Budget-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gift & Date Ideas

Once again, the month of L O V E is upon us and with it comes the frantic panic of many a couple trying to figure out what to surprise their significant other with. I’m a huge hopeless romantic and honestly, the cheesier the idea, the better! But I’m also no stranger to reality and the fact that money doesn’t grow on trees. This year I want to focus on gifts that can’t be bought because ultimately these are the most precious of them all, as well as gifts that can be kinder on your purse. While a new silver bracelet or a fancy watch may be extremely exciting, I think a picked flower from the garden, a walk in the park, or a special candlelit (homemade) dinner can be just as exciting and treasured. These ideas are not restricted to romantic couples either! Love that is abundant between friends, family, even strangers, is so important, and each can benefit from these ideas too. So, keep reading if you’d like some tips or ideas on how to spend your Valentines Day this year and how you can spoil your loved one without breaking the bank…

1. Write out some cute quotes from a movie you both love, or any cute quotes that stand out to you, put them in a jar filled with some sweets, and voilà! This is so simple to do, it’s extremely personal, very budget-friendly, and something that your loved one will be able to go back to for a long time!

2. Do some yoga or a meditation together. If you guys enjoy working out or anything to do with wellbeing, enjoying a yoga session or a meditation together can be very special to share. You will find endless yoga videos on YouTube, so you can do it in the comfort of your own home, and there are also countless meditation apps that you can use to guide you.

3. Surprise your loved one with a home-cooked meal. This one is especially significant for me as everyone who knows me is aware of my bare minimum skills in the kitchen! And my boyfriend loves home-cooked meals. So, whenever I do manage to whip something up, it is extremely special (for the both of us!) Taking the time out to do something like this will most probably be a winner. Add some candles and a bottle of wine, and you’ve got yourself a magical Valentines!

4. Put together a care kit that is tailored to your loved one. For example, if they are studying at varsity and have long days on campus, include things like: snacks, for when the day doesn’t seem to end, a stress ball, for when the workload gets overwhelming, a cute note, for when they’re feeling a bit down, a water bottle, for those scorching hot days, deodorant, to make the smell of stress disappear, and a pack of gum, to chew through the lectures. (Obviously there can be MANY variations!)

5. A starlight picnic in the garden. This one will be so romantic! Set up a blanket on the grass, with some yummy snacks and wine – or the drink of your choice – sprinkle some flower petals around the blanket (that can be picked straight from the garden) and surprise your loved one with it as they get home! My personal favourite time of day is sunset. I find the orange/golden hues of the sky so magical, and it’s really such a peaceful time as the day draws to an end. (See – helpless romantic or what!?)

6. Organise a movie night with the most classic love stories. Dim the lights, put down a blanket and LOTS of pillows, make some popcorn, burn some candles, include some hot chocolate, and enjoy the best love stories of all time! This is actually something I’ve wanted to do for a while – watch the classics, I mean. And I’m talking about films like Casablanca, Sense and Sensibility, An Affair to Remember… You know the ones.

7. Write a poem and recite it to your loved one. If you’re like me then poetry is something you adore. Writing poetry has always been a joy of mine, and I don’t think there’s anything more memorable than receiving personally written words, straight from your loved one. Talk about sentimental!

There you have it. Seven budget-friendly gift and date ideas for you and your loved one to do on Valentine’s Day. It should also be noted that we don’t need to have a day dedicated to acknowledging love. Love should be celebrated every day, as it’s truly the best gift. But I will admit that it’s still fun and exciting to appreciate the arrival of the universal day of L O V E. I hope you enjoy it, lovebirds! Let me know if you enjoyed this guide and what you end up doing on the day. Sending you all my love too!