Budget Friendly Valentines Day Gifts

Most people are still trying to recover from overspending during the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately Valentines Day is right around the corner! According to the National Retail Federation the average consumer will spend over $100 on Valentine’s Day gifts this year. Consumer trends aside, this is an important holiday so we’ve identified some gifts ideas that will please your loved ones as well as your wallet!

This Valentines Day stop and smell the roses but avoid floral arrangements from the corner store or supermarket. Instead opt for an exotic flower from the botanical gardens near you. In fact for an exciting pre Valentines Day outing check out the Lunar New Years Celebration and Flower Market on February 10, 2007 at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (http://www.bbg.org). We love this event because it has everything: fresh exotic flowers, cuisine from the Far East as well as lively musical and dance performances. Admission into the BBG is $5.00 per person while the fresh flowers and food are available for an additional nominal cost. The Lunar New Years Celebration and Flower Market at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is a budget friendly and fun-filled pre-Valentines Day outing!

Candy is always a good idea especially if you recently started dating and want to impress your partner. This year avoid generic heart shaped candy and chocolate gift box sets available at discount retailers! Instead go for luxury and sophistication. Come on. Try a sweet treat from Vosges Haut-Chocolat, the brain child of Katrina Markoff. Markoff is a classically trained confectionary artist and graduate of Le Cordon Bleu a fine culinary institution in Paris. Markoff creates delicious treats infused with exotic spices and ingredients from around the world. There are several delicious Valentines Day gift box sets. We suggest the Gatsby Truffle Collection, which is available in two sizes and ranges in price from $27.00 to $41.00. This collection is a combination of white and dark chocolate truffles each topped with rose petals! Vosges Haut-Chocolat can be purchased at boutique stores, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman or online. Vosges Haut-Chocolat is a great elegant alternative to generic Valentines Day candy!

Clearly, if you’ve been dating awhile you need to come up with something unique. Not to worry this can be done on a budget as well! Check out the arts and leisure section in your local newspaper. This section is filled with interesting events. Fortunately for us, Manhattan is known for its arts and culture scene. We suggest the sexy and sultry Flamenco Festival. There are several interesting events to choose from and ticket prices are within the $30.00 to $70.00 range. Prior to selected performances, ticket holders can participate in complimentary flamenco dance classes taught by a flamenco master!

Finally if you’d done the flowers and candy year after year or can’t dance, keep it simple and treat your partner to a special dinner. We suggest dining in style! Try L'ECOLE, the restaurant at the French Culinary Institute of New York City! L’ECOLE has received rave reviews in several major gourmet magazines. Patrons are treated to fine cuisine prepared by FCI students. Each course is pleasing to the pallet and presented artfully. Two patrons can enjoy a five course meal at L’ECOLE for under $100! Dining at L’ECOLE is a great way to impress your significant other and remain within a tight budget. But be forewarned, reservations are required and seating tends to go fast.

Ultimately, Valentines Day is about showing your partner the extent of your appreciation! So be creative. You don’t have to break the bank to communicate how much you care this Valentines Day! A simple “I love you always” does the trick as well.