Valentine’s Day gift ideas

Mekayla Butler, reporter

As Valentine’s Day approaches people are brainstorming different gift ideas for their significant others, friends and families. For some people it is easier to find good gifts than it is for others, but an issue that everyone faces is money. Sometimes Valentine’s Day can get pricey, but there are ways to give your loved ones meaningful gifts on a budget. Utilizing stores like Walmart, Target or Walgreens are always good ideas, and you are almost always guaranteed to find good gifts there.

A good, non-expensive gift is a flatterbox. You can go to any local Walmart or Target and buy a small box for less than $10 and fill it with slips of paper with different things you like about your loved one or good memories you have with them. You can also make a candle bouquet by finding candles at either Walmart or Target and putting them in a basket. Both stores have a wide array of different brands, sizes, scents and prices. Everyone enjoys good chocolate, but sometimes it can be expensive to buy large boxes of it, instead buying several smaller candy bars and putting them together in a bag with a note will be a lot cheaper. Typically, the prices of seasonal candies are considerably more expensive than usual, the only real difference is that there may not be some hearts on the packaging.

If you would rather head to the mall, there are plenty of affordable gifts there as well. Kate Spade sells $16 reusable tote bags with cute phrases on them. For only $18 at Urban Outfitters you can buy a 10-piece “You Complete Me Jigsaw” for your loved one to put together. The puzzles are small and made of wood for you to sprawl out a love letter onto, and then scramble for your loved one to put together. Stores like Forever 21 and PacSun are good places to find small miscellaneous items like scarves, jewelry, or belts to throw together for someone along with a nice card and chocolate.

Not everyone can afford to go all-out for Valentine’s Day, but there are still many ways to show your loved ones that you care about them. A good thing to keep in mind on this day is that it is the thought that counts. Whether you buy someone jewelry, food or flowers the effort and thought that goes into the gift is what really matters. As long as you are trying to show your loved one just how much you care, your loved one will surely (or at least hopefully) be appreciative of what you have given them.