Disclaimer: Although this post is written of my own volition, some of the products I have been sent for the purpose of testing them out for review. These products are highlighted by the use of an asterisk (*) beside them. All views and opinions are my own. This post may also contain affiliate links. All photos are copyright property of Me Becoming Mum.

When it comes to Valentine's Day, John and I never really make a big deal of it. As far as we are concerned we don't need one day a year to show each other that we are in love... we do that all year round! That's not to say we don't celebrate at all though, we just try to keep to a budget and not go overboard on gifts. Here are a few budget friendly gift ideas for the love of your life that you can buy this year.

Get the basics...

Flowers

I have been very fortunate to receive some beautiful bouquets from John over the years and they may be cliché but they are the perfect gift on Valentine's Day. They can be massively over priced at this time of year, however, so be sure to shop around or have a look at your local market (which is where John always finds the best flowers in bargain bouquets!)

Chocolate

Chocolate is one of my guilty pleasures. Of you saw my Insta stories on my birthday you will know that I got a big basket full of chocolate for my birthday, so I am 100% sure this is a fabulous gift idea at any point of the year; but especially on Valentine's Day!

Write them a love note...

In a Card!

Writing a card can be just as lovely a gift as any other that you would wrap up, as long as you fill it with love. Whether you write a smile message with reasons you love your partner or get super creative and write a little poem, a card is a great way to express your feelings about your partner.

When it comes to choosing the perfect Valentine's Day card, you can't go wrong with the amazing range available from Hallmark*. From small cards to large cards, bright colours to cheeky messages and even laser cut out designs there is something for everybody. So whether you are choosing a Valentine's Day card for your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife you will find the ideal one in their awesome range.

Love is in the air hot air balloon Hallmark card

On a light box!

If you follow my Facebook page or Twitter feed you will probably have seen me using my Get Gingersnap speech bubble light box... I love changing the message over and Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to do so once again. I haven't decided what I am going to write yet but I'm pretty sure that it will be super soppy!

get gingersnap speech bubble light box quote

Invest in something useful...

Especially if you can get it personalised!

When it comes to Valentine's Day, it can be so easy to spend money on things that are gone before you know it like flowers and chocolate. As nice as these are to receive, maybe this year you should instead consider buying the love of your life something that they will continue to find useful. After all, if you're going to spend your money, it's nice to know that what you are buying is going to be functional and last longer than the minutes it takes to much through a box of heart shaped chocolate.

Gifts Online 4 U have a website full of fabulous gift ideas for every occasion and recipient. I love their personalised pint glasses* which are not only useful gifts but given the fact that they have a personalisation option they will always be unique for you. From including a little message of love to a relationship established date these gifts are the perfect reminder of the love you and your partner have.

If my husband is anything to go by, you don't have to drink alcohol to enjoy these pint glasses. John uses his every day for juice, fizzy drink and even milk (yes he's a big kid!) so I can rest assured his Valentine's Day gift will go down well. Gift Online 4 U have a fabulous range of engraved gifts for him* and her so you can choose your favourite and order it in time for the big day of love!

Itty Bitty Gifts...

To be honest I think that the amazing Itty Bitty Lady and the Tramp went down better with my girls than my husband... but I too love them!

Lady and the Tramp Disney Hallmark Itty Bittys

The two lovely characters I have from the Hallmark Itty Bittys* range are of course from the Disney movie, Lady and the Tramp, and even Squidgy knew who they were (and of course asked to watch the DVD again!) and they are super cute, wonderfully soft and come with collectors edition tags too... So perhaps I should keep them out of reach of my girls!

I think the best thing about the Itty Bitty range, however, is the fact that they come in so many different characters so you can pick the couple that most represents you and your partner... from Belle and the Beast to Hans Solo and Princess Leia.

Make them something special...

Especially if you have children that can help out!

For many parents like me, the ultimate sign of the love you have for each other is creating a family; so getting your children to join you in making a homemade frame with a family photo or a heart shaped hanging decoration covered in sparkle is bound to put a smile on your partner's face.

Give them time...

To themselves!

One of my favourite things is being able to chill out in a nice hot bubble bath, complete with music, candles and a face mask. The likelihood of me being able to do this more than a couple of times a year, however, is slim. Having two children, a husband, a house, a blog, a business and freelance writing to take care of means that the time I have it super limited.

If I can be given an hour or two to pamper myself without s child trying to dive into my bath or asking for something I would be happy enough... The best thing about this gift is it is free, all you need to do is let your partner know you will take care of things for a couple of hours.

With you!

There are so many ways that you can spend time together that won't cost the earth... from sitting down for a movie night together with a takeaway to popping to a local pub that offers breakfasts for under a tenner per person. The reality is it doesn't matter where you go, or what you do, it's all about being together.

Whether you make a big deal out of Valentine's Day or, like John and me prefer to just do something small because you do stuff for each other all year round; there is no need for the gifts you give to break the bank. Hopefully these budget friendly gift ideas will help you give the perfect gift this Valentine's Day!