8 Affordable Valentine's Day Gifts for Everyone in Your Life

Books are a beautiful thing; they offer a world of adventure within their bound pages. A thoughtful idea to consider is buying a new or used one of your favorite books and making little notations to share with someone you care about. Underlining favorite passages, notes of revelations you had, laughs, or memories you thought of with the other person invites them into the book with you. You are sharing a peek into your own heart that is unlike any other, and the receiver will know that you were intentional with every mark that they were on your mind and in your heart as you made the notation. Another variant would be a Bible or a devotional where you could highlight or underline verses, provide short messages in the corners, or insert commentary of what you felt inclined by the Lord to share for the recipient. This book could be a gift to enjoy for years to come.

Everyone loves something to look forward to, especially in a dreary month like February, when we can use all the sunshine we can get! Consider making a small bag or box of thirty little notes for someone. These notes could include Scripture, quotes, your favorite aspects or things about them, or memories you have shared together. Adding inside jokes or personal things can help someone feel really understood or valued. The notes can be placed within a box or bag that you decorate and make special with their name and stylized decorations. It provides something unique that could never be store-bought for someone individually.

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We all remember the days of old when we would make mix CDs or mix tapes for someone to enjoy. In a way, they are samplers of beloved songs you can wrap up to share with someone you cherish. That practice doesn’t have to end just because CD players are harder to find, thanks to the share feature on many streaming services for creating a playlist to share. Make a custom playlist and even consider writing a card with each song title listed with the “why” behind its placement on your list. Perhaps one song was the first song you listened to together, or a band brings back a memory from days past with them. You could also include songs they likely have not heard before, but you think they would enjoy them or that you always think of them when you hear them. It is a very personalized way of sharing the universal language of music.

Handwritten letters spark a sense of nostalgia, even if we have never sent or received one. They invoke feelings of yesteryear when loved ones would correspond via the mail, and they provide a method of offering a message tangibly to be kept for years to come. Even if the letter is platonically to a friend or someone in faith, letters offer longevity, which is something emails and texts do not. Even if your handwriting is a bit more on the “chicken scratch” side or you are not a wordsmith, your heart and feelings will never be forgotten by the person reading the letter on the other side. You can even doll up the letter with delicate stationary, a decorated envelope, or a pretty card. They may just keep that letter for the rest of their lives.

Flowers offer the reminder of warmer days to come, and the bursts of color can liven up even the cloudiest of Februarys, so consider making your own floral arrangement to give. Grocery stores often offer flowers at a more affordable price, and vases can be found for a cheaper price at craft stores. Arranging them can often prove a challenge, but many grocery stores, such as Whole Foods, will arrange them for no additional cost; all you have to do is pick your favorite blooms!

Everyone loves a little sugar and a laugh, so why not combine the two? Grocery stores often add personalization for free, or a frosting tube for writing is typically inexpensive and can add some clever vibrancy to a cake, cupcake, or donut from the bakery section. Especially if you leave the baked goods on a doorstep to be sly and sneaky, it will add extra joy to the surprise of things. Pinterest is a great place to look up witty sayings and words, or grabbing from your own supply of inside jokes will make it all the better. No one can be upset receiving a quirky cake!

Everyone loves a little pampering, but a full spa can prove costly, so why not consider making a mini spa to go? Travel-size versions of products are readily available, especially at stores such as Sephora or Ulta, and you can add little add-ons like face masks, lotions, or something fun to sip to your little gift basket. It is also something for your friend or loved one to look forward to past Valentine’s Day for a self-care day at their own chosen time.

If spa days aren’t your thing, make a movie-to-go basket! We all miss the days of visiting Blockbuster to pick up a VHS and candy, but you can modernize that for someone today. Pick up a DVD or a QR Download code for a movie you choose, a bag of popcorn, some candies, and throw them all together to create a fun Friday night-in for a friend. It is also a great way of thoughtfully sharing a film that means something to you or them, much like the personalized notated book. It offers a different side of your heart to someone they would not otherwise experience.

Valentine’s Day does not need to break the bank to be an opportunity to spread some love and kindness to those around you. Be a friend, a family member, or a romantic partner, you have a beautiful opportunity to offer something wonderfully thoughtful this year. It may even soften the heart of the most steadfast cynic of Valentine’s Day by giving a little softness and love to someone you care about. Finally, never shy away from asking God to help you identify something special. He knows their heart even more than you do, and you might just be His vessel this season for a child He loves very much.

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