Get Sweet Deals on Classic Valentine’s Day Gifts

Find out how to save on the big three—flowers, chocolate and jewelry—so you can express your love without spending a fortune.

Happy African-American older couple holding a bright red heart-shaped box of chocolates

by NEA Member Benefits

Share

Valentine’s Day can be costly. Last year alone, the average American expected to shell out roughly $175 on the holiday, racking up a national projected spending total of $23.9 billion, according to a 2023 survey by the National Retail Federation.

Almost all who celebrate the day planned to give their significant others something special—candy, flowers, jewelry, restaurant meals, movies, clothes and of course, cards. Gifts of experience are popular, with 32% of consumers planning to give one. More than half planned to buy Valentine gifts for other family members, friends, their children's classmates and teachers, pets and even co-workers.

Showering your sweetie with flowers, chocolate and/or jewelry doesn’t have to zap your wallet, though. We found lots of beautiful, budget-friendly gifts that will express your love.

FLOWERS

For people who have little time to shop, flowers can be a great last-minute gift choice. And as an NEA member, you’ll receive cash back when you purchase from the 1800Flowers.com family of brands through the NEA Discount Marketplace. 1800Flowers.com, along with 1800Baskets.com, carries the freshest flowers and finest selection of plants, gift baskets, gourmet foods, confections and plush stuffed animals—perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Don’t assume that you have to spend a fortune to get something nice, says New York City gift expert Rachel Weingarten. She also recommends 1800Flowers.com, which has lovely traditional bouquets and charming novelty items, with options to add extras such as chocolates, balloons or teddy bears. “You can always choose a traditional heart shaped arrangement—because sappy is still cool,” Weingarten says. 

For something different, Weingarten suggests BloomsyBox, a flower delivery service that ships hand-tied arrangements containing a single type of flower (roses, orchids, hydrangeas, etc.) direct from grower farms to your sweetie.

Weingarten is a huge fan of Edible Arrangements because they combine “the beautiful and romantic aspects of flowers along with thoughtful and healthy fruits and treats.” For example, their Valentine's Day Bouquet is made of flower-shaped pineapple slices, grapes, strawberries and chocolate dipped strawberries.

To put your own stamp on it, “do something special with flowers,” suggests Lindsay Roberts, founder of TheGiftInsider.com. Gift wrap a bouquet in plain paper on which you’ve written the recipient’s name in giant letters, or give flowers in a chalkboard vase on which you’ve written a sweet message to tell your Valentine how special he or she is.

Check out these stores and more at NEA Discount Marketplace. Navigate to “Flowers & Florists” and “Food & Restaurants” to find cash back offers on Valentine's Day goodies.

CHOCOLATES

Search NEA Discount Marketplace for sweet deals on chocolates and other treats from retailers such as Godiva and Ghirardelli. You also can get cash back the entire 1800Flowers.com family of brands, including Harry & David, The Popcorn Factory, Simply Chocolate and more.

Consider Harry and David's Heritage Chocolate Assortment ($24.99) of rich, premium chocolates includes dulce de leche and dark chocolate raspberry flavors. Or give your sweetie Sweet on You Cheesecake Bites ($44.99) from 1800Flowers.com, New York style cheesecake bites covered in dark chocolate and drizzled in red chocolate or sprinkled with candy hearts.

Weingarten suggests Moonstruck Chocolate Company for reasonably priced, high-quality chocolates that make beautiful gifts. “Even a $10 or $20 chocolate gift looks special,” she says. Another chocolate source Weingarten likes is Lake Champlain Chocolates, a Vermont company that makes all natural chocolates, hot chocolate mixes ($14.00 and up) and other goodies. Their Valentines chocolate boxes collection prices start as low as $15.25 for the cute Celebration Organic Heart Box, which they describe as “the perfect Valentine’s treat.”

If you’re looking for something different, Roberts recommends KohlerChocolates.com’s chocolates. Choose a box of nine-hand milk chocolates for $25.99. Or choose a 4, 9 or 32-piece box of Dark Chocolate Hearts—heart-shaped shells of dark chocolate surround soft, raspberry ganache centers graced with subtle hints of champagne and cognac notes ($13.49 to $79.99).

JEWELRY

Select jewelry that your significant other will love wearing, advises Weingarten. Consider it an investment, regardless of the price, and choose an important piece that he or she will enjoy each time it’s worn for years to come.

“Jewelry doesn’t have to include a ‘forever’ piece to be meaningful,” Weingarten adds. For example, she says “Etsy has adorable matching rings that speak more about the moment than ever after.”

For gift ideas, click the Gifts tab at Swarovski to find a range of jewelry selections for men and women, many priced under $150.

You’ll also find a selection of classic and stylish jewelry for men, women and children at Macy’s. Many are under $200, like the diamond-accent black stainless steel men’s Caravelle New York quartz watch ($175) or the Women's Oval Face with Diamond Half Bangle Rose-Tone Strap Watch ($59.99).

When you shop these retailers and other top jewelers through NEA Discount Marketplace, you can find discounts, plus earn cash back when you shop.

Before you splurge on something big or expensive, get a second opinion, suggests Roberts. Ask his or her best friend or a close relative to look at the piece you’ve chosen and tell you if it’s something the recipient will really like.

Tips for gift recipients

If your significant other never seems to know what you like even though you drop lots of verbal hints, pin your favorites on Pinterest, then ask your loved one to browse the items you’ve pinned with you, Roberts says. Or go to the mall together so you can specifically point out what you’ve been eyeing. “That takes the guesswork out and you get what you really want,” Roberts says.

No matter what you want to buy or receive, be mindful of your budget. If money is tight, opt for an outing rather than tangible gifts. Attend a free concert in the park, visit a museum, take a leisurely drive to a part of your home state that you’ve never visited before, volunteer at a local charity or shelter, or have a Valentine’s picnic on the living room floor. Experience gifts often are the most memorable, Roberts notes. 

“It’s not the price of the Valentine gift that matters,” Weingarten says. “It’s showing how much you care.”

Find even more great deals

Through NEA Discount Marketplace, you can search for member-only deals on a variety of sweet Valentine’s Day gift ideas from retailers such as Restaurant.com, Regal Cinemas, Shari’s Berries, Macy’s and many more. 

NOTE: Information in this article is accurate as of January, 2024.

Save on gifts all year long with your NEA member benefits