Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Under $20

It is hard to believe Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. It feels like we just finished the year-end holiday season last week! If you are still trying to get back on track financially after maybe spending a bit too much this holiday season, you are not alone. But have no fear – you can still celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank!

Valentine’s Day is a day to celebrate love. It is one of those holidays that reminds us to slow down and take a day to really show our love and appreciation for the special person in our lives. When you think of Valentine’s, its hard not to think of the heart-shaped candy boxes, flowers, teddy bears, maybe even jewelry. But whether you are tight on cash, or just trying not to spend as much this year, you can still celebrate this fun holiday with some budget friendly options, all under $20!

With a cute cake pan, some cake mix, and their favorite frosting and toppings, you can give your sweetie a homemade gift, baked with love! If baking isn’t your thing, boxed cake mixes are a great option and are basically fool-proof if you follow the directions. Remember, this isn’t about being a professional baker, and your cake does not have to be perfect! Instead, it’s the thought, time and effort that go into a baked gift are what makes it so special.

If your significant other’s love language is quality time, you could transform this idea into a fun date night! Purchase all the supplies you need for to make the cake and spend some quality time making it together. If you are a little more on the competitive side, you could each make a cake for each other, epic bake-off battle style! The time you spend together in the kitchen is the real treat here, but it does help that the outcome is pretty sweet too!

Whether you like to compete, or you want to work together in a cooperative game, there are a TON of two-person game options that you could play with your significant other to have fun and connect. In my experience, focusing on an interactive game can force you think about something other than work, your mile long to-do list, the kids, reality even. When the game clock starts, life pauses, and it becomes easier to be genuinely present during your quality time. Game Night helps you to focus on what’s really important – your relationship (and depending on the game, kicking their butt)!

If you don’t have any games on hand, or need an idea for a new game, check out The Couples Game That’s Actually Fun! This interactive card game has three separate categories to 1) challenge your knowledge of how your partner thinks, 2) tap into your creativity, and 3) even pins you against one another. This is a fun, budget friendly option to spend time with your loved one, connect over a lighthearted game, and even maybe learn something new about them. As an added bonus, you can always spice things up by wagering prizes for the winner (*wink wink*).

Need more ideas? Check out other options in the game aisle, like We’re Not Really Strangers Game Couples Edition, or Let’s Get Deep!

Breakfast in bed is a thoughtful, nurturing way to show them you care, they are special to you and that they are worth a little extra effort. I mean, who doesn’t love waking up to their favorite cup of coffee, and some tasty food?! Just like the cake idea, this does not have to be perfect or extravagant. The best part about breakfast in bed is that they didn’t have to make it! So, don’t stress if you aren’t the best cook. Instead, stick to the stuff you know they like and that you are good at.

What is great about this idea is that there is no special equipment required, just the cost of the ingredients. That being said, if you did want a little something extra, for under $10, you can add some Valentine’s flare with this Dash Heart Mini Waffle Maker!

The important part of Valentine’s Day is connecting with your partner, which is awfully hard to do if you are glued to your phone. This year, put down your phones and kick it old school with a cozy puzzle night. There are tons of puzzles to choose from that are very budget friendly, they even have a specific Valentine’s Day puzzle. So, find the puzzle that speaks to you, and settle in for a cozy, unplugged night of connection.

If jigsaw puzzles aren’t your thing, there are lots of other ways to connect over old school activities. The Big Activity Book For Couples has games, puzzles, quizzes and more for you to do with your partner. This is a great choice for you if you want a bit of structure to the activities. You can pick which activities you want to do, follow the instructions, and maybe even save some for a future date night or two!

Another budget-friendly option could be to browse the thousands of free Valentine’s Day crossword puzzles, word searches and coloring pages available online and print out a few to do together.

Creating a Valentine’s Day Scavenger Hunt may sound challenging, but it really boils down to only 2 steps:

1. Choose about 10 different spots all over town to be the basis of your hunt. These can be places like where you had your first date, a romantic park, a local statue or art installation, their favorite dessert shop, inside jokes – you name it. You can make it completely random, or in a specific order and end at dinner or just back home together.
2. Write a clue for each spot. I know this step sounds daunting, but there are tools to help make this super easy. AI tools like ChatGPT are always my go-to for these sorts of things. You can plug in the clue destination and ask it to write it for you, and it will spit out a prompt in seconds. If you don’t like the first option, you can keep regenerating until it comes up with one you like or use their prompt as a starting off point and tweak as needed.

From there, your job is to just tag along, enjoy watching your partner think through the clues, be there to offer hints if needed, and check off each spot on the list by taking a picture together with a Fujifilm Digital Camera. This is a great option to reminisce through your journey together while creating some new and lasting memories along the way!

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It’s easy to get caught up in the mundane routines of daily life and forget to pause and just enjoy each other. Valentine’s day is your friendly reminder to take a beat and show those around you just how much you care. Remember that how much we love someone is not measured by how much we spend on them. This Valentine’s Day, you can show your person love and appreciation without breaking the bank by using the ideas above to create lasting memories that are much more valuable!