Quick and Simple Valentine’s Day Gifts Can Mean a Lot!
If you have put off buying that Valentine’s Day gift, don’t fret; it’s not Valentine’s Day yet! There’s still time for us procrastinators to come up with a meaningful gift without having to spend a fortune or come up with something elaborate.
I have compiled some last minute Valentine’s Day ideas and quick Valentine’s gifts that won’t break the bank, but that your sweetheart will surely appreciate. After all, it’s really the thought that counts, and even simple Valentine’s Day gifts can mean the world to those you love!
20 Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas & Simple Gifts They’ll Love
1. Surprise Love Notes
Grab a package of heart-shaped Post-it notes from the grocery store, write down things you love about him or her and scatter them throughout the house. They will love it! (Need some ideas? Check this post from Lana at With A Touch Of Luxe.)
2. Bake a Cake (or Brownies, or Cookies!)
If you like to bake, this is a fun, frugal Valentine’s Day gift idea. If Valentine’s Day falls on a week day, surprise him or her at work by dropping off a plate of their favorite goodies and a note. They’ll surely be the envy of co-workers! Bonus points for making them heart-shaped!
3. Giant Candy Bar Card
One of my favorite Valentine’s Day gift ideas for him is to put together a big card (made with poster board or foam core board) with candy bars attached and cute candy bar sayings. These are so much fun to do! The only hard part is resisting the urge to eat the candy!
4. Make a Pinterest Board
Looking for out of the box Valentine’s Day gift ideas? Look no further than a bespoke Pinterest board! Fill it with images, videos, and websites that speak to your significant other’s interests or that will make them smile.
5. Candy Bouquet
This is a quick Valentine’s Day gift bouquet I made for my husband last year. I was definitely in a “last minute” situation, but luckily I tend to thrive under pressure. :-) He loved it!
Related: Valentine’s Day Sour Cream Cookies
6. Make a Valentine With Household Items
Turn everyday items into a gift with a well-placed pun and a few simple supplies.
- “I donut know what I would do without you!” – donut
- “I love you a latte!” – Starbucks bottled drink
- “I get a charge out of you!” – AA batteries
- “You are the highlight of my life!” – highlighter pen
- “I am stuck on you!” – glue or stickers
- “You are the icing on my cake!” – cupcake
- “I’m bananas for you!” – banana or banana bread
7. Have a Netflix Night
Turn on Netflix, queue up When Harry Met Sally (or your rom-com of choice), and enjoy a night snuggled up together on the couch. My Rom-Com Checklist could come in handy here!
8. Valentine’s Day Crossword Puzzle
Go to Education.com and create a free customized crossword that incorporates words and clues from your relationship. For example: 3 Down: What you hate to take out. Answer: Garbage.
9. Make a Romantic Playlist (or Borrow Mine!)
Make a romantic playlist of your favorite love songs as a thoughtful throwback to the mixtapes we used to make “back in the day.” It’s a gift that will last well beyond Valentine’s Day and doesn’t cost a cent to make. (Feel free to use my Valentine’s Day Playlist instead — your secret is safe with me!)
10. Opening Day Tickets
Baseball season is just around the corner, so why not surprise the sports fan in your life with tickets to opening day? Put the tickets in a Valentine’s Day card, or pair it with a t-shirt or hat.
11. Frame It Up!
Here’s one of my favorite quick Valentine’s gifts: download a free printable (there are lots and lots to be found on Pinterest) and put it in a frame. I love this particular quote! :-)
More Ideas You'll Love
12. Take the Day Off From Parenting
Plan ahead to have the kids stay with Grandma or another relative overnight on Valentine’s Day (or around then — it doesn’t hurt to be flexible!) This will give you both some “alone time” to focus on each other, and to sleep in!
13. Heartfelt Romantic Breakfast
Wake up extra early and start Valentine’s Day off special with a batch of heart-shaped pancakes! Just pour the batter in the frying pan in a free-form heart shape and serve with strawberries and whipped cream. This would definitely show your loved one how much you care. You could also make heart on his smoothie with strawberry juice or even bake some heart-shaped donuts and go crazy with sprinkles!
14. Play Tourist in Your Home Town
Plan some touristy activities that you and your honey have never gotten around to doing, and don’t be embarrassed to take a zillion corny couples pictures.
15. A Winter Picnic
Take a picnic blanket (or even a sheet) and set up a romantic picnic in your living room. Feature food from your favorite deli or gourmet shop, and maybe a fancy beverage. You could also make your picnic an outing, like parking your car at a scenic overlook.
16. Spread the Love
Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, so consider branching out from romance into charity and friendship. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, send flowers to nursing home residents, or contact a local women’s shelters to ask how you can best show love to those who live and work there. Little things can make all the difference for people who are in need of a little extra love.
17. Do the Chores They Dislike
Is there a chore that your partner typically does? Is there something he/she has been meaning to do, but hasn’t found the time to do it? For Valentine’s Day, do something that will make your significant other’s life easier. Organize the garage. Take over laundry duties for a week/month. You get the idea.
18. A Dozen Roses + a Dozen Dates
Turn the traditional “a dozen roses” into something extra special. Think of 12 date ideas that suit the both of you, write those down in a card, and gift the card along with a dozen roses. Good Housekeeping has 130 Creative Date Night Ideas that can help you brainstorm.
Want to score extra Valentine points? Have them delivered at work. It will make your beloved’s co-workers sigh at your thoughtfulness and leave your sweetheart smiling.
19. The Gift of Pure Relaxation
If you’ve waited until the very last minute for a gift, a gift card for a massage is a fast option that doesn’t require you to wait for delivery! If you really want to kick up the romance factor, make it a gift certificate for a couple’s massage. Most spas these days offer gift cards or gift certificates!
20. Go Beyond the Chocolates
Chocolate-covered strawberries are my absolute favorite! If you have never tried these, you are missing out. My husband always buys me a dozen for Valentine’s Day. They are divine!
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More Sweet Ideas For Valentine’s Day
- In the mood for romance, or a sweet treat you can share with the fam? Here are some other Valentine’s Day ideas to consider:
- 6 Romantic Valentine’s Day Mocktails Your Sweetheart Will Love
- Valentine’s Day Dinner For The Whole Family
- A Romantic Valentine’s Dessert For Two
What’s the best Valentine’s gift you’ve ever received?
A hand-made book made from cut out passages and pictures from old magazines that told a sweet, funny, and romantic story about our us.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best valentine I have received is any homemade card, hug, or kiss from my kids! To me (I am very frugal) the best gifts are something from the heart and not something bought from the store.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best Valentine I ever received was homemade valentines from my 3 kids, and they still make them for me :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My Valentine’s story………I was pregnant with our second child and in the U.S.military hospital in Naples, Italy, with complications. My Navy husband sent me a valentine – A lady from the USO dressed as a clown and (sigh) a Marine in full dress uniform – singing “That’s Amore” with a candy bouquet. So….as I could not reciprocate as I was on bed rest, the only gift I could give was our baby boy born that same day.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best Valentine’s gift I received was 2 dozen roses (orange and purple-our favorite colors) and personalized fondue pot inscribed with the date we met along with a platter of goodies (sliced bananas, strawberries, pound cake, etc) to dip into the melted chocolate. It was (literally) very sweet and romantic and felt like we were at The Melting Pot.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite Valentine’s gifts are the cards my husband gives me. He expressed his love for me beautifully!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I work as a personal trainer/fitness instructor and I hate to wear my wedding rings to work because I am so worried I will knock them on something and loose a diamond … so my hubby bought me a sweet little silver band with a heart on it for me to wear to work so I no longer have to worry…. oh and all the silly things my girls bought us when they were little. It is so much fun to see this holiday thru their eyes!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When we were first married and living apart, me in Texas and my husband in Hawaii, my husband gave me a beautiful necklace. It is a tiny flower out of diamonds. I loved the necklace, and 11 years and two children later, I still wear it daily.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My best valentines gift was mine and the hubby (then boyfriends) first valentines day. We went to dinner at my favorite restaurant and sitting on our table was a huge bouquet of flowers along with the sweetest note (which I still have). Every girl in the place was eyeing my perfect flowers and every guy was eyeing my guy like they wanted to punch him. Haha…. Game, set, match.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I was a new mom and our first child was only 10 days old and my husband let me sleep in and had done the dishes for me when I woke up. It was wonderful!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best valentine gift I ever received was from my father. Each year he had a gift for not only my mom, but also for my sister and I. The gifts were simple, inexpensive but thoughtful. By doing so he taught me that Valentine’s Day wasn’t just about romantic love, but celebrating love within a family. It is a tradition my husband and I have continued in our family. This year my kids were asking to shop for I love you gifts for each other.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.An all day spa package
Please log in or create a free account to comment.One Valentine’s gift really touched me. Our daughter had just separated from her husband (who left her for another woman), and had moved in with us with her four children. My husband gave both me AND my daughter a dozen roses each so she would know how much she was loved. I love that man!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I especially enjoyed handmade cards from my kids & still have them!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite valentine gift was when my husband surprised me at work wit flowers and chocolate covered strawberries that he made all by himself!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My dad always got my mom a big box of chocolates and he gave me a smaller version. I loved that especially since he passed away when I was 13. Good memories.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We waited til the kiddies were in bed and then we both cooked a romantic dinner together and had a bottle of wine and had a very romantic evening ;)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My homemade Chocolate Ganache Cake!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My favorite ways to celebrate have been to gift valentines themed clothing to my children and make a special meal like heart shaped pancakes, or fondue for dinner.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The best Valentine gift I ‘ve received was my son was born on Valentine’s Day 30 years ago. He has been such a sweetheart.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My boyfriend was working in Alaska, and we couldn’t be together for Valentine’s Day. But he sent me a gift certificate for a full body massage package at a local spa! I have never been so relaxed!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My husband and I were engaged without the diamond ring. He wanted to give me the ring for Valentines Day and saved up to present me with that ring on Valentines Day.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.A beautiful “tuxedo” Manx kitten. He was the loving-ist cat I’ve ever known.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.One year my boyfriend got me just a card but he had colored the envelope and wrote the sweetest things inside. He doesn’t normally express himself like that and it was the sweetest gift he’s ever given me. I still have the card and envelope.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Not *quite* a Valentine’s gift, but my daughter was born a couple days after V-day! Last year my hubby made a special dinner for me with candles, it was so sweet!
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