bucks? You totally can! Check out these genius Valentine's Day gift ideas all under $10.
Sweet Edible Valentine's Day Gifts Under $10
They say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach. Tickle their tastebuds with these cheap and creative edible gifts:
Make Your Own Chocolate Bark
Melt chocolate chips with a bit of shortening then mix in their favorite additions like sprinkles, crushed candy, nuts or dried fruit. Spread into a parchment lined pan and you've got gourmet chocolate bark for under $5 bucks. Arrange creatively in a box or bag.
Cookie or Brownie Flower Bouquet
Whip up some heart shaped sugar cookies, cupcakes or brownies. Skewer 4-5 onto craft sticks then wrap in cellophane and ribbon to create pretty blooms for less than $10.
DIY Hot Chocolate Bar
Make custom hot cocoa mix by layering sugar, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, peppermint candies and marshmallows in a jar. Top with a bow then tuck in two mugs and spoons so you can snuggle by the fire sipping steamy deliciousness.
Sweet and Simple Valentine's Day Gifts Under $10
You don't have to be crafty to make your sweetheart feel special. Little loving touches like these also do the trick for less than a ten spot:
Love Note Jars
Fill wide mouth pint jars with Hershey Kisses, conversation hearts, M&Ms or red hots. Intermix with folded slips of paper containing romantic, flirty or encouraging notes. They'll discover sweet surprises as they snack away.
Giant Greeting Card
Make an oversized card decorated with magazine cut out letters that spell "LOVE" or "BE MINE". Decorate the inside with photos, memories and a sincere note from the heart. Costs pennies but makes a big personalized impact.
Scented Candle
For less than $10 you can get a quality soy candle in a pretty glass container. Choose their favorite scent like vanilla, jasmine or sandalwood and decorate with ribbon. Light one up while enjoying your carefully planned affordable candlelit dinner.
As you can see, Valentine's Day doesn't have to drain your bank account! With a little thoughtfulness and creativity, you can make February 14 feel ultra-special without the lavish price tag.
Inexpensive Valentine's Day Gifts For Under $20
If you've got a slightly higher budget to work with, you can really take your present to the next level without spending more than a cool $20 bill.
Personalized Gifts For Under $20
Add an extra touch of thoughtfulness by customizing a gift just for your partner. These personalized ideas cost less than $20:
Spotify Mixtape Plaque
Use a site like Mixxo to create a custom acrylic record plaque printed with a romantic spotify playlist code and love note. Simply scan to pull up your curated "mixtape" songs anytime.
Custom Star Map
For sci-fi loving pairs or overly romantic types, order a custom map of what the night sky looked like when you met or married. Printed on high quality paper, it makes an out-of-this-world gift.
Love Coupon Book
Print up a cute homemade coupon book filled with freebies like backrubs, date nights, no-nagging privileges and other treats you vow to deliver on. Way more meaningful than store bought Groupons.
Gifts For Couples Under $20
Doing something special together is far more meaningful that material possessions. Gift an experience for less than $20 with ideas like:
Game Night Gift Basket
Fill a basket with board games, snacks, puzzles and playing cards for an at-home date night of friendly competition.
Grill Out Bundle
Marinade some steaks, grab a fresh baguette, cheese and wine. Present ingredients in a lovely basket so you can have an impromptu backyard barbecue for cheap even in winter!
Indoor Picnic
Toss down a soft blanket and scatter rose petals in your living room or bedroom. Arrange fruits, charcuterie meats, nuts and bubbly then have an indoor feast followed by a movie.
As you can see, showing love doesn't equate money spent. With a little effort and creativity, Valentine's Day gifts under $20 can feel just as special as the spendy store bought kind.
Unique DIY Valentine's Day Gifts For Under $50
Want to really pull out all the stops to wow your honey while still sticking to your budget? You can create incredible one-of-a-kind gifts for under $50 with just a hint of craftiness.
DIY Gifts Your Girlfriend Will Love
Ladies appreciate sentimental, pampering presents. Make her feel adored with these unique DIY Valentine's Day gifts for girlfriend under $50:
Love Letter in a Bottle
Write a long, romantic love letter sealing up all the reasons you cherish her. Roll it up, stash in a decorated glass bottle then cap and seal it with melted wax. Promise to open and read together on your 5 or 10-year anniversary for an incredible gift that transcends the holiday.
Luxury Bathtime Bundle
Pamper bae with fancy bath goodies packaged in a pretty basket or gift box. Include scented bubble bath, bath bomb, loofah, candles, sparkling cider, chocolate covered strawberries and a romantic playlist CD. Promise to draw her bubble bath when she redeems.
Memory Throw Pillow
Upload a favorite photo of you two onto a custom product site like Zazzle or Snapfish to have it printed directly onto a decorative throw pillow. A perfect personalized gift for her couch that brings back happy memories every time she looks at it.
DIY Gifts Boyfriends Dig
Fellas tend to appreciate gifts with a sense of humor that make life more fun. These budget-friendly ideas fit the bill:
Beer Making Kit
Help your guy unlock his inner brewmaster with a homebeer brewing kit. It comes with all the equipment and ingredients he needs to conoct the perfect pint. Just steer clear of sampling until he perfects his recipes!
Gaming Apron
For the boyfriend who loves firing up the grill or cooking tasty apps for game nights with the guys, a personalized cooking apron makes a great gift. Have his name or nickname printed on along with "Grill Master" or "Lord of the Wings" to make him kitchen king.
Sports Highlight Reel
Compile clips of his favorite sports moments into a custom highlight reel DVD he can rewatch anytime. Or create a plaque displaying authentic game-used gear like ticket stubs or a seat bolt from your team's arena for the ultimate sports fan gift.
As you hopefully noticed, the best DIY Valentine's Day gifts come from the heart, not the stores. With a little effort, creativity, and thriftiness, you can make incredible presents tailored exactly to your partner's interests for less than $50.
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