Life
How many ways can you say, "I love you"? With passing birthdays and holidays, the challenge becomes increasingly difficult: How can you top last year's showing of affection? For new couples, while the options are seemingly endless, finding the ideal gift to convey how much you care without going overboard is quite the feat.
There are no guidelines or actionable steps for gift-buying for your new love; in fact, for every couple, the standards and expectations are deeply different. No love is the same, and just as your current relationship is different from the last, the way in which you choose to tell your significant other just how much you care this Valentine's Day will be unique in its own way.
If you're stuck between funny cards or assorted chocolates, expensive flowers or a romantic dinner at a nice restaurant, why not take it to a new level? Make your first Valentine's Day with your new love one to remember, not for the standard of gift-giving, but for the unsuspecting surprise of exchanging affection in a way you've never done before.
Screw the teddy bear holding a box of chocolates, and opt, instead, for one of these 17 Valentine's Day gift ideas for new couples.
Trendy Group Fitness Class To Work Up Those Pheromones
Beginner Boxing Class, $20, Prevail Boxing
Turn up the sexy by getting your sweat on together. If you're both fitness lovers, or one of you has been wanting to take a class at that boxing studio in town, make it special by taking the class together. Most studios offer package deals, so you could buy a number of sessions and plan on going more than once! The couple that sweats together stays together.
Baked Goods As A Showing Of Sweetness
Cookie Shots with Milk, $32.50, Dominique Ansel Bakery
No one can resist a chocolate affair on Valentine's Day, aka the national holiday of chocolate. Make it a little bit more personal and buy your S.O.'s favorite treat, whether it's a Nutella donut or classic chocolate chip cookie. If there's a popular bakery in your area, splurge on some of their most famous items and put together a tiny feast. Share the experience of indulging in your sweet tooth together.
Books That Spell Out How You Feel
"The Love Poems of Rumi" by Deepak Chopra, $13, Penguin Random House
When you can't find the words, there's likely a poet who's already written them. Make a trip to your local bookstore and sift through their selection of poetry, settling for the book that best reflects you and your new love's relationship. This is a subtle way of telling your S.O. how you feel without jumping the gun to 1-4-3.
Personalized Candles That Smell Like New Beginnings
Personalized Photo Candles, $15-$33, Yankee Candle
This is a fun, thoughtful project that shows you value your time spent with your partner. Imagine nights in spent burning this candle, a scent of your choosing, that you'll remember for years to come. The personal touch of your best photo together and a short message make this one a no-brainer.
Cocktail Kit To Stir Up Liquid Courage
13-Piece Ultimate Bar Cocktail Kit, $24.99, Webstaurant Store
Maybe you and your partner met over cocktails, shared your first date over cocktails, or just enjoy sharing a cocktail in general. A cocktail kit is a fun addition to any night together, in which you can curate a mixed drink with your booze of choice and cheers to you. Get creative and write your own recipe for a signature cocktail that combines both of your tastes.
Monthly Subscription Box To Elude To Your Commitment
Limited-Edition Chocolate Graze Box, $11.99, Graze
While there are a number of subscription boxes on the market, offering carefully-selected male- and female-specific products, foods, clothing, fitness gear, and more, this limited-edition Valentine's Day box from Graze is cost-effective and gets the job done without the indecision.
This particular box includes eight milk, dark, and white chocolate snacks that are nutritionist-approved, and packaged with a personalized gift message. Forget the Ferrero Rocher, go Graze.
New Signature Scents To Trigger Memories
Custom Perfume, from $79.90, Unique Fragrance
Like the personalized candle, a signature scent is a unique approach to buying your partner that new perfume or cologne they've been eyeing. Combine your S.O.'s favorite scents with those you love for a unique, custom fragrance. Since smells trigger memories and emotions, this will be one you'll never forget.
Tickets To Be Entertained By Something Other Than One Another
2-For-1 Tickets, price varies, Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is currently offering a limited time two-for-one package deal, in which you save 50 percent when purchasing two event tickets. From concerts to shows and everything in between, the options for Valentine's Day entertainment are virtually endless. Hurry up and act now because the offer ends on the day of love.
Simple Spa Services To Keep You Feeling Sexy
Massage, price varies, Bliss Spa
Since most people enjoy being pampered, any spa service or package is a home run when it comes to gift-giving. No matter your partner's personality type, he or she would be over the moon with a massage, facial, or any other spa service offered at your local oasis. Research offers for potential package deals in which you can join each other for a romantic night at the spa.
Pre-Paid Monthly Pampering To Relieve The Routine Costs
Haircuts, manicures, pedicures, eyelashes, eyebrows, facials — the list of monthly maintenance duties goes on and on. Look ahead and do your S.O. a favor by taking care of his or her next three appointments with gratuity included. It's nice to not have to worry about hitting up the ATM or pulling money where you don't have it in order to feel like your best self.
Romantic Notes To Celebrate Love Every Day, Not Just Valentine's Day
12 Blank Card and Envelope Kit, $12.95, Amazon
For the cost of pen, paper, and the potential addition of some other creative tools, you can put together a stack of sweet reminders and affirmations from you to your partner. Scatter them around the apartment for surprise reminders, or deliver them all at once, perfectly packaged in a box. Either way, this is a thoughtful, heartfelt approach to cost-effective gift-giving.
Recreate Your First Date
Rewind the story of your relationship and take it back to that first night you spent together. From what you wore, to what you ordered at dinner, how you got there, and every other minor detail, recreate the evening and relive the spark you first felt for one another. Rather than trying out a new, trendy restaurant, give a traditional approach to Valentine's Day a little bit more meaning.
Spend The Day Sharing Love With Homeless Pets That Need It Most
When you find a way to show how much you care without spending a dime, you know you've done it right. Agree not to spend any money on one another this Valentine's Day in favor of spreading the wealth of love to homeless pets that could use a little TLC. Take a trip to your local rescue and spend hours canoodling what could soon be an addition in your home.
Customizable Map To Reflect On Everywhere You've Been And Want To Go
Signature Map of the World 50x32, $5.32, Amazon
Invest in your standard map, and using a marker or pushpins, pinpoint all of the places you've been together and all the places you'd like to see with one another. Even if you haven't traveled outside of your city, buy a detailed map of your local area and get even more specific. Better yet, make it an activity you can do together.
Homemade Mixtape To Listen To Your Best Memories On Demand
Blank Audio Cassette Tape 8-Pack, $10.98, Amazon
Take the old-school approach and burn a mixtape for your new S.O. Include all the tracks you've listened to together, the ones you've danced to, and the ones that remind you of each other. This light-hearted, unique gift shows more effort and care than heading to your favorite music streaming platform to create a playlist that can be heard by anyone.
Prepaid Public Transportation Tickets To See Each Other More Often
3-Day Pass, $24, Citi Bike
Whatever the transportation system in your city — Citi Bike, the Subway, the Metro — buy a prepaid card or ticket that covers the cost of several trips or ride time for your S.O. It's a practical gift that cuts costs to see each other, and alleviates the added stress of spending money frivolously. Not to mention, when you're not traveling to see one another, you can use the tickets to hitch a ride to somewhere new.
Hot-Off-The-Press Coffee And Espresso Machine For The Morning After
Keurig Rivo R500 Cappuccino and Latte Brewing System, $99.99, Bed Bath and Beyond
If you're sleeping over at your partner's place more often, breakfast out and coffee on-the-go is likely racking up and hitting you in the pockets. Invest in a quality coffee and espresso machine you and your S.O. can share, while also dropping the hint that you like staying at his or her place more than yours. There's nothing like waking up to the smell of coffee in the morning.
Valentine's Day doesn't have to be a deluge of candy hearts and headaches, or feel like a chore to show your new love how much you care. Take the time to sit down and think about what the two of you most enjoy, what your individual passions are, and how you could make your time spent together that much better. If you stay true to you and your relationship, you can't go wrong.
