Great Valentines Day Gifts for Her that Won't Break the Bank

So Valentine's Day is right around the corner and you're looking to get your girl something nice. Problem is you're a bit light or maybe the two of you agreed to not go out and spend a whole lot of money this year. So what can you do?

One option is make her a mix tape-yes, a mix tape. In this world of cut and paste CD burning, a mix tape shows her that you're willing to put some time and effort into making her a gift. It shouldn't be too hard, you've just got to connect your Ipod or computer too the tape deck and figure out the track lengths.

Depending on how old you are, this gift is either nostalgic or retro. If it's a nostalgic gift then you could make the track list follow along the stages of your relationship-something popular from when you first met, when you started dating, etc. If this mix tape is retro then you can really play up the aspect and use a bunch of older love songs from before your time. Either way, it shouldn't cost much money or time, and your girlfriend is bound to love it.

How about putting a personalized spin on an old stand-by?

Anyone can go out and buy a heart shaped box of chocolates. While your girlfriend would certainly appreciate them, why not make her a gift basket with some of her favorite candy or snacks in it? This way you can avoid the unwanted flavors in the box of chocolates and show her that you pay attention.

In addition to making the gift basket, you also have the opportunity to make the card that goes with it. You could certainly use a generic Happy Valentine's Day card with this gift-however, I wouldn't recommend it. A handwritten love letter attached to the top of this basket would bring the gift to a whole new level.

And that brings up a whole new category of great gifts that you could give your girlfriend for Valentine's Day-things you've written. You don't know need be as eloquent as Shakespeare, but giving writing an honest go can't hurt. The love letter is a classic. Try your hand at a sonnet-something much harder-but she'll be guaranteed to appreciate it. Even if the best you can do is a Roses are Red/Violets are Blue poem it's still worth writing her something.

Now not every guy out there will immediately by able to do this one, but with a few practice runs before February 14^th you should be all right. Cook her dinner, preferably, something that she's a big fan of. If your gal is a fan of Surf and Turf this might not be all that budget of a gift idea-but cooking it yourself would certainly be cheaper than going out to order it. The candlelit dinner for two is cliché-but since you cooked it she'll love it.

My final suggestion is another tried and true gift-jewelry. If you're working with a budget you're not going to wow her by buying something expensive-so you're going to need to buy her something special. A piece that has a connection to her (such as her birthstone) is a good start. If you can find something that represents something that you both share, then that's even better.