Valentine's Gifts on a Budget

Flowers
The week of (and the week before) Valentine's Day, flower prices go through the roof. Don't wait till the last minute. There are some beautiful potted flowers that will last an indefinite amount of time. Some romantic and beautiful potted flower choices are miniature rose plants, a fragrant jasmine or lavender plant. Buy these two weeks before the holiday and just keep them watered and in a sunny spot until the big day.

Cute and comfy PJs
Skip the high priced, heart-covered, Valentine-themed boxers and lingerie. Just find a cute pair of red or pink PJs or a t-shirt and boxers, either silky or soft cotton, at your local discount store.

Couples massage
Hospitals and Parks & Recreation departments often have community health and wellness classes. One of our local hospitals offers a one hour Couples Massage class for only $30/couple and that includes a bottle of massage oil!

You can also find massage kits to use at home. Barnes & Noble has a Hot Stone Massage mini kit for $7, Massage (Five-Minute Kits Series) which includes a book, oils and incense for only $10, and an Invitation to Massage which also includes oils for $8.

Another option is having someone else do the work as you both let your cares melt away. Many cities have massage schools with therapists in training. You can buy gift certificates for massages here at a much lower price than a regular salon or spa.

Cards
Greeting card prices can be outrageous. If you're going to buy a card, hit the dollar stores where they're usually only 50 cents. At Dollar Tree, you can also pick up a sweet "love" mylar helium balloon for only a dollar.
For a truly personalized and heartfelt gift attachment, create your own card/tag from construction paper and a paper doily just like in elementary school.

Treats
Chocolates are cliché and not very conducive to a healthy eating New Year's resolution. I much prefer trail mix or a variety of dry fruits and nuts which can be bought at the dollar store or in the bulk section of your local health food or grocery store. Put it in a pretty glass jar and voila, a healthy and tasty treat. For dinner out, search online sites for discount restaurant gift certificates. You can find certificates for a variety of locations in your area for 50 to 80 percent off of face value.

Better yet, treat your loved one to a candlelight meal at home which can be supplemented with take-out food. This will show your love and caring without stressing yourself out.