Valentine’s Day can be a difficult time for a husband and wife. You’ve just spent a lot on everyone you know for Christmas presents. At the start of the New Year, your finances were on the list of goals for this year. Now, here comes Valentine’s Day, demanding you spend money on each other in the form of Valentine’s Day gifts.

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It’s really, really easy after years of being in a relationship to have a rational, logical conversation that goes something like this:

Husband: Hey so, we’re supposed to not be spending too much this year. 
Wife: Yeah, I know. 
Husband: So what do you want to do about Valentine’s Day? Should we go out to dinner? How much do you want to spend on gifts? What’s the plan?
Wife: Eh, let’s just order a pizza after *insert children’s names here* go to bed. We’ll skip presents. Maybe just a card or something.
Husband: Ok, sounds good.

Okay, now how sad was that? Full disclosure, I’ve been in more than one of these discussions, so I completely understand.

There’s gotta be a better way

At what point did it become okay for us to sacrifice our special occasions so that we can spend more on other people? It seems kinda crazy when you look at it that way. Unfortunately, it’s something most of us do. We give and give and give, with seemingly no restraint (unless you’ve learned how to use a gift budget, in which case kudos to you!).

I’d like to offer a little help. Years ago, I decided I didn’t want to do things this way anymore. Our gifts and celebrations were important and we wanted to continue them. However, we didn’t want to spend a fortune.

Instead, we simply lowered our expectations on the gifts. We knew we would be sticking to a budget and the Valentine’s Day gifts would be lovely, meaningful, useful, and/or special. They just would also be inexpensive.

What should I get my husband for Valentine’s Day?

I’ve put together a list of inexpensive Valentine’s Day gifts to get you started. Cheap Valentine’s Day gifts he’ll love! These are all gifts that are perfect for your spouse and they won’t break the bank. You can expand on them easily or use them as is!

The important thing to remember is to take into account your husband’s tastes, interests, and personality. If he’s more sentimental, skew the gift toward the personal and affectionate. If he’s a manly man’s-man, then go a little less sentimental and stick with the classics.

10 Inexpensive (Under $40) Valentine’s Day Gifts

1. Whiskey Stones & Glasses set-I got a set like this for Andy this Christmas and he loves them. For under $20, you can’t beat it. If you want to spend a little more, add a bottle of their favorite whiskey.

2. A gift basket of their favorites. You can go a couple of ways with this. If you want to go REALLY cheap, do their favorite drink, candy, salty snack. Then add a few touches like a $5.00 movie you know they liked or a $5.00 gift card to Starbucks if they like to stop for coffee before work. Get a gift basket at Goodwill or the Dollar Tree (or use one you already have), add some colorful tissue paper and voila; gift basket for about $15. Or go a little more expensive and add maybe a really nice pair of socks or a new bottle of his favorite cologne instead of so much of the cheaper stuff. Very easy to keep it under $30.

3. Things they need and a little something fun. It might not be super romantic, but when you’ve been married a while, you know how it gets. No one wants to spend money on stupid necessities like socks and underwear. But we still need them. First, get him something fun but keep it under $15. Then get a package of new socks, underwear, or under shirts. If you shop during sales, you can easily keep this around $25.

4. Make their favorite dinner and let them choose the movie. Sometimes our favorite meals aren’t often made because they’re too much work. I know I LOVE pasta primavera, but it takes so long to prep and cook it all that I never make it. So figure out your husband’s favorite meal that rarely gets made and do all the work to make it. Then as a bonus, tell him you’ll watch a movie after dinner and he gets to choose it. No compromising. He’ll love it.

5. Something new for his hobby or sport. If your husband is into golf, buy him some new balls, tees, and a new polo. Shop sales!!! If his hobby is writing, find some clearance journals, fancy pens, or themed flash drive for him to save his precious material on. Aside from the new gear, he’ll love that you are helping him with his interests.

6. Valentine’s Day boxers and some candy. Lucky for us women, men’s Valentine’s Day boxers are way cheaper than the lingerie men buy for women. This Satin 3-piece gift set of a robe, boxers, and slippers is currently $24.99. Add in a box of chocolate or his favorite sugary treat and you’re all set! If you want to go cheaper, or your husband won’t use the robe or slippers, find a cute pair of silk or satin Valentine’s Day boxers and give with the chocolate.

7. Trophy Husband shirt. Here’s another one I’ve done. I got one of these for Andy several years ago and he still wears it all the time. He’ll love to proudly tell people he didn’t buy it himself when they ask him about it.

8. A survival card. This Wallet Ninja 18 in 1 card is pretty neat. Andy had a Swiss Army card at one point so I can tell you these things come in handy. The great thing about this one is everything is attached; nothing comes off so you can’t lose any components. At under $11, he’ll get lots of use and entertainment out of this gift.

9. A Gift Card. Sometimes, it’s nice to get a gift card. Just make sure it’s one that he has to use on himself, not the two of you. Give him one to his favorite sporting goods store, his favorite place to get lunch during work, or his favorite novelty store. If, for example, he’s interested in board games like Andy is get him one to someplace like Board Game Barrister.

10. A good book or audiobook. Books aren’t something most men think to spend money on. But a lot of them do enjoy reading. If your husband is one of them, figure out what genre he enjoys and pick up a new bestseller you know he’s never read. If your husband is like mine, he likes the idea of books but doesn’t take the time to actually read. Audiobooks are the solution. They’re especially useful if he has a long commute to work during which he can “read.”

Get a Valentine’s Day gift he’ll love!

I hope this list gave you some great ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts that don’t cost a lot. I know I’ve used several of these in the past and they’ve always been a big hit. If none of them seem quite right for your needs, try to alter one of the ideas slightly to create your perfect gift!

If you’re looking for a great way to spend time together, check out this post on 7 Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your Spouse!

Have you used any of these ideas before? Do you have any additional ideas for inexpensive Valentine’s Day gifts? Share them below!

-To your Better Life-

Kira