Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and finding the perfect gift can be hard if you’re not prepared. Here are some unique ideas and traditional ones with a twist for the special people in your life.
You can’t go wrong with chocolate.
If your sweetheart has a sweet tooth and you plan on purchasing chocolate, you’re not alone. According to the National Retail Federation’s Valentine’s Day Consumer Spending Survey, 50 percent of those surveyed plan on buying candy this year. Pick some up in your shopping travels, and you’re sure to please the ones you love.
Maximize your time and add it to your regular shopping list. Head to stores where you can pick up all types of items at once like Wal-Mart, Target or other big-box stores. So if you happen to need eggs, milk and laundry detergent, you can still pick up a box of chocolates and other Valentine-related gifts without having to make an extra trip.
Wal-Mart usually has an aisle devoted to affordable gift items for holidays that are easy to grab for everyone on your list. Target has a section devoted to such items as well. If little things mean a lot to your loved ones, the low-cost items practically greet you upon entering the store. The bins contain economical finds like notepads, small decorative bowls, mini mailboxes for Valentine cards, pencils, trendy milk bottles with straws, colorful artwork, cards and more.
If you’d rather lump your everyday purchases and holiday shopping at pharmacies like CVS, you can shop till your heart’s content. My daughters like candy and beauty products. I can pick up items I normally buy, such as shampoo or cold medicine, while having an array of other holiday items at my fingertips. I can put a box of candy together with some red-colored lip balm, lip gloss and nail polishes in shades of pink as part of their gifts. It’s affordable and convenient.
If one of your special recipients is a sports buff, they carry Whitman’s chocolates that come in sports-themed boxes. The faux textured coverings on them resemble footballs, basketballs, etc. They cost about $10 a box. They also carry bags of Lindt’s Milk Chocolate Truffles and Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares that are currently on sale.
Look for nontraditional gifts.
Stars Wars fans can purchase sweets in a heart-shaped container with some of the characters featured on the front. You can also pick up an old-school, metal lunch container that houses a “Star Wars” puzzle for your budding Jedi, each costing roughly $6.
If you want to pair a gift like this with something unique, call upon the talent of freelancers on Fiverr.com. Get a personalized rap video dedicated to your significant other, a customized love poem, an artsy Valentine’s Day card or couple caricatures. This could add a bit of whimsy and an element of fun.
If your special someone is married to their phone, they’ll surely appreciate a new phone case this Valentine’s Day. Outfit their iPhone with a customized one from MissAccessories.com. Your darling’s electronics will be safely housed and decoratively designed.
Purchase office supplies.
If that significant other’s work space is a little drab, consider some practical gifts, like office supplies. They will get the job done while at work and potentially brighten their day a bit. Find a nice container that matches the look and feel of their workspace and fill it with scissors, staples, notepads, sticky notes, fancy pens, permanent markers and any other item that can help make them more productive.
Add a favorite poem, a list of loving quotes or a book of affirmations in cartoon form, like Art to Self by Stephanie Halligan at ArtToSelf.com, to the gift to make it complete.
Give money-related gifts.
While gift cards are great and can show kids how to spend within limits, your kids may only learn how to splurge, or could end up only managing money on special occasions. Consider showing them how to make spending choices on a regular basis at FamZoo.com. Parents can delegate the shopping and the money management aspect to the recipient using their debit cards for this purpose.
If you darling isn’t into sweets or jewelry, why not give a gift that keeps giving to you and your special someone? Neal Frankle, a certified financial planner and creator of WealthPilgrim.com, suggests giving $100 invested in a well-balanced exchange-traded fund or index fund. It’s a perfect gift to introduce your loved one to investing.
Frankle adds, “If this is their first foray into the world of investing, it gives them skin in the game and motivation to learn more.” You never know, this could spark a beautiful relationship — between your honey and the financial world.
If you’re fresh out of ideas for what to buy for Valentine’s Day this year, try some of the ones listed above. You can keep your loved ones happy while finding budget-friendly finds.
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Unique and Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts originally appeared on usnews.com
