Each year, stores fill with traditional Valentine’s Day merchandise. With a little thought, however, you can do much better than flowers, teddy bears, and chocolate. Tailor your gift to your partner’s interests and demonstrate how much you care.
Make Their Favorite Food
Instead of taking your significant other to a nice restaurant or buying a box of chocolates, consider cooking or baking for them. Ask their childhood friends or parents what their favorite meals as a child were, and if possible, get the recipe.
Cooking for someone takes time and effort, but it’s inexpensive and shows you care.
Get Something for Your House or Apartment
Lingerie is a traditional gift, but consider getting something nice for your home or apartment that you’ll be able to enjoy every day of the year. Luxurious gifts like high-thread count sheets, embellished pillows, or framed artwork have all the sensuality of Valentine’s Day, while also being practical.
Write a Letter for Valentine's Day
Instead of buying a trite, impersonal card, write your partner a love letter. Take some time to do it nicely, and they’ll cherish it forever. Think about when you first saw him or her, and what you thought. What are some of your favorite memories? What about your inside jokes, quirks, and secrets?
Don’t just scribble something in pencil on notebook paper. Use nice, thick stationery and a nice pen. Plan your letter before you write it.
Plant a Garden for a Valentine
Instead of cut flowers, consider planting a garden or buying a house plant for Valentine’s Day. It’ll last longer, help the environment, and be a fun activity you can continue with your partner throughout the year.
Make a Photo Book for a Valentine's Day Gift
Make a personalized scrapbook online with pictures, lyrics, and quotes that remind you of your loved one. You don’t have to be artistic; you can use pre-made templates and layouts to organize your photos. The printed photo book will be a great way to relive your memories throughout the year.
Check out Blurb, Shutterfly, or Snapfish.
Give a Gift to Charity as a Gift for a Valentine
Give a gift to charity in honor of your loved one, and you’ll both have the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping those less fortunate. Charity donations are a great addition to a small gift.
Choose a charity that reflects your partner’s interests; for example, if they love reading, give them a book and donate to a literacy organization in their name. If they love animals, take them to the zoo and also donate to a wildlife organization. Write a letter or card explaining why you chose the charity.
Presentation is important in gift-giving. Even if your gift is thoughtful, careless or hasty wrapping can make it appear less carefully chosen. Take the time to present your gift in an attractive way.
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Rebekah Richards - Rebekah Richards has published fiction and nonfiction in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, Brandeis Law Journal, Where the Children Play, ...
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