Valentine’s Day is a time when many guys try to impress their girlfriends and wives with gifts. That doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to do so. There are plenty of inexpensive gifts that are sure to please the special lady in your life without hurting your wallet. Sometimes it just comes down to being creative and knowing how to save on popular gift items. Here are a few you might want to consider.

Cards
For some women, just knowing that their man remembered them on Valentine’s Day is enough. If you don’t have the money to buy a dozen roses or fancy jewelry, opt for a nice card instead. Cards are extremely affordable and if you aren’t good with words, you can find one with a message that expresses your feelings.

Candy
You don’t have to buy the most expensive chocolates on the shelf to show your girl that you care. Look for smaller, less expensive boxes of high quality candy or visit a local candy shop and choose a few pieces of gourmet candy. You can also look for larger, gourmet treats that are sure to please any woman, such as chocolate or caramel covered apples, chocolate dipped pretzel sticks, pralines or chocolate dipped cookies.

Wine
Hoping to start or end Valentine’s Day with a fancy bottle of wine? You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to find good quality wine, there are plenty of small wineries that produce great tasting wine at a fraction of the cost of top brands. If you can’t find a winery close by, order a bottle online. Most wineries are happy to tell you about their top sellers and if you are lucky enough to live near one, consider taking a tour and sampling the wine with your date.

Dinner
Many women expect a man to treat them to dinner, but that doesn’t mean you have to take her to the fanciest and priciest restaurant in town. Why not make her a home cooked meal instead? She will be impressed by the fact that you took the time to make the food yourself and it might even taste better than a similar meal from a restaurant.

Valentine’s Day isn’t about how much money you spend, in spite of popular beliefs. As long as you make an effort to do something nice or make your girlfriend or wife feel special, you are doing it right.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.