This post, we will discuss 10 well-thought-out, meaningful, and different gift ideas to present to your significant other this Valentine’s Day. From gift baskets to handwritten prayer books, we will uncover some uncommon ways to show appreciation to your loved one.

Let’s face it. Buying gifts for men can be stressful. We think of common gift items like tools, hats, watches, shirts, etc.

I want to give you some uncommon yet meaningful gift ideas for your significant other this Valentine’s Day.

1. D.I.Y Gift Basket or Bouquet

A gift basket is a classic Valentine’s Day gift.

To create a personalized gift basket, start by having him answer a few questions, like “What is your…?“

• Favorite Color
• Favorite Drink (Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic)
• Favorite Snack(s) (Chips, Candy, Jerky, Nuts)
• Favorite Video Game
• Favorite Sports Team
• Favorite Restaurant( For Giftcards, etc.)
• Favorite Hobby or Pass Time
• Shoe Size
• Clothing Size(s) (S, M, L, XL)
• Favorite Book

Once you have this information, it’s time to start creating! You can incorporate his favorite color throughout the basket with accessories like tissue paper, wrapping paper, or the color of the basket itself to tie the theme together.

I would suggest choosing at least five items to add to your basket or bouquet.

The good news is that most of the items can be purchased from a .99-cent store or a Dollar Tree. This way, you don’t have to “break the bank” while trying to give him a creative and thoughtful gift.

Also, you don’t have to go with a traditional wicker basket. The word “basket” can be swapped out for bin, tote, or crate.

*images below are from Target.com

2. Photo Book

I loved this idea so much that I thought I’d share it with you.

A study by Harvard Medical School, ” Love and the Brain,” proved that showing “Photos of people they romantically loved” caused the participants’ brains to become active in regions rich with dopamine, the so-called feel-good neurotransmitter. (Access the official article.)

This project will not only help you feel good by putting it together, but it will make the recipient happy just by looking at it. Let’s break down the steps.

Step One:

• Purchase a scrapbook/photo book. You can usually find a fairly good deal at Hobby Lobby; they regularly offer sales and discounts in-store and online.

Step Two:

• Print your photos from your phone or camera.

I always find the best deals on photo printing from Walgreens. Also, at the time I am writing this, they are offering a 50% off everything photo deal!

Step Three:

• Write the date on the back of the photo and one memory that stood out the most from that day/event.

Writing on the back of the photos adds a personal touch to this gift. It helps with reflection, and it shows your POV (point-of-view) from that day. This will assist with building a stronger connection with your significant other, and it will help you take a stroll down memory lane.

3. Embroidered Sweatshirt

Embroidered Sweatshirts are still “in” in 2025. However, the designs have evolved with technology and become more technical and personalized.

Now, if you’re ambitious, you could hand embroider the shirt yourself. I found a great article on how to do that from WikiHow, but to save us both some time let’s head over to Etsy.

Etsy is a top marketplace for these sweatshirts. Creators have designs for hats, shirts, tote bags, etc.

To take this gift idea to the next level, Etsy offers an option to get a photo, quote, bible verse, or pet photo stitched into the garment.

Examples:

Usually, all it takes is to connect with the seller, present your photo and additional details, and wait for it to ship. Please be advised that the production and shipping times can vary, so I would suggest making this purchase at least 2 weeks before V-Day.

4. Cook

Cooking for someone is a tale as old as time!

If you’re anything like me, then you love a good home-cooked meal. There are so many benefits like

• Knowing exactly what ingredients are in your meal
• Labor of love
• Saving Money
• Having leftovers
• Eating in the comfort of your own home

You could do this one of two ways:

• Make it a surprise and cook the meal while he isn’t there, set the table, and prepare for him to walk in and yell “Surprise!”.

or

• Plan it out to cook the meal together for bonding and intimate time together.

Meal Ideas:

• Spaghetti with Garlic Bread
• Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans
• Salmon, Mashed Potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. (Salmon topped with a honey teriyaki glaze)
• Chicken Alfredo with penne pasta and crescent rolls

(stay tuned for more meal ideas from my upcoming post on “10 Budget-Friendly Meals.)

5. Personal Coupons

This gift idea requires you to be creative and a little tech-savvy.

You can access a free platform like Canva to use premade templates and create personal “Love Coupons” to give as a gift on Valentine’s Day.

Search “Valentine’s Day Coupons” in the Canva search bar, and select a design that does not have a “crown” on it, indicating that it’s free. Edit the design’s color and text, download, and print, then you’re ready to go!

You are welcome to create your own, or you can click below to download 6 Free “Love Coupons” that I have already created for you.

6. Engraved Items

Getting a gift engraved puts the “P” in personalized.

You may be wondering, “What does it mean to get something engraved“?

The official definition of Engraving is to “cut or carve (a text or design) on the surface of a hard object.” This is usually done using a laser.

You can get watches, necklaces, rings, leather, and even silverware engraved with names, quotes, or special dates.

Engraved small items start at around $25.00, and if you search “engraving near me” it will populate the best search results for these services in your area.

7. Prayer Book

I’d like to think I’m the sole creator of this idea, but I could be wrong.

My idea of a Prayer Book consists of hand-writing prayers over specific areas of your significant other’s life. Once you’ve written the prayers and let the ink dry, you would insert the pages into a book with inserts and protective coverings, or you could fill the pages of a lined notebook.

Creating this “book” helps with several items such as

• Rooting your relationship in faith
• Showing reassurance that you “see him”
• Letting him know that you care about his concerns, goals, and dreams too.

8. Education/Development

Speaking of goals and dreams, this gift option is perfect for the book lover and education buff.

Expanding your/his education can come in many forms. Here are a few options listed below.

• Getting a Library Card: Yes, people still physically go to the library, but there are virtual apps like Libby that allow you to rent books online and read the electronic version from anywhere.

• Online Courses: As mentioned in my previous post, “ 3 Effective Ways to Generate Passive Income“, online courses offer a variety of knowledge and expertise. Several options offer paid and free courses, such as Coursera and FutureLearn.

• Purchasing Books: If you still have that list handy from the gift basket idea, then you can purchase his favorite books or get him a gift card to a bookstore like Barnes & Noble.

Also, at the time I am writing this post, Barnes & Noble is having a 50% off sale on most of their books!

9. Leave Him Alone

Ok, yes, this may sound crazy, to just “Leave Him Alone” on Valentine’s Day, but here are a few reasons why it could be a great “gift” idea.

• He may not like Valentine’s Day, and he may not want to celebrate it.
• He enjoys solitude, but he may barely get time for himself.
• He may have to work that day (the 14th), meaning you might celebrate that weekend instead, and all he may want to do is watch the 74th NBA All-Star Game, which will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

I could elaborate on this gift more, but I won’t, you get the jist.

10. In Loving Memory

If your significant other lost someone very special to them, then getting a gift that honors their memory could arguably be the most meaningful route to take.

If you’ve read the other nine options above, you already have a blueprint on how to get started, you would just need to combine this idea with the others.

The Photo Book

You can specifically use photos of him, his family, and his loved one(s). Putting together a collage of memories for him to look back on over the years.

Embroidery & Engraved Items

You could get the names, birthdates, death dates, or memorable sayings engraved/embroidered into jewelry, watches, or garments.

Prayer Book

Write specific prayers about healing and continuing in life without that special someone right by his side.

Wow! We covered a lot, so let’s recap.

We went over 10 Meaningful Valentine’s Day Gifts for Men.

• Gift Basket or Bouquet
• Photo Book
• Embroidered Sweatshirt
• Cooking
• Love Coupons
• Engraved Items
• Prayer Book
• Education
• Leaving Him Alone
• Memory of Loved One
  

Each one of these options could be created individually or combined to make one heck of a meaningful gift. I plan to combine the Photobook, Memory of a Loved One, and the Gift basket idea as well.

If you made it this far, I can’t express enough how grateful I am. Thank you for reading my post, and don’t be shy, if you decide to go with any of the gifts above, I’d love to hear how they turned out in the comments below.

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See you in the next post, where I will discuss “How to Budget with Low-Income| 5 Easy Steps.” Bye ❤