50+ Valentine's Day Ideas That Prove Love Don't Cost a Thing

Even though Valentine’s Day is all about love, it doesn’t mean you have to spend your entire savings showing it. No matter who you’re celebrating with (friends, yourself, your partner, your FWB) or how long you’ve been together, you don’t have to go all out and splurge on expensive, materialistic presents or fancy dates. The best and most appreciated gifts or plans can be quite cheap — and sometimes, even free. Plus, the pressure to buy the perfect gift or plan the perfect activity can be stressful and time-consuming and take away from the enjoyment of the holiday.

This Valentine’s Day, show you care by doing some of these sweet gestures instead of a gift or planning one of these free things to do. These cheap Valentine’s Day ideas for gifts and activities will make the day feel special, no matter who you celebrate with.

Free or Cheap Valentine’s Day Ideas

Make them a hearty, yummy breakfast.
Finish their laundry the morning of V-Day.
Leave a note in their coat pocket so they’ll find it randomly.
Surprise them with morning sex.
Bake their favorite dessert.
Fill a jar with Hershey’s Kisses and Post-it notes of compliments and things you love about them.
Make your own game by writing down questions like “Where did we have our first kiss?” and “What’s my favorite movie?” See if your answers match.
Surprise them at work with their favorite lunch.
Take them on a hike to a place they’ve never been.
Make a scrapbook filled with photos and memorabilia.
Print out screenshots of your cutest text messages they probably forgot about.
Give a massage or back scratch (without insisting that you get one back).
Make their favorite restaurant dinner at home.
Snuggle and binge-watch a new show together.
Watch a sexy movie or sexy TV show together to set the mood.
Stargaze together.
Get word magnets for the fridge, and arrange cute phrases for them to wake up to.
Clean their entire place.
Try a new sex position in the bedroom.
Have a scavenger hunt, even if it’s just around the house.
Have a picnic at their favorite outdoor place.
Fill up their gas tank.
Create your own fun mad libs about memorable experiences you’ve had together.
Paint a picture frame for your favorite photo of the two of you.
Organize their closet.
Go on a walk, and talk about your favorite memories.
Write the ultimate dating bucket list together.
Do their grocery shopping for the week.
Watch the sunrise and have coffee together the morning of V-Day.
Make a heart-shaped pizza.
Photoshop their face next to a picture of their biggest celebrity crush.
Email them a list of sweet online articles that remind you of them.
Give one of these noncheesy Valentine’s Day printables guaranteed to make them smile.
Make a playlist of songs that remind you of them.
Take a romantic bubble bath together.
Teach each other something. Do they know Photoshop? Do you know piano? Spending quality time together by teaching each other something new will bring you closer together.
Have a few of their (cheap) favorite things waiting when they get home: their favorite beer, magazine, or candy.
Know a photographer who’ll give you a shoot for free or for a discount? Have an at-home boudoir shoot, and make a book of the photos.
Write a book of IOUs they can keep for however long they want. These can be cards that they can redeem at the time of their choice, like a foot massage, an ice cream date, a movie night, permission to have the remote all night, etc.
Take some sweet and sexy pictures of yourself on their phone, and tell them to check their photos while they’re at work.
Re-create your first date.
Have sex in a new place, even if it’s just a different room in the house.
Play a “strip” version of a card game.
Write an “I love you more than” list.
Take a cheap form of transportation to a place you’ve never been before, even if it’s nearby.
Turn off your phones and computers for the entire day. Spend uninterrupted attention with the person you love — Instagram can wait.
Show some PDA.
Write down a list of the qualities you love most about them, particularly things you don’t mention on a daily basis but that mean a lot to hear.
Watch the sunset together in a scenic location, and promise each other to do things like this more often.
Buy them their favorite flowers.
Verbally tell them why you like or love them.