Valentine’s Day is the biggest day of the year to celebrate love with your most special person. And no matter how long you’ve been together—be it six months or six years—you can make your significant other feel loved without unloading buckets of cash. To get you inspired, we’ve got 18 inexpensive Valentine’s Day gift ideas for you. But if you do want to take your partner on a mini getaway or surprise them by popping the big question, consider getting a small personal loan to make it happen.
Overview:
- Potted succulents
- Framed photos or photo magnets
- Homemade candles
- Massage coupons
- Picnic on the beach
- A local concert
- Love map wall art
- Personalised puzzle
- Herb garden
- Homemade favourite dessert
- Sangria kit
- Homemade beef jerky
- Loose-leaf tea
- Personalised bookmark
- Homemade spa items
- Savings box
- Bouquet of fresh flowers
- Custom playlist
Cheap and cute Valentine’s Day gift ideas
It’s changed meaning over the years, but today, Valentine’s Day is about celebrating love and friendship. So, make your loved one feel special with these gift ideas.
1. Potted succulents
As beautiful plants that are easy to maintain, succulents will last a long time. Choose an array of succulent varieties and paint your pots for a special touch. Include care instructions with your Valentine’s Day card.
2. Framed photo or photo magnets
The best Valentine’s Day gift ideas are ones that come from the heart. Choose a frame—like a metallic or wood one—and insert a photo of you and your beloved. If you can’t pick just one photo, consider an electric photo frame or mini photo frames with magnets. You might choose a favourite memory, like a trip you took together or a hike through the park, anniversary, photoshoot, or holiday.
3. Homemade candles
DIY Valentine’s Day gift ideas are always the most thoughtful gifts. Create your own candles by melting wax and pouring it into a jar, decorative glass or tea cup. Add a scent to your wax, like lavender or vanilla, for a relaxing fragrance. Every time your S.O. burns the candle, they’ll think of you.
4. Massage coupons
Give your better half the ultimate romantic gift: a massage. Make cute coupons to share the details, like how long the massage will be and how many massages you’re giving them.
You can also create coupons for a:
- Breakfast in bed
- Hike in the park
- Coffee at their favourite local shop
- Candlelit dinner
- Weekend getaway
- Movie night
5. Picnic on the beach
Treat your loved one to a tasty meal in a beautiful location with this Valentine’s Day gift idea.
Pack a backpack or basket with all of the essentials: sandwiches, fruit, dessert, and a bottle of wine. Choose a beach with a scenic overlook or one where you’ll have some privacy. Take photos at your romantic date, and get your favourite one framed.
6. A local concert
If you’re more into experiences than physical Valentine’s Day gift ideas, there are plenty of cheap romantic date ideas. Buy tickets to see a band in concert. It doesn’t have to be a popular band or musician, it can be a local show with talented artists. You might just discover a new favourite artist while spending time together.
7. Love map wall art
Show the course of your love story by piecing together maps of important places: where you met, where you got engaged, or where you got married. Your love-themed artwork can be hung in a bedroom or living room. This is definitely a creative gift idea for Valentine’s Day.
8. Personalised Puzzle
Does your partner love puzzles, or do you just enjoy doing jigsaws together? Gift a puzzle of their favourite location, aesthetic, interest or even something personalised. You can make it together on your Valentine’s Day date while watching your favourite romcom for the perfect budget date idea.
9. Herb garden
If your partner loves to cook, they’re going to love this cheap Valentine’s Day gift idea. Plant a range of herbs in medium-sized pots and arrange them in a wooden box for a mobile garden. Your significant other will have fresh herbs for cooking all year long.
Consider these herbs for the garden:
- Basil
- Thyme
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Chives
- Mint
- Lemongrass
- Oregano
- Cilantro
- Sage
Who knows, maybe they’ll whip up a nice meal for you with their special ingredients!
10. Homemade favourite dessert
The best Valentine’s Day gift ideas are ones with a personal touch. Bake your partner’s favourite dessert or sweet treat for a gift they (and their taste buds) will appreciate.
Consider making:
- Brownies
- Tiramisu
- Brandy snaps
- Fancy cupcakes
- Apple crumble
- Jelly slice
- Lamingtons
- Chocolate covered strawberries
Top them with specialty items like whipped cream, fresh berries, or icing to make it look fancy. Package them in a gift box for a professional look.
And the best part of gifting dessert? They might just share a piece or two with you.
11. Sangria kit
Put together a Spanish-inspired gift by compiling the ingredients for sangria and placing them in a pitcher. Include the recipe so your partner will know just how to mix it up.
12. Homemade beef jerky
Make your partner their favourite treat this Valentine’s Day. Find a recipe for beef jerky that uses flank steak, rump roast, or round steak. Follow the recipe and package your jerky in sealed plastic bags. Your gift will make for a great snack at work or on the hiking trail.
13. Loose-leaf tea
If you’re dating someone who loves tea, loose-leaf varieties are a practical but thoughtful gift. Create your own or buy a blend from a specialised, local tea shop. Pair the leaves with a mug for a complete gift they’ll love.
14. Personalised bookmark
Great for book lovers, students, and writers, bookmarks can be personalised for the one you love. Create a bookmark with pressed flowers or a fun photo of the two of you. Pair it with a book from their wishlist.
15. Homemade spa items
If you’re making a DIY gift hamper for Valentine’s day, spa items are the perfect additions. Stir up a batch of homemade soaps and choose a calming fragrance like coconut, lavender or peppermint.
You can also make your own moisturising lotion or sugar scrub, keeping in mind your significant other’s skin type and favourite scents. Mix in fragrances by using essential oils for an all-natural touch. Package your goods in mason jars and pretty paper, and add some candles to make the ultimate gift basket for Valentine’s Day. Your significant other will feel like they’re spending a day at the spa with all these handmade items.
16. Savings box
Depending on what stage of the relationship you are at, it might be time to rethink where you are spending money. Are the little gifts are more important than the big goals? This Valentine’s Day, think about finding a shadow box or money box for you and your partner to save up for something big together, such as:
- A holiday
- Moving towns/cities, states or countries
- A house
- A wedding
- Starting a family
17. Bouquet of fresh flowers
Of course, you can’t go wrong with the most popular gift on Valentine’s Day. Bouquets don’t need to be expensive. Find fresh blooms in fields, gardens, and parks to make your arrangement. You can also look at local flower markets or even supermarket flowers to create your own bouquet with their favourite colours. Fasten the stems together with a ribbon or string.
18. Custom playlist
A personalised playlist is a great last minute Valentine’s day gift idea that is still super romantic. Create a playlist of songs that you think your they will like or that remind you of your relationship. Just make sure the songs are meaningful! You could include songs from your wedding, the song that was playing when you had your first kiss or “your” song that you two share.
Want to be extra special for Valentine’s day?
If you’re looking to surprise your significant other with a fun getaway trip or a diamond ring, and need some extra cash to hold you over, you might want to take out a small cash loan. At Swoosh, we offer secured loans up to $5000 so you can really spoil that special someone in your life. Apply now!
