Gift Guides

Low Budget to No Budget Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

After my last article Should You Celebrate Valentine’s Day, I realized that many people who will be celebrating are stumped about what to get that special someone without going over budget. Below is a list of wallet friendly gifts and inexpensive destinations.

Free Ideas:

Skip the flower shop. Try picking her some flowers or taking her to a park or arboretum; those can be very romantic and free to low cost.
Forget buying expensive Valentine’s Day Cards. Just pull out the old colored pencils and paper and write your date a special message. It’s always a nice touch to include a drawing with your sentiment, even if it’s just a doodle.
Cook your date dinner. This is an excellent opportunity to be personal by cooking a favorite dish of theirs or surprise them with a new recipe. Many cooking websites have a filter option that allows you to browse using only the ingredients you select.
Get creative. A poem is a wonderful chance to express your feelings. Even if you’re no Emily Dickinson, you’d be surprised how touching and memorable it can be to receive a poem. This is a sure-fire way to earn brownie points.
Go to the beach. This serves the dual function of romantic and memorable. Take a bucket so you and your date can hunt for seashells. You can make jewelry with the pieces later on or keep them for display. Either way, they make a great souvenir from your celebration. Be sure to have the perfect ending and stay for the sunset.

Low Budget Ideas:

Take your date to the local dollar theatre. If you aren’t sure where the nearest one to you is, google is an amazing tool
If you really like the idea of candy and chocolates for your date, stores like Walgreens, The Dollar Tree, and Walmart have some great options at unbeatable prices.
Pictures are like memories on display. You can purchase a nice frame from your local Target or any department store and place a favorite picture in it as a gift.
Go out for a game of Miniature Golf. This one is pretty self explanatory but what many people don’t know is how reasonably priced of a date this can be. Many places offer package deals that include snacks and drinks.
Try purchasing a personalized item from Etsy.com.

Remember for any holiday, it’s the thought that counts- not the price tag.

Top 10 Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her (via Etsy.com)

Why consider Etsy.com for your Valentine?

There are plenty of Valentine’s Day gift options out there for that special girl, but I find that handmade gifts send a special message for any holiday. Etsy.com is one of my favorite handmade websites and it’s had an incredible increase in popularity over the years. If you’ve ever shopped on Etsy then you probably already know what i’m talking about.

The selection of items to choose from is endless. If you’re stumped for ideas as to what you should purchase for that special someone, Etsy.com is loaded with fun, quirky, romantic and even geeky options. You can easily navigate through their categories on the left sidebar of the home page or explore treasuries that other Etsians have taken a liking to.

One other great advantage to shopping at Etsy.com is that you support handmade artists who spend countless hours making these amazing creations.

For the perfect homemade Valentines Day gift I recommend any of these options:

Jewelry: An oldie but a goodie. I’ve yet to see a piece of jewelry fail to make a woman smile (http://www.etsy.com/shop/pinkavengerA)

Super Soft Blanket: The over looked personal gift. This will keep her warm and cozy for any time you aren’t around to do the job. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/BundleMeBaby)
Candles: You can get these in all colors, shapes, and sizes. A really fun example is the one pictured above. This 2 in 1 combo delivers candle light and dessert. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/kokocandles)
Pottery: Functional and Fashionable. Another great hand made gift featured here is a jewelry bowl in Robins Egg Blue. Perfect for displaying earrings and bangle bracelets. She’ll love how thoughtful and organizational you are. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/redhotpottery)
Handmade Soap: There is a fantastic world of soap out there. If your girl hasn’t entered this universe yet, then she’s definitely in for a treat. This is a great opportunity to be original. The soap I chose to feature is super cute for Valentine’s Day, but don’t feel like you have to stick to traditional this year. You can get soaps in the shapes of Space Ships, Video Game Controllers, and even Gummy Worms. Go Natural, Scented, or Sparkled. Whatever your girl is into, handmade soaps should definitely be considered this year. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/BubblesUpByBethieB)
Bubble Bath/ Bath Bombs: Another fantastic chance to be creative. So many colors and shapes out there! This is perfect for a romantic occasion or a nice relaxing mini-spa day. If your girl is overworked or stressed, she will definitely thank you for this present. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/PetalsBB)
Purses & Bags: What more can I say? Second only to a woman’s shoe obsession, Purses are always a great way to go. I’m showing a very out there option for a purse above. I would love to receive this, but pay attention to what your girl likes. Does she always carry a large nearly beach-tote bag on a regular basis? Don’t make the mistake of giving her a miniature clutch. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/nineOHseven)
Art: In some ways, this is the gift of beauty and conversation. Give her something that will always remind her of you, while brightening her day at the same time. Whenever she has a guest over, she can tell the story of how sweet you were to get her that fantastic art print. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/maybesparrowsplace)
Teddy Bear: Total classic that never goes out of style. Weather you get a life-size bear or a tiny pocket teddy- it’s always sweet to get a Teddy on Valentine’s Day (http://www.etsy.com/shop/cosplaybabies)
Decals/ Geek Gifts: If you’ve got a tech girl, or just a girl who loves her laptop or iPod, then a decal can be a pretty cool option for Valentine’s Day. This can also be a very personal gift depending on what decal you choose. (http://www.etsy.com/shop/vinylwalldesign)