Budget-friendly Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Valentine’s Day is coming up
And I’ve got some budget-friendly ideas for you!
When it comes to the day of lovers, extra mush and red, I have three beliefs:
- Celebrate it if you want to — There’s a recurring (and tired) discourse that surfaces every February that Valentine’s Day is irrelevant as love should be reciprocated and celebrated everyday. Eat grass, avoid social media on Sunday and let folks who want the extra mush and redtravangza relish in the day.
- Don’t exceed your means — There’s often a pressure on men to gift the sun, moon and stars on V-Day, and for women to “up the ante” by offering more than their lady parts. Hey, don’t go broke trying to impress a loved one for one day. Be innovative and creative in offering a gift or experience that won’t send you to the cleaners.
- Give a gift your loved one will appreciate — Don’t get a gift for bragging purposes or a social media tag. Get a gift that your loved one or spouse will actually like. Note, people should be grateful for any gift, but they don’t have to like it. Exercise some consideration in choosing the gift.
With that said, here are some cost-effective gift ideas that you can explore for Valentine’s Day. I’ll be dropping some Jamaican business plugs as well for those reading from yard!
Spa day
Deals are abound right now and Gustazos is one such site which bears several spa and salon offers. Kingston’s Island Rituals Spa is one of my favourite spots, and they’re offering five different packages which will be available for the next 12 days.
The lowest package is Be Mine, a JMD$6,999 deal which includes the “Tension Tamer” upper body massage and their classic manicure and pedicure. Their Secret Crush package is a JMD$7,999 deal which includes a 30-minute chocolate massage, facial and manicure, or a 60-minute cucumber honey clinical facial and manicure. There are cheaper packages being offered by different companies which can be perused on the Gustazos website.
Alternative: At-home spa vibes
I’m all for taking matters into your own hands for a more intimate experience. Let’s say you don’t have $7000 to spend on a spa package but you still like the idea of a spa day, I say create your own.
There are a myriad of body oils (in different sizes) that you can pick up from a pharmacy or health and wellness store which cost well below $1000. Bodi Blendz has this dope cinnamon-infused “bodi oil” for $1500 which has two fragrances: island peach and ginger. Choose a fragrance your partner will like and throw in some budget-friendly candles while you’re at it. You can transform your room to your own spa, put on some chill music (play via your phone if you have to) and treat your partner to all the ooohhs and aahhs of a good rubdown. If you’re not a masseuse like myself, get some tips from Youtube or the Googler. You can take it a step further with a pedicure: a pail, some body wash, an emery board and a towel, lotion, some top-coat, and you’re good to gizzle!
A cupcake bouquet
Flower bouquets are cute, but traditional. You can switch things up with a cupcake bouquet which is not only just as beautiful as roses, but edible. Now, please remember to consider your partner. This is a cute gift idea but if your partner would prefer real roses over sweet treats, go for actual flowers. Flowers and More Ja has rose packages for as low as $3500 for six hand-tied roses.
If not, BatterUp876 is offering cupcake bouquets from as low as $5000, with flavour options including vanilla, chocolate, black forrest, red velvet and carrot.
Speaking of edible arrangements, there are a slew of fruit companies like Fruit Treats Ja which offer chocolate-coated strawberries in different designs. The company announced yesterday that it only has two slots left if you want this gift for Sunday, so make it snappy.
Dinner for two
Hello date night! There are so many restaurants that are offering dining packages with prices that don’t incite headaches.
A-Bar Restaurant and Lounge is offering a $4000-per person dinner package (GCT included) with entrée options of spiced ribs, grilled salmon or snapper fish or lobster; dessert of cheese cake or ice cream, and a drink choice of a strawberry daiquiri or pina colada.
Reggae Mill is having a $9500-per couple offer (reservations recommended) with a complimentary bottle of wine. Hors d’oeuvre options are bourbon and basil beef balls, smoked herring crostini or crunchy chickpea cups. Entrée options are stuffed salmon with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, pesto chicken bruchetta with creamed potatoes and sweet corn on the cob, baked pork ratatouille over rosemary rice or Caribbean heat lobster pasta in creamy or tomato sauce. For dessert, you can choose between the chocolate and strawberries entremet or jerk french vanilla ice cream cake. The best part is, you can choose among three sitting areas: indoor, outdoor or picnic style at the Devon House east lawn.
Offshore Seafood Lounge has three meal options with a complimentary red velvet cake. Their $5500-per couple package has appetizer options of a lobster bisque, cream of pumpkin soup or saltfish flittaz. The entrée choices are a quarter “Herbies chop up chicken” or chicken/shrimp alfredo pasta. Beverage options are your choice of beer or a glass of matua sauvignon blanc or sutter home chardonnay.
The second meal package comes at a cost of $7500 per couple and has the same appetizer options as the previous package along with a complimentary side salad. The main course options are a half herb-stuffed roast chicken with seafood lasagna or lobster meal (curried or garlic). Drink options are a cupid vodka shot with strawberry and a glass of birds and bees sweet malbec wine.
Alternative: At-home dinner
Let’s say you are sceptical about going outdoors or you don’t have that budget, you can curate your own dinner date at home. You can cook together if you want to boost the experience, and even take it to the backyard or veranda with a romantic picnic vibe. There are also spots like Potwah Restaurant if you want to order takeout.
In any case, pick, choose, refuse and refine!
Sending all my love to you and your Valentine.
