Here’s a newsflash for men out there looking for Valentine gift ideas for your wife or girlfriend…they day is not that far away. In fact, it’s in a few short weeks and let’s face it, it’s a holiday for the ladies.
The first few years Mrs. Frugal Rules and I were married I was always looking for last minute Valentine gift ideas leading up to the day and have learned my lesson over the years that the amount of money spent doesn’t always equal a better gift.
What this wisdom has taught me is that you don’t really need to go all out and buy some lavish Valentine’s Day gift.
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Great Valentine Gifts For Your Wife
My wife and I haven’t exchanged gifts for years. However, I realize that not everyone feels that way and like to exchange gifts for Valentine’s Day.
With that in mind here are some of the best Valentine gift ideas I’ve used over the years. They’re both practical and relatively frugal.
1. Bamboo Bath Caddy
If your wife enjoys a hot bath at the end of a long day, and most do, the Bamboo Bath Caddy is one of the best valentine gifts for her to buy.
I didn’t give this to my wife as a gift for Valentine’s Day as I got it for another holiday, but she loves using it.
How the Caddy works is that it spans across your tub to act as a table or tray to put a variety of things on. It can be used to place things like a book, TV remote or drink on it without fear of dropping it in the tub.
*Related: If you’re looking for jewelry at a great price, check out some of the deals on jewelry at Amazon!*
The construction is sturdy and lasted her a number of years so we’ve definitely got value out of it.
2. Coffee
You might think coffee does not belong on a list of Valentine’s Day gift ideas, but this can be a great gift for a coffee lover. I’ve done this for Mrs. Frugal Rules in the past and she loves it.
She isn’t really a huge fan of Starbucks, so I go with some of the smaller local chains and purchase her a handful of different coffees she hasn’t tried before as she loves trying new to her brews.
One of the best Valentine gift ideas I’ve given though was making my own coffee basket. I gave one to my wife a few years ago and she loved it.
I started with a KitchenAid coffee grinder and included a coffee mug as well.
If you’re looking for coffee options, you can always go with a pound of Starbucks Pike Place Roast as that is one of their more popular offerings.
If your wife prefers tea to coffee you can do a similar basket that includes a Stainless Mesh Tea Ball, a Stovetop Whistling Kettle and a tea sampler to start her out.
3. Gift Cards
Gift cards don’t scream romance or at the top of your Valentine gift ideas. However, if you do it right then it can be a hit with the recipient.
I’ve found that Amazon is an excellent choice for gift cards.
You can always go the standby route of buying an Amazon gift card. What I’ve preferred to do in the past though is buy gift cards to different retailers on Amazon.
Amazon has a wide variety of retailer gift cards available you can select from depending on what your wife enjoys.
If you want to save even more money, buying a discounted gift card through Gift Card Outlets is a good option.
4. Give Her the Day Off
One of the best Valentine gift ideas I’ve used in the past, and use throughout the year, is giving my wife the gift of time.
She gets to take the day off and go do whatever she wants to do and I stay home with the kids so she can enjoy that time to herself.
When I give time as a gift to my wife she uses it for a number of things like going out to do a little shopping for herself, having lunch with a friend or just going out for coffee on her own.
This allows her time to herself to do something she enjoys and have time to recharge. The best thing is that it costs very little, but more importantly she feels appreciated.
5. Candelabra Wine Bottle Topper
If you’re looking for Valentine gift ideas that both of you can enjoy, the Candelabra Wine Bottle Topper is a great way to do that.
We prefer to stay in for Valentine’s as we’d rather not pay the increased prices for the evening as well as not having to fight the crowds.
If that describes you and your partner the wine bottle topper is a great way to make your meal at home a little more romantic.
That’s also not to mention you can reuse it as much as you like. All you need is a few tea light candles and you’re good to go.
If you throw in a favorite bottle of wine then it makes the gift that much better.
Bottom Line
It’s easy to give into the idea that you need to spend a lot on gifts for Valentine’s Day. That’s not the case.
Pay attention to what she likes, and you’ll likely find something you can buy her that won’t break the bank.
Additional resource: Want to buy flowers for your wife, but don’t know where to look? You can still get flowers for the holiday and avoid paying extra for rush charges through ProFlowers. I use ProFlowers when I want to get flowers for my wife as they always send beautiful flowers at a good price.
Check out the Valentine’s Day specials at ProFlowers today!
Do you set a budget for how much you spend on a Valentine’s Day present?
I’m John Schmoll, a former stockbroker, MBA-grad, published finance writer, and founder of Frugal Rules.
As a veteran of the financial services industry, I’ve worked as a mutual fund administrator, banker, and stockbroker and was Series 7 and 63-licensed, but I left all that behind in 2012 to help people learn how to manage their money.
My goal is to help you gain the knowledge you need to become financially independent with personally-tested financial tools and money-saving solutions.
We keep our Valentine’s Day activities pretty basic – babysitter for the kids and quiet night out for the two of us. No expensive gifts. But I can swing a coffee package for the Mrs. That would make her day.
We’ve definitely moved that way the last 5-6 years Brian. I do a little something for my wife, but beyond that it’s just a meal together or even spending it with the kiddos.
Great ideas, John. I especially love the idea about giving her a shopping trip – alone time is HUGE for moms. One of the best gifts Rick ever gave me, which isn’t doable here in Feb., is when he stopped alongside the road on the way home from work one day and picked me a huge bunch of several different varieties of wild flowers. Spontaneous, gorgeous and FREE! 🙂
Thanks Laurie! I know, alone time is a biggie and is something that’s easy to give in my opinion. I can’t imagine many wild flowers are growing there right now ;), but you can’t beat free.
I had to laugh at your comment that Valentine’s Day is mainly for the ladies. My husband has said this for years and I always argue that’s not the case, but apparently he’s not the only guy out there who thinks so…
Yea, I’d say for the most part it is. I’m sure there are some guys out there who enjoy it, but none that I know. 😉
Great ideas, John! I have gotten flowers in the past but ever since my wife said she likes getting them “unexpectedly” more so than on holidays I have taken advantage of the lower prices on non-Holidays. I like the shopping trip idea. My wife loves to shop and thankfully neither of us spend much money shopping. More often than not we are leaving with nothing!
Thanks DC! My wife is the same exact way. It took me a few years to learn that, so I’ll get a rose or two on Valentine’s and be spontaneous with the rest.
We are leaving for Jamaica this Friday and it was our Christmas/Valentine’s gift to each other. I don’t like flowers anymore after working in a funeral home for six years and dealing with them all the time! =/
That’s not a half bad gift. 🙂 I can imagine flowers would be one of the last things you’d want to see, it makes total sense.
Valentine’s Day actually has some real meaning for us since we actually had our first date on Valentine’s Day. I have to say, lingerie has always been a winner for me!
Very cool Matt, I can see why it would be an important day to you and your wife then. Lol, yes that can be a good gift too. 😉
I’ve been able to get away with writing my wife a card for occasions like this. Make it personal and she’ll appreciate it.
That is always a good way to go Michael – personal is always a winner in my book.
I like the coffee idea. I don’t really want a gift for Valentine’s day; I’d rather save the money and just spend time with my spouse instead.
It’s always a popular idea for my wife, regardless of the holiday. I’m the same way, I’d much rather have the time with my wife as opposed to spending all sorts of money.
Considering the boyfriend will be traveling through Germany on Vday I’m not expecting anything, but I would like to be able to give him a little something. Since he’s abroad and on the move for 5 more months I’m not sure what though.
I’d imagine not, though at least he’s in Germany. It’s absolutely beautiful there. That said, I can see how it would be difficult to know what to give since he’s abroad and traveling.
We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day, other than spending time together, but these are all good ideas! I’m personally just happy with a box of chocolates, preferably purchased at half price the day after. I will probably be baking something for my boyfriend at least, as I would feel bad if he treated me to something and I did nothing in return, though I know men tend to not care about it =).
Lol, that’s exactly what we do. 🙂 Why spend on something that’ll be at least half price the following day.
Doesn’t matter what the gift is-it’s the fact of doing/giving the person you love something they will love! -but it matters that you show you care!
Definitely agreed Carolyn. It’s the thought that counts.
These are great ideas John! You can always go through your wife’s make up or perfumes and lotions to see what she has, take a pic with your phone and bring that to the store and re-fill what she already likes (my hubby did that one year). As for us, we are super frugal on V-day by not buying anything for each other. We say that we love each other year round and do not need to show it on one particular day. Instead, my hubby will get “just because” flowers at random times, and those are my favorite!
That’s a great idea Shannon! I completely agree with you, it’s a greeting card industry in my opinion. I’ll buy something small maybe or just spend time together. The “just because” flowers are always the best and are very well received.
These are nice ideas. I know my husband used to stress about this in the beginning. Personally, I have never been into it and now we go the route of not buying anything for each other on Valentine’s Day. I tell him to surprise me on any other day with flowers.
Thanks Raquel. I think it’s easy to stress when you first get married, but then you realize that it doesn’t have to be too big of a deal. Another fan of the “random” flowers – great minds think alike. 🙂
I think this year, I am going with getting my mother-in-law to watch our son and then I will take my wife out for dinner. We haven’t had a night just for us in over a year.
I always buy flowers from my local grocery store. They always last longer, look great, and cost so much less.
Sounds like a solid plan Grayson. I think we may be going out, but likely not something too extravagant.
I like to get them at Costco. They’re $20 and usually last a good bit of time and much better than the $60+ you’ll find anywhere else.
My go-to gift whenever I’m in doubt are massages! Who would pass up a 1-hour rub down?
Coffee also goes over really well in my house. We both drink it all the time, so a GC to Tim Hortons or Starbucks is like gold for us.
That is definitely in my arsenal as well. I actually scored a sweet deal through Groupon, or someone like that, for that and a few other things for my wife for Christmas.
I’m still chuckling over, “Does She Like to Smell Good”! LOL! I hope so. 🙂 Great gift ideas. I think what we want most from our husbands on Valentine’s Day is a gift that shows he paid attention. You didn’t stop at (gasp) a convenient store on the way home and grab the first you saw. I love it when my husband gifts me with an afternoon to do what I want. If I want to stay home and relax, he takes the girls out for an afternoon of fun. Of course, I also love the traditional gifts – sparkly things, flowers and dark chocolate. They may be unoriginal but they work for a reason!
Lol, I know. The subhead was my idea and I think Nicole about fell out of her chair when she was editing it. How did you know that I buy my gifts for her at the convenience store?! 😉 Seriously though, you’re right, the ones that are generally most well received are ones that show thought and time was put in to it.
I’d love it if my husband got us a spa day. But that’s pretty pricey. Maybe just a spa day for me?… HA!
It definitely can be. You should watch for Groupons as I got one for my wife for her birthday that worked out to a really good deal.
Hey John, Love the ideas. I usually go with jewelry and a trip, but I think this year, I’m mixing things up a bit. We’re still going on our trip to a nice suite on the coast, but no jewelry. This year, I’m going to spend the excess on massage oils and fun things to do together! Thanks for the great read, I’ll see ya around.
Wow, sounds like a good time!
“Does she like to smell good” Nah, I’d rather stink. LOL! I think the best gift in recent memory is a gift certificate for getting my car detailed. Would never buy that for myself, but really enjoy having someone else clean up the mess under the booster seat.
Lol, I know. Nicole couldn’t stop laughing at that one. That sounds like an awesome gift Kim! We get so much crap in our backseat with the kiddos that I shudder to think what’s under there.
Sometimes it’s the little things. I’ve always been experiential so something like tickets to go see a local band or an interesting exhibit that you can be really cool but cost-effective. It all depends on the wife though 🙂
I agree, it is the little things and making it personal to your wife (or husband for that matter) is what makes it special. We enjoy the experience type gifts as well as you can always take the memories from that, unlike some random gift.
Please excuse my terrible grammar, I;m trying out a new Ipad keyboard and it takes some getting used too
My wife LOVES those fluorescent carnations they sell at Costco (and Walmart for that matter). WAY cheaper than the jacked up prices of roses on V-day. I have to admit though….the big bold title of “Does She Like To Smell Good” made me laugh just a little…..just because of my off-key sense of humor. LOL.
Lol, glad I could give you a laugh Travis. My wife got a kick out of the subhead as well – she said I was being a “total guy” with that one. 😉 Those carnations can’t be beat in my opinion.
Last Valentine’s Day and also it’s our “wedding anniversary” my husband gave me a surprise vacation trip! It was a 3 days and 2 night package in one of the beautiful beaches.
Sounds like an awesome gift Marie!
I am thinking concert tickets this year, it is fun to share something together and it isn’t bulky stuff that one has to keep.
That is an awesome idea Pauline! We like those kind of gifts as well as you can have the memories from it as opposed to some random or impersonal gift.
Great ideas, John! Sounds like you have this Valentine’s Day thing down pat! I think the best thing I could give my husband for Valentine’s Day is a free pass to avoid it altogether, but that’s not happening. You’re right that it doesn’t matter how much money is spent, but rather that some thought was put into the sentiment. My dad always gets my mom a thoughtful card and single rose, which she loves. Easy and frugal!
Thanks Kendal!I find the easy and frugal gifts are usually the ones that do best, especially when they’re personal to the recipient.
V-Day budget for the wife (me): $0…unless it’s chocolate. My husband is in the Navy and I’m lucky if he’s even home on V-Day. He won’t be this year but I think Valentine’s Day is kind of overrated and shouldn’t be an excuse to waste money on me.
I agree Kasey, many like to think that you have to spend whatever when that really doesn’t matter – it’s the thought that counts.
All great tips. My wife is a vanilla latte fiend so a night out and a gift card from Starbucks usually does the trick!
Thanks Marvin! My wife tends to be the same way, so it’s an easy gift to make happen.
These are really great ideas John.U need to know the lady well before buying a gift for her.Generally women are attracted to some of the
basic gifts like flowers,chocolates,shopping trip,jewellery etc.but if u want to give her something special or innovative then u have to apply ur thoughts.
U may go for above conventional gift options bt u need to present it to her in a new way,like u did by offering flowers to her at her office and not in ur home.
Also u can make simple yet delicious dish for her or take her for a surprise long drive or compose a song for her if u can play guitar.