Valentine's Day Gifts for Your Wife that Won't Break You

If you are like most guys, you avoid shopping like the plague. I am a woman, yet I also will do just about anything to keep from having to shop. As a result, I often see the swarm of men who are frantically searching through the remnants for a card on the night before Valentine's Day. While roses, cards and candy are time-honored traditions for this event, I find that a tight budget does not allow for these things, and in rough financial times, there are other options. In fact, not only are these options easier on the budget, they will more than likely be so well-received that they will be preferred over the more traditional gifts.

First, whether you have been with your wife for many years, or whether you have only been together for a short time, the romance can quickly take a back seat to the realities of life. I do not know a single woman who would not like to get a love note from her husband, especially if he is mentioning how amazing he thinks she is, and do not forget beautiful and sexy. Wives also like to hear how much they are appreciated. All you have to purchase is a note pad that has a heart or is a nice pink or red. You could go really crazy and leave little notes all over the house. This will have the added benefit of making her laugh or smile.

Second, there is taking a piece of paper and making several coupons. There can be options such as: breakfast in bed, dinner, housework and child duty, as fits your household. She can use the coupons over the month of February. This way, the Valentine's Day gift can for more than just one day. When you offer to take on a little extra and pamper her when she wants it, it will make her feel extra special.

Third, if you have children, make dinner for them and set them up in an area where they can be supervised, but where you will be able to make her dinner and be her waiter for the evening. Honestly, it will not matter whether you are making a cordon bleu meal with wine, or if you are feeding her tacos and margaritas. The time you are spending to make her feel special and important to you will be worth more than words can say.

A fourth option, is to set her up with her favorite dvd's, television shows or books. Then, chase the children away, remove the phone from the room, make sure her favorite snacks and drinks are never far from hand, and make sure she has the quiet to enjoy all of it. For some women, quiet and solitude are the most wonderful vacations that women could request.

Finally, the fifth possibility is to give her an hour of alone time in the bath tub. For some families, both parents are needed to do their parts for the entire day. For a lot of women, one hour of scented candles, bubble bath and a nice mixed drink are a wonderful luxury. That kind of relaxation will help energize her and make her feel special and loved, since you made sure she had the time. It would be even better if you prepared it for her and let it be a surprise.

On a side note, if your wife does not work at a job outside the home, remember that the women who are stay-home mothers work just as hard as (sometimes harder than) mothers who leave the house for eight hours per day. (Having done both, I can vouch for this.) They need vacations, too. Unlike the moms who get to leave the house, these moms get no break from the children, the household chores and the constant running to get the family to and from various activities. I have often said that the only people who think raising a family, full-time, is not a job are the ones who have never done it.

I hope these options are helpful to those who are trying to make Valentine's Day special for their wives without straining a tight budget. Most of the items that you will need can be found in your home, or they can be purchased at a Dollar Tree or Dollar General store without emptying your pocketbook. Good luck, and may you have a wonderful Valentine's Day.