Cheap Romantic Gift Ideas That Still Look Expensive

When your love is bigger than your budget, several cheap romantic gift ideas can have a big impact but won't cost much. While diamond jewelry, expensive perfume and luxury items are a powerful way to express your love, often the most simple and thoughtful Valentine's Day ideas mean so much more.

Star Light, Star Bright: Get your true love a star. Many companies allow you to "purchase" a star of your choice. They'll include the coordinates of the star, a photo and an official certificate. They even allow you to name the star and attach a special wish to it. While the scientific community doesn't recognize the sale or naming of the star, it's the ultimate romantic notion, especially if you include a poem that expresses how your love is as constant and eternal as the stars.

Hand-Dipped Strawberries: Chocolate-covered strawberries are the ultimate romantic food, but they can be expensive. Do it yourself, and magnify the romance. Purchase the freshest strawberries and some melting chocolate (dark, milk and white). Follow the easy dipping directions, and nestle the delicious morsels in a fancy candy box. If you include a note that hints about feeding them to each other, suddenly this handmade gift becomes even more romantic.

Evening Picnic: You'll want to scout out a proper location several nights ahead of the romantic day, so check out parks, botanical gardens and university campuses for lovely evening locations. If you can find a spot looking out at the sunset, that's even better. Pack a light meal of cheese, crackers, fruit, sweet rolls and a bubbly drink. Don't forget a few blankets, a stargazer's guide and a flashlight.

Personalized Pillow or Pillowcase: Make a soft fleece pillow for pennies a yard. There are even no-sew pillows with knots instead of stitches. Choose fun, flirty or funky fabric and either a heart, star, round or square pillow form. Then stuff it with fiberfill. If you want to make a pillowcase or decorate an existing one, consider adding lace, ribbon or other embellishment at the edge, but don't put anything hard or uncomfortable where the head goes. You can even cross-stitch a special message on the corner or add an iron-on message in swirly lettering. Either way, your sweetie will have good dreams whenever he uses it.