Valentine’s Day is about love, appreciation, and taking a pause to connect with those you love, which is great! What’s not so great is the stress that comes with trying to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift and the dent it can make to our bank account. Showing some love and keeping a healthy bank account don’t have to be mutually exclusive. We’re offering up some low-to-no cost Valentine’s Day gift ideas that are sure to please.
Curate
The time and effort needed to curate a personalized gift is bound to inspire a lot of gratitude. The thought and care put into pulling all the pieces of these Vantine’s Day gifts together are sure to make anyone feel seen and loved.
Playlist
Assemble a playlist of songs that make you think of the one you love. Maybe it’s the first song you danced to together, their go-to karaoke song, or one you know brings them back to their childhood.
Gift basket
Assemble a gift basket of especially chosen products. This might be a combination of things like your significant other’s favourite:
- Snacks
- Colour
- Sports team
- Smell
- Book
- Game
- Place
None of the items need to be expensive. This is all about the thought behind taking time to recognize them and what they enjoy.
Themed evening
What’s your loved one’s favourite show or movie? Do they have a favourite place they visited or one they want to visit? Plan an evening where everything from the menu, music, and maybe even outfits is inspired by that show or place.
Homemade
Homemade gifts are special. They are one of a kind, took precious time, and care. They also tend to cost a lot less than store-bought gifts. Especially when you consider how much prices of traditional Valentine’s Day gifts, like chocolate and flowers, are marked up around the holiday itself.
Favourite meal
Cook your loved one’s favourite meal. Make it really special by going all out with premium ingredients, a nice table setting, and some ambience. This might be a particularly good option for those who don’t normally cook to consider because it takes the pressure off the one who normally does.
A top ten list
Make a top ten list based on a topic about the person you love. This could be:
- Top 10 things you love about them.
- Top 10 favourite experiences with them.
- Top 10 inside jokes.
Present the list in a special way. For example, you might write out each thing on a separate piece of paper and place one in the various spots around the house the person frequents, like near the coffee pot or their toothbrush.
Get creative
Get your creative juices flowing and make something from the heart, like a painting, poem, or video. Don’t worry about making it perfect; make it meaningful. People will always be touched by the meaning behind something more than it being absolutely perfect.
Experiences
Experiences stay with a person longer than things. It’s something the two of you can talk about and reflect on for the rest of your lives. As a bonus, many experiences are more affordable than physical gifts.
Scavenger hunt
Construct a scavenger hunt! It can be around your city or even just around your home. Make each pit stop a representation of something about your loved one or the two of you. It’ll be a cherished day of fun, nostalgia, and feeling loved.
Make something together
Building something together leaves you with fond memories, and you end up with a keepsake, too! It can be anything, and it doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavour. Some great ideas are a mosaic, a song, or a game.
Thrift store quest
Set a cash limit, set a timer and then set off! Scour the thrift store hunting for a gift for each other. Later on, have fun talking about the adventure and what made you choose the diamond in the rough you found.
Valentine’s Day gift Dos and Don’ts
- Do pick a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift.
- Do be transparent about how much you can spend.
- Do make fun and enjoyment more important than what was spent.
- Don’t spend more than you can afford.
- Don’t go for the overpriced customary gift like chocolate or flowers.
- Don’t plan things at the last minute.
Wrap up
All the hype around Valentine’s Day can put a lot of pressure on the day. We can get confused into equating the pressure we feel with the need to spend a lot of money. So we empty our bank accounts instead of honouring the true nature of the holiday.
The holiday is meant to be about reaffirming our connection to our loved ones. Money comes and goes. Time and effort are priceless. That being the case, consider the idea that the time and effort spent on a Valentine’s Day gift is more reflective of the spirit of Valentine’s Day than how much the gift costs.
If you do get carried away and your credit card pays the price, don’t worry; there is help. During a free, no-obligation call, one of our trained Credit Counsellors will discuss the situation with you and then make a recommendation for how to get back on track.
