Valentine’s Day Gifts Ideas (That Beat Chocolate and Flowers!)

The most recent figure I’ve seen showed that the average consumer will spend over $126 on his/her Valentine’s date.

That is a lot of unhealthy food and flowers that will die in a couple of days!

Let’s Upgrade Valentines Giving This Year!

I love days that are reminders to tell my husband and kids how much I love and appreciate them. But this particular holiday has become a tribute to candy and store-bought goods that lose their value after a couple of days.

We all feel the need to spend a lot of money on expensive dates and gifts because a marketing team has decided that Valentine’s day is a great time for flower and candy sales.

If you are going to spend $126 on Valentine’s Day (Does anyone actually do that?) I have some gift ideas that will bring lasting health and happiness, not just a temporary sugar rush :-).

Better Gift Ideas

My husband and I actually stopped giving expensive gifts when we got married, partially for financial reasons and partially to give ourselves a reason to be more creative and thoughtful with our gifts. As a result, I have a file with hand-written letters and mementos from creative dates we’ve had over the years that mean so much more than a box of chocolates ever could.

The best gifts of all, in my opinion, are quality time or shared experiences. This is what I’ll be giving my family this year and would encourage you to consider it as well! Here’s a list of all of my favorite experiences to give as gifts. I also really love this at-home couples massage course (don’t worry, it’s PG) that teaches couples how to give each other a great massage (hint hint honey!).

My Favorite Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

If you want to give an actual gift this year, these are some of my favorite ideas that your recipient will love, and you can feel great about giving!

For Her:

1. Shiatsu Massage Pillow – Less than the price of one actual massage and SO relaxing!
2. Royally Flawless Facial Moisturizer – Give the gift of gorgeous skin! I love this facial oil with the highest quality ingredients and no junk!
3. RTIC Tumbler – I love this for hot and cold drinks and it is a reusable non-plastic drink cup.
4. 10,000 Lux Happy Light – Feel blue this winter? I use this super-bright “happy light” to keep my cortisol levels healthy.
5. Dry Brush – Brushing isn’t just for hair and teeth. Brushing skin can help it stay smooth, supple and may improve collagen.
6. French Press Coffee Maker – Nothing says love more than coffee! (Coffee= my love language!)
7. Grown-up Coloring Book and Markers – Grown up coloring books are surging in popularity and studies show coloring may reduce stress levels.
8. The Wellness Mama Cookbook – Ok, I’m biased, but my new cookbook is filled with 200 delicious recipes that our family loves (and I know yours will too!)

For Him:

1. Fire starter kit – He can “light your fire” literally with this tool to start fires without matches or a lighter.
2. Smart Wool Socks – Warm socks that are great for summer or winter.
3. Surefire Flashlight – Really high quality pocket flashlight.
4. Wine Aerator – Wine = one of my husband’s love languages!
5. Saddleback Leather Wallet – This wallet has a 100 year warranty!! (yes, really!)
6. Quality Shaving Kit OR Beard Oil– Great options for the clean-shaven or bearded man in your life!
7. Defender Pad – Protect his lap from EMFs when he uses the laptop.
8. Tactical Pen – More than just a pen, it works in all conditions and can break a car window if a person is trapped.
9. Whiskey Stones – Freeze these rocks to use in place of ice in drinks “on the rocks.”

Homemade Gift Ideas

Rather make a gift? Try these easy homemade gifts:

1. A Great Massage– Get this digital massage course and learn how to give your love a great massage at home! Cheaper than a massage package and great because you also get quality time together! Don’t worry, it is all PG rated!
2. Homemade Chocolate: If you are going to do the chocolate thing, why not make some gourmet chocolate that is actually good for you? This is my favorite homemade recipe made with cocoa butter and raw honey. You can also top with a bit of sea salt for a salted version ,or add a drop of food grade peppermint essential oil for a mint flavor. This recipe also works really well for making chocolate covered strawberries (or other fruit) or as a magic shell topping for homemade ice cream.
3. A Creative and Fun Date: I share my 7 top favorite unusual date ideas in this post, but anything that gets you out of the house and breaks up the norm can be fun. I once made a scavenger hunt for my husband where he got one clue when he got in his car after work, and each clue led him to a new clue until he finally got to the date place (picnic outside and we played frisbee).In the long run, it will be the creative dates and the time spent together that they remember, not the expensive gifts or dates!
4. Homemade Lotion Bars: Lotion bars are a great gift idea for Valentine’s Day. They are completely natural and can be customized for men or women. Make in silicon molds in any shape to create a bouquet of lotion bar flowers (with a mold like this one) or stick with a simple bar for guys (like this one).

How do you celebrate Valentine’s day? What are you doing this year? Do any of these ideas sound like something you’ll try? Share below!

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