Last year my husband got me a $12 candle for Valentine’s Day and I loved it more than the $80 necklace he got me the year before. The candle was a scent I’d mentioned liking months earlier. He remembered. The necklace was pretty but generic.
- For The Person Who’s Always Cold
- For The Coffee Addict
- For The Person Who Needs To Relax
- For The Chocolate Lover
- For The Sentimental One
- For The Person Who Loves Games
- For The One Who Works From Home
- For The Self-Care Person
- For The Foodie
- For The Person Who Has Everything
- The Real Secret To Good Gifts
- Combining Gifts To Stay Under Budget
- What Not To Buy
- The Presentation Matters
- When You’re Really Broke
- The Timeline For Ordering
- What Really Matters
That’s the thing about Valentine’s gifts. Thoughtful beats expensive every single time. You don’t need to drop $100 on something to show you care. You just need to pay attention to what your person actually likes.
These 10 gifts are all under $20. Some are way under. But they’re all things that feel special and show you put thought into it, which is what actually matters.
Pick one or combine a couple to stay under budget. Either way, you’re spending way less than that overpriced restaurant reservation would’ve cost.
For The Person Who’s Always Cold
Rechargeable Hand Warmers (Heart-Shaped)
Those rechargeable hand warmers that look like little hearts. They heat up in like 30 seconds and stay warm for hours. Perfect for someone who’s always complaining their hands are freezing.
This is thoughtful because it solves an actual problem they have. It’s not just a random Valentine’s gift, it’s something they’ll genuinely use all winter. Plus the heart shape makes it feel Valentine-y without being cheesy.
I got these for my mom last year and she uses them constantly. Takes them to my kids’ outdoor sports games, uses them in the car, brings them to work. Way more useful than flowers that die in a week.
For The Coffee Addict
A really good insulated coffee mug or tumbler, maybe in their favorite color or with a cute design. Everyone needs a good travel mug and most people are using whatever random one they have instead of one they actually like.
This works because it’s practical but also shows you noticed what they use every day. Getting them an upgrade to something they use constantly is way more thoughtful than some random decoration.
Make sure it fits in their car cup holder. That’s the thing people forget when buying travel mugs. Check dimensions.
For The Person Who Needs To Relax
A nice candle or a small essential oil diffuser. Everyone likes candles. Even people who claim they don’t like candles usually like candles.
The key is getting a scent you know they’ll like. If they wear a certain perfume or always buy a specific scented soap, get something similar. Don’t just grab whatever candle is on sale.
Candles feel like a classic Valentine’s gift but they’re also actually useful. They’ll think of you every time they light it, which is the whole point.
If you’re doing Valentine’s at home, check out Valentine’s Day dinner at home when you’re broke and tired for the full plan.
For The Chocolate Lover
Godiva Valentine’s Chocolate Gift Box
Fancy chocolate. Not drugstore chocolate, actually good chocolate. Godiva or Lindt or one of those brands that comes in a nice box.
Chocolate is a cliché Valentine’s gift but that’s because people actually like chocolate. The difference between cheap chocolate and good chocolate is noticeable. Get the good stuff.
You can also get specialized chocolate like dark chocolate with sea salt, or chocolate covered strawberries, or whatever flavor profile they like. Shows you know their preferences.
For The Sentimental One
Those Lego flower bouquets. They last forever, they’re fun to build together, and they look cute displayed in the house.
This is good for someone who appreciates the gesture of flowers but hates watching them die. Or for someone who’s into Legos or crafts. It’s flowers but make it permanent and interactive.
You could also do one of those “date night question card” decks or a nice journal or anything that feels personal and thoughtful without being expensive.
For The Person Who Loves Games
A two-player card game. Something like Exploding Kittens or We’re Not Really Strangers or any small game that’s actually fun for couples.
This is a gift you can enjoy together, which is better than getting them something they use alone. Plus it gives you an activity to do for future date nights at home.
Make sure it’s actually a game they’d enjoy. If they hate competitive games, don’t get a competitive game. If they’re not into deep philosophical questions, skip the introspective card decks. Match it to their personality.
For The One Who Works From Home
A cozy blanket or nice slippers. Working from home means you’re home all day in whatever’s comfortable. Upgrade their comfort game.
This is practical and thoughtful. It’s saying “I want you to be cozy” which is basically saying “I love you” but in physical object form.
Get something good quality that’ll actually last. Cheap slippers fall apart in a month. Spend the full $20 on something that’s actually nice.
For The Self-Care Person
Biodance Bio-Collagen Face Mask Set
A face mask set or bath bombs or one of those jade roller things. Something that makes them feel pampered.
This works for someone who’s into skincare or self-care routines. Don’t get this for someone who washes their face with bar soap and calls it good. Know your audience.
You could also do a nice lotion or body butter in a scent they like. Anything that feels like a little luxury they wouldn’t necessarily buy themselves.
For The Foodie
A fancy hot sauce set or nice olive oil or specialty spice blend. Something cooking-related that’s higher quality than what they normally buy.
This shows you pay attention to their interests. If they’re always trying new recipes or talking about food, get them a food gift that’s actually good.
Make sure it’s something they’ll use. Don’t get them truffle oil if they’ve never mentioned truffles. Get something that fits what they actually cook.
If they’re into cooking, check out batch cooking for families for meal prep ideas they might appreciate.
For The Person Who Has Everything
Assorted Chocolate Candy Variety Pack
Their favorite candy or snack in bulk. Like a whole box of their favorite candy bar or a variety pack of fancy chips or whatever they love but normally only buy one at a time.
This is funny and practical. It’s saying “I know you love this specific thing so here’s a ridiculous amount of it.” Makes them laugh and also they get to eat their favorite snack for weeks.
Works especially well for someone who’s hard to shop for because they already have everything they need. Everyone likes their favorite snack.
The Real Secret To Good Gifts
The gifts themselves don’t matter as much as the fact that they show you paid attention. All of these work because they’re things your person would actually like or use, not just generic Valentine’s stuff.
Before you buy anything, think about what they’ve mentioned recently. What do they complain about not having? What do they always run out of? What do they use every day that could be upgraded?
Answer those questions and you’ll find a gift that feels thoughtful even if it only costs $15.
Combining Gifts To Stay Under Budget
You could also get two or three smaller things to make a little gift basket situation. Chocolate plus a candle plus their favorite candy. Or a coffee mug plus fancy coffee plus a cozy blanket.
Combining a few small things can feel more substantial than one single item. It shows effort without spending more money.
Just make sure everything goes together and matches their taste. Don’t just throw random stuff together. Have a theme or at least a coherent vibe.
What Not To Buy
Don’t buy generic Valentine’s stuff that you could give to literally anyone. Those teddy bears holding hearts, generic jewelry that looks cheap, boxes of chocolates you grabbed at checkout. That stuff screams “I forgot until the last minute.”
Also don’t buy gag gifts unless you’re absolutely sure they have the sense of humor for it. Valentine’s isn’t really the day for joke gifts.
And don’t buy something you want that they don’t. This is for them, not for you. If you want a new gadget, buy it for yourself. Don’t disguise it as a gift for them.
The Presentation Matters
However you give the gift, make it nice. Don’t just hand them something in the Amazon box. Wrap it or put it in a gift bag with tissue paper. Write a card that’s actually meaningful, not just “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
The presentation shows effort. It shows this wasn’t just a last-minute thing you ordered two days ago (even if it was). Take five minutes to make it look like you care.
If you’re terrible at wrapping, use a gift bag. Nobody judges gift bags. They’re designed for people who can’t wrap.
When You’re Really Broke
If even $20 is too much right now, that’s okay. Valentine’s Day gifts are not required for a good relationship.
Make them something. Write them a real letter about what you love about them. Make a playlist of songs that remind you of them. Plan a special date night at home that costs nothing.
Thoughtfulness doesn’t require money. It requires paying attention and making an effort. That’s free.
For more ideas on managing money when things are tight, check out living paycheck to paycheck.
The Timeline For Ordering
Valentine’s Day is February 14th. If you’re reading this now, you have 9 days to order. Most stuff on Amazon will arrive in time if you have Prime, but check the delivery date before you buy.
Don’t wait until February 13th and then panic when nothing ships in time. Order this week if you want to be safe.
If you do wait too long and nothing will arrive in time, print out a picture of the item and put it in a card saying it’s on the way. At least they know you ordered something even if it hasn’t arrived yet.
What Really Matters
At the end of the day, your partner probably doesn’t care that much about what you get them for Valentine’s Day. They care that you thought about them and made an effort.
A $12 gift that shows you know them is better than a $100 gift that’s generic. A homemade card with actual feelings written in it is better than an expensive store-bought card you just signed.
Put thought into it. That’s the whole thing. Everything else is just details.
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