Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and if you’re anything like me that means so is the stress of finding the perfect gift for your significant other. As collegiettes, we tend to be a little low on time, a little low on brainpower, and of course- a little low on money. Here are a few cheap and quick ideas for the perfect DIY gift, whether you’ve been dating for two years or two months!
Date Jar
Perfect for couples who can never decide quite what to do. All you need is a pack of colourful Popsicle sticks, a mason jar (or anything to hold your sticks), and some fun date ideas! Try colour-coding them by the general price range so you know what you’re getting into before you pull one out. The free dates can include a hike up Mount Doug or an at-home movie night. For cheap ideas try a Starbucks date or an evening at Victoria’s Board Game Café. More expensive dates can include a dinner out (for me, Original Joe’s is always a good idea) or a day at the museum. This way you can plan your budget from the beginning and always have ideas for dates in the future! Just pull a Popsicle stick out when you have some free time and the two of you are good to go!
Coupon Book
I know- it’s definitely been done before. But really think about it… wouldn’t you want one? Just cut up some construction paper, tie the pieces together, and write down things you know your SO will appreciate that you can do for free, like a back rub, a home cooked meal or a car wash! I know I would never turn down a breakfast in bed. There are even some printable coupons online!
Love Notes
This one is super fun and easy to personalize. Fill a jar, vase, or notebook with anything you want to share with your SO. Try making separate notes for each thing you love about them, special memories you’ve had together, or fun quotes you know they will love.
Open When Cards
I did this for my boyfriend over a year and half ago and he still has half the cards left because he doesn’t want to run out. But the fun thing about this is you can keep adding to it! Just find a nice shoebox and fill it with cards with specific instructions for when to open them. You can try “Open when you’re hungry.” Write a message inside and slip in a gift card to their favorite restaurant. Or “Open when you need some love,” and write a list of all the things you love about them. “Open when you need a pick me up” is a good place to slide in their favorite chocolate bar. You can spend as much money as you choose to, and it’s a lot of fun to think of fun ideas that are really geared towards your SO.
Personalized Mugs
These have been all over Pinterest lately and are so cute! With an oil based Sharpie or Paint Pen, draw or write anything of your choice on a plain mug and bake in the oven for 2 hours at 225C. You can bake it at a higher temperature for a shorter amount of time if you want, but that is what has worked best for me. There are tons of ideas all over the Internet if you need some inspiration, but the more personalized you can make it the better. Try writing down their usual warm drink or make a doodle of their favorite animal. This way, they’ll think of you while drinking their morning coffee!