Love it or hate it, Valentine's Day is just about to land. If you procrastinate on Hallmark Holidays like I do, you're probably reading about Valentine's Day only because you need to buy your loved one a gift. . . NOW! I'm almost certain that once every year, I hear one say, "Single People really must hate Valentine's Day". Let me counterpoint that by telling you that I was single before and did not hate V-day.Hating V-Day is definitely something that happens over the years. Reasons for a person to develop a hate for V-Day could be peer pressure (which can correlate to more expenses when couples 1-up each other), or couples just start to run out of ideas. Rather than viewing V-Day as an out-of-control, inflating Hallmark Holiday, lets stop, think, and simplify things.
Here is something interesting: You do not have to hate V-Day. I am not going to list a bunch of ways in which one can develop a liking for the holiday. Instead, I have compiled a quick list of 10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas that will cost you less than 5 potatoes.
- Thoughtful Card
I'm not referring to one of those cards with vulgar wording, age jokes, or any other predictable card punchline. Find a card at the dollar store. Often, chain stores will offer cards, 2 for $1. So, if you've got a second Valentine, or if the first card causes an unwanted reaction, pull out your backup. - Lottery Ticket(s)
This is the Valentine's Day gift idea that I typically combine with the aforesaid ^.
A couple of dollars will buy you two scratch tickets. Take your card, place the two tickets inside and you're done: A present that you did not even have to wrap. Even better, your total is just over $3 (depending on your tax). If your loved one wins, you win. - Heart Balloon
This is not a medical term (is it?). This third idea can still be had for ~ $1 again. Indeed we have not left the dollar store just yet. You do not even have to make it to Idea #4, and you could actually be finished with your V-Day shopping. More importantly, you have not even spent $5. - Mobile Phone & Plan
Show your loved one that you're one serious individual. Sign up for a 2-year agreement with any major mobile phone carrier. Be certain that you'll be together for a long time (at least 2 years). Doing this will get you a free phone. Sure, you'll get your first bill, but it's V-Day! Also, It just so happens that I have an Amazon store right here for you to visit, should you decide to purchase a mobile phone. - Draw a Heart in the Snow
The opening photo to this article is a heart I drew. The price of this one is also free, provided that you are on your lawn, and live in a region that gets snow. Just hopefully you don't draw on his lawn. The last i heard, he has been seen living in the Hamtramck, MI area. - Cut Food into Heart Shapes
This can potentially be free as well. If you're going to make pancakes one morning anyway, you have a cookie cutter, or are just artistic with a knife, cut them into heart shapes. Once the hearts are cut out, you can eat the remnants. When you go to deliver the food to your loved one and they ask, "Aren't you going to eat?", you can respond: "Of course not sweetie, this is for you.". - Netflix/Redbox
Packaged in a red envelope, Netflix is V-day'ish. Rent a sappy movie and when it arrives, have the movie playing, and deliver culinary heARTS (!) - pun :-D - Learn a Short Tune and Sing It
If you think this is far-fetched or are afraid of having no music ability, don't give up just yet. The Amazon store has kazoos for under $3. Get cheesy and play your partner a tune that you wrote. If it's a long-distance relationship, record it and upload it to YouTube. Please don't turn into this guy, though. - Dinner
I probably should not list this one because we all know that Dinner costs more than $5 - Not at Taco Bell! Cutting your dinner into a heart shape here does not apply - that's my advice anyway. - Flowers
You can buy flowers; They do die. Plastic flowers would probably work as an embellishment to the already-purchased gift you are going to present to your loved one. Seriously, I rarely buy flowers on V-Day. I think flowers work for Anniversaries, or during a hardship. OK, V-Day might be a hardship to some, but I'm just trying to stay under $5.
