In today’s economy, sweethearts want to find meaningful ways to say I Love You without breaking the bank. A romantic, inexpensive gift of self, celebrating your love and your life together, will mean more than costly items purchased at the last minute. Here are some ideas for cheap Valentine's Day gifts for him or her.
Love Letters and Poems
Get creative and express your love in words. It doesn’t need to be sexy, just write a letter telling what you love so much about your sweetheart. Use real examples such as “I love when you kiss the back of my neck unexpectedly” or “I’m grateful for the hard work you do.” Or share memories such as “I’ll always remember when you [fill in the blank]” or “Remember when [fill in the blank]?”
Poetry is always good if you write it yourself. It doesn’t have to rhyme, but it needs to be heartfelt. Skip clichés such as “your eyes are deep pools of desire” or the worn-out “Roses are red” forms. Don’t worry how good your poem is – what makes it special is that it’s original and comes from the heart.
Romantic Dinner at Home on Valentine's Day
An romantic dinner at an exclusive restaurant is an expensive proposition. Instead, create an intimate dinner at home – tablecloth and candles, soft music, special menu (if you’re not a cook, try Italian take out). If you have children, send them to a neighbor’s or family member's home for the evening.
After dinner, continue the romance with slow dancing in the living room to favorite love songs.
Create a Memory Album for a V-Day Gift
Celebrate your love by using a notebook or small scrapbook to create a memory album of your good times together. It can be as simple as pasting pictures into a notebook and writing short comments beside them, or as fancy as a full-fledged scrapbook. Plan ahead for it – this one takes some time.
Shower Your Valentine with Love Notes
Spend some time before Valentine’s Day creating lots of little notes. Use traditional short phrases such as “Be Mine” or song lyrics such as “You are the sunshine of my life,” or get creative with your own. Some ideas are:
- "I love you t-h-i-s much!"
- "Hey there, handsome hunk!"
- "I can’t wait until you come home."
- "Are you ready for a kiss?"
Cut heart-shaped notes from construction paper, use colored index cards, or even plain paper or sticky notes. The night before Valentine’s Day, or very early that morning, plant them in your sweetheart’s sock drawer, briefcase or purse, jacket pocket, kitchen drawer, bathroom cabinet, wallet, etc., so that he or she keeps finding them throughout the day.
Plan a Long-Lasting Valentine Gift
Keep Valentine’s Day going for a month (or year) with a book of vouchers for your sweetheart. These are not items you’ll buy, but things you’ll do. Choose things your lover really wants or needs. Some ideas are:
- Do the dishes for a week.
- Give a foot rub.
- Give a back rub.
- Cook a romantic dinner.
- Weed the garden.
- Arrange a cozy evening at home: fireplace, candles, no phone.
- Watch your sweetheart’s favorite show or sport, not yours.
- Send him or her for an evening out with friends while you stay home with the kids.
Vouchers that provide a Valentine with a physical or emotional lift will create smiles for a long time to come. Creating heartfelt gifts for your own Valentine isn't as easy as popping into the store on Valentine's Day, but the memory of them will last much longer.
Jennifer Jensen - Jennifer Jensen is an Indiana writer just returned from a lovely few years in County Cork, Ireland. She has been the Feature Writer for ...
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