Frugal Valentine Gifts To Spread The Love

I am sitting at my computer browsing Facebook thinking about frugal Valentine gifts when I see my friend Michelle post a heart-shaped pizza that her daughter made with the headline “Because Valentine’s Day is one month and one day away” (with 16 emoji hearts).  I guess I should get going if I am going to throw together some frugal Valentine gifts for my family!

Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love. But you don’t have to save all year to show someone how much you love and appreciate that they are in your life. Exploring acts of love that won’t drain your bank account yet will show the people in your life how much you love them.  I did some research and put some thought into this.  Here are some frugal Valentine gifts ideas that won’t break the budget.

Frugal Valentine Gifts For Him

Under $20

• A wallet for the men in your life is always a nice gift, but this one with an intimate engraved message adds a nice touch for the guy in your life.
• These spoons are fun. This one could be for any type of dessert, and if your guy is anything like mine, it will most likely be ice cream.  There is a cute one that says Cereal Killer, too.  Imagine pairing this with an  insulated stainless steel ice cream bowl
• How about an engraved card for his wallet reminding him how much you adore him?

Under $10

• Food is always a great idea.  I found a silicone heart cupcake mold similar to this one from Hobby Lobby that I plan on making brownies in for all my boys this year.  These things will last for YEARS!
• This is an excellent gift for the handyman in your life. It’s a magnetic wrist band to hold nails and screws while building and repairing!  I would find that super useful, also!
• This little “Drive Safe Handsome” keychain is adorable and moderately priced.  You could even have it engraved on the back if you wanted to!
• If you don’t want to go the homemade candy route, you could always fill a jar with their favorite store-bought candy and add a cute Valentine Gift Tag like these or make your own.

Free (or almost)!

• A sincere love letter.  Put some thought into it and remind both of you how much he means to you, how much you appreciate him and how much he has brought to your life.
• Homemade candy is ALWAYS a hit in our house.  A few years ago, I made my boys homemade Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  I made the inside with peanut butter and powdered sugar and then dribbled some melted chocolate in the bottom of a cupcake cup, added a dollop of the peanut butter mixture and poured melted chocolate over the top. They were so much better than store-bought!

Frugal Valentine Gifts for Her

Under $20

• I may have to order these vintage style winter socks.  We all love new socks in this house and these, in particular, look extra cozy!
• If you are thinking of flowers, plan.  Ordering them early may give you a discounted price, but there is a possibility it may not be under $20 if you are going all out.  Don’t forget about grocery stores.  They sometimes sell beautiful flowers for less money.  Every time I make the hour trip to Trader Joe’s, I come home with flowers because they are so pretty for such a great price!
• This bracelet is an aromatherapy bracelet.  You add the oils to the tree and enjoy the benefits of essential oil!  If you are looking for a trusted Aromatherapist, I recommend my friend Gretchen.  She is a certified aromatherapist and owns her store, Adirondack Aromatherapy.  At the time I am writing this, there is a sale going on!
• For the wine lover, there are some insulated wine tumblers with cute sayings on them.  For huge wine lovers, these may seem too small!!  🙂
• You may not be surprised to read that I already have this coffee mug – I like long romantic walks down every aisle at Target.  It is a favorite of mine!
• If you are looking for something practical for the woman in your life, a tool kit might be a perfect gift.  And this one is PINK!!!

Under $10

• One of my favorite gifts for Valentine’s Day is when my husband brings me a latte from Starbucks and a bag of M&M’s!  Knowing what her favorite things are sometimes mean more than an expensive bouquet of roses.  Not that I don’t love roses, but they seem to triple in price during this time of year!
• I am sure you have seen the socks with the words on the bottom, right?  These are my favorite, and I honestly can’t believe I don’t already own these!  Perfect for coffee lovers!
• Candy – any candy that you know she loves will win points for you this Valentine’s Day.  Pair that with wine if she enjoys it and you have a beautiful gift that doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.
• This is on my wishlist – I have decided I do not want my cell phone to sleep in my bedroom next to me.  So I am getting a cell phone bed like this one.  This is, and the rest of these ideas are relatively frugal Valentine gifts that the women in your life might appreciate.

Free (or almost)!

• Coffee in bed is my most favorite things.  Add my laptop and a couple of hours, and I am smitten!
• If you have littles, get them up and ready for the day.  You have no idea what a gift that is for a mama.
• Cook a meal for her…AND CLEAN UP!!!  Priceless!

Frugal Valentine Gifts For Kids

Under $20

• How about a Valentine Airplane?  Easy to put together and again, good motor skills!
• Valentine puppy stuffed toy that reminds you how much you love them is soft enough to snuggle up with at night or anytime!

Under $10

• Melissa and Doug make these adorable heart-shaped beads for younger children.  They can practice fine motor skills over and over or create them for the ones they love.
• I found this soft cuddly blanket with hearts all over it for littles.  Who doesn’t love a cozy blanket? Add favorite treats to a balloon filled with helium and leave them all over the house.  Then, similar to hiding an Easter Basket, children get to look for their treats!
• Hearts card game and a coloring book full of hearts are other great ideas.  Add some heart stickers too!

Free (or almost)!

• I love making a special Valentine’s Day breakfast with bacon shaped like hearts and heart-shaped pancakes.  Maybe use a heart-shaped silicone cupcake pan to make muffins.  There are many ideas on Pinterest.
• One idea that I have always loved for kids is the “What I Love About You”countdown.  Cutting out 14 hearts with and writing the things you love about them.  It’s so kind and you can put them on their door or in their lunch box.  I am thinking about doing this for my teen boy and sticking them to his steering wheel every morning before he gets up.
• How much fun would it be to go on a Valentine Scavenger Hunt!?!  Here’s a bunch of ideas from Hands On As We Grow site that I found!  Some printables are included.
• Making special treats is always a way to make the holiday special.  Cookies, candies, and heart-shaped watermelon bites can still be made on a budget.

You do not need to spend too much money on gifts if you don’t have it.  Because Valentine’s Day comes when many are still trying to get back on track after Christmas, or they have set New Years Goals, money has been allocated for other things.  Look around your home and scour Pinterest for inexpensive ideas for the ones that are important to you.  The possibilities are endless!