Unique and creative Valentines Presents

There's a lot to be said for Valentine's Day, but one of the few things that many people think is that it's very expensive to find a perfect present for their partner. While it's important to find something that says ‘I love you' effectively, it's equally important to find something that's within budget and isn't too expensive, as budgets are tight for most people at the moment. And love shouldn't be about the price tag.

Find the perfect present

Finding the perfect present takes quite a bit of thought – there are a lucky few who have a partner with a job or hobby that are easy to buy for but for most of us Valentine's presents take a lot of thought – especially if your partner has almost everything he or she already wants. Some great fall back options are computer games or other consumer products that they've expressed an interest in but haven't bought yet (though be careful that they haven't already bought it and it's not already on its way!). This is a solid way to show that you've been paying attention to them without needing to ask them if there's anything they want, and allows you to pick a Valentine's present that will surprise them.

Another option of course is to pick something that they consider a treat –whether this is a nice meal out or a night without the kids, arrange something to show you care. New mothers often love the time to even go for a hot bath without the children chasing them, so an evening of freedom complete with babysitter and food would probably be a perfect valentines present. New dads often appreciate acknowledgement too, so arranging something nice for them can go down well. As children get older they may join you for valentine's meals, to save money so if you can organise the babysitter (with your partner's knowledge) even if the rest of it is a surprise, that will make for a wonderful evening.

Cards and other items

One of the major complaints that people have about Valentine's Day is the dizzying array of cards – whether the person in question is buying or receiving them is how many different sizes and costs of cards there are. Again, sometimes less is more – though your primary concern should always be what the person in question would like – don't get an overly soppy card for a person that might like something more elegant for example – and try to match it to the gift wherever possible. Chocolates too can be confusing – but a good rule of thumb is to pay attention to where they like to get their favourites from and grab a box of them for them. Thornton's and other bespoke chocolate brands are usually hard to go wrong with.

When picking jewellery for a valentine, the most important thing to consider is whether and when they'll wear it. Most valentines gift sets are designed to be understated but pretty, so consider what set would suit the style of your beloved the best. These valentines's presents are often easiest to keep secret because you can buy them in most cases without needing to know what size required. A good tip for buying a ring or sized piece is to take a similar one that you know fits with you to compare and ask for the size. Be aware too though, that resizing can take up to a week, so you may need to order in advance.