Valentine gifts for all budgets

By Emily Hamsher
Capital High School

With Valentine’s Day coming up, men everywhere are fretting over the perfect gift for their girlfriends. With so many options to choose from, many males are left confused. However, I’m here to help you relax by taking you through a list of gifts that no woman could help but love.

When looking for the perfect gift, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First is the length of the relationship. No matter what you may have been told, a girl you have only been seeing for two weeks probably doesn’t expect a lot of cash to be dropped on an expensive and flashy gift.

Second, consider the girl herself. Is she creative and original or classic and traditional?

And finally, remember that the right girl will appreciate the thought behind the gift more than the gift itself, so put some of your own personality into the present.

With that said, I’ll break the gift ideas down into two categories: one for free-spirited girls and the other for more conventional girls, and within those categories, I’ll have three sub-categories - one to suit any budget.

Free spirits

Your significant other may fit into this category if she is an artist, musician, writer or everyday non-conformist. More than likely, this type of girl will probably tell you that she hates Valentine’s Day and that you should not get her a gift because it is just a holiday created by the greeting card companies to trick couples into looking for love. However, and I stress this, do not listen to her! Every girl wants a valentine, no matter what she says.

For a budget of $20 or less:

It’s true that a gift is not about how much money is spent, so if you’re low on cash, use creativity to make her gift special. For example, drop a few dollars on a plain picture frame, and use it to frame a picture of the two of you. Then, decorate it with romantic words cut from magazines, construction paper, candy hearts, glitter, jewels or anything else you like.

Or you can decorate a picture frame to match her personality. For instance, if she’s into music, add paper music notes and tiny guitar cut-outs. If she loves the beach, add small seashells to the frame. Extra details like these will let her know that you really put some effort into her gift.

If you have a few bucks left over, buy her a daisy or two, and tie them together with her favorite color ribbon.

For a budget of $20-$50:

Free-spirited girls tend to have opinions on political and social issues, so pick an organization that she feels strongly about and make a donation in her name. She will appreciate that you acknowledged her ideals and beliefs and that your adoration for her helped make a difference.

However, you may also want to add something tangible to the gift, so take a tip from the D.I.Y. gift above or buy a small box of her favorite chocolate.

For a budget of $50+:

Your free-spirited girl has an artistic soul, so use her passion to your advantage. Buy tickets for the two of you to see a play, a concert by her favorite band or attend a big art gala. Take her out to dinner beforehand, and make a night of it. Not only will this gift impress her, but it will show her that you take interest in the activities that she enjoys and that you enjoy spending time with her.

Conventionalists

Your companion may fit into this category if she’s your typical girly girl or if she is the social butterfly within your group of friends. She probably adores Valentine’s Day and makes extra time in her schedule leading up to Feb. 14 to make valentines for each of her friends.

For a budget of $20 or less:

Your traditional girl is all about classic romance, so purchase a small box of delicious gourmet chocolates and a single red rose. Then, deliver the gifts to her doorstep dressed in your best. She will love the timeless gift as well as the romance behind you extravagant delivery.

For a budget of $20-$50:

Nothing is more romantic than getting a whiff of the perfume your significant other wears. The sweet scent will revive all the memories you have with that person and bring a smile to your face. For that reason, perfume is the perfect gift for a guy on a modest budget. You could choose to buy the scent that she wears on a regular basis, or you could show her how well you know her tastes by picking out a new perfume for her to wear.

For a budget of $50+:

Show your classy lady how romantic you can be by purchasing a dozen of her favorite flowers and sweeping her off to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Your girly girl will love the opportunity to get dressed up and show off the man in her life.

If you want to go over the top, present her with a locket at dinner, complete with a picture of you inside. It will be a night she will talk about with her jealous friends for days.