The Great 'Cheap but Romantic Gifts' Hunt

isualive

My DH purchased a personalised message in a bottle online which was really romantic. It came with sand and shells in a lovely box. The website is ( https://www.violetandblue.co.uk ) I loved it and I gave him a personalised message inside a metal arrow. This was also online and really cheap.

There are also many free ways to be romantic.

Candles in the bedroom

A romantic message written on the bed in rose petals.
etc, my DH loved it.

A romantic message written in permanent ink on hubbys CLEAN hankie also went down well.

This year I've got him a Jim'll fix it badge, just to let him know jim'll fixed it for me the day we met. Awww bless.:rotfl:

MSE_Martin wrote:

Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but i thought it was time to help out all those looking to get gifts for loved ones, but are a little short of cash. Let's make people smile.

Click reply to add you suggestions

greyster

Get some photos developed and sent to your free of charge using the right trial/code on the MSE forums. Pick a nice picture out and buy a frame to go with it.

I noticed some of these developers do calendars, again look out for a good deal and perhaps order a custom calendar (select a pic of yours for each month).

Cheap and unique.

Don't get a picture of you and your love one on a mug, thats just cheesey.

panlane

I'm surprised no one has mentioned cards. Perhaps its just so obvious that it defies comment. I've found that a careful and inventive card is far better than most presents. Make one that's got multiple pages and tells a story. The story can even finish with a present if it's small enough to fit on the final page, e.g. jewellry.

For example, I made a card for my girlfriend that led up through six or so pages to the final one with the old chestnut of "giving her my heart". On the page there was a cutout of a heart (the romantic rather than gruesome kind) and written on it was "Please take me". Upon picking the heart off the card (fixed by velcro from Wilkos) it released a silver necklace concealed beneath. The card counts as a present in itself. Have a play with it if you're artistically-inclined because they leave those expensive store-bought ones in the cold. I recommend using heavy-grade watercolour paper and sometimes giving a card as a complete surprise on no particular date.

Other very cheap ideas are of course the single rose, often best left where it will be found rather than presented. Notes hidden in sock drawers or shoes or bags. You can even do the clever thing of writing them a letter or just a single line note and mailing it to them. This is especially effective if you see them all the time or live with them.

Here's a bizarre one I tried once. Make a cartoon. The graphic software, e.g. Flash, is free on the net these days and pretty intuitive. It takes some effort and time but you'll probably be one of the few boyfriends in history to do it. A simpler idea that I haven't done but I now might would be to make a flipbook cartoon, e.g. the two of you running from opposite ends of the page and then embracing. Just sketch stickmen on the pages and as you flick them they'll appear to move.

I've long subscribed to the philosophy that lots of small presents in a nicely decorated box or tin work better (and are less hit and miss) than one big present. A bit of perfume, some bath bombs, a scarf, a home-made CD, a framed photo or drawn portrait, all can be included for less than £20.

Cheerio, Phil.

panlane

Here's another idea I just had that I might try. Ikea sell tealight lamps (basically a wooden box frame with four glass sides) for less than a tenner - or at least they did some years ago. You could easily make your own though for the purpose in mind. Now place coloured film on the glass with messages scrawled on or cut out or alternately they could be written directly onto the glass. Then when the candle is lit they'll project things like "X loves Y" onto the four walls of the room. No idea if it would work but if it did it would certainly make a room unique to the relationship. Fun to get them to close their eyes and then open them to such a scene. Might even be a fun way to propose.

alison6692

stec00 wrote:

Any of the ladies out there have any suggestions for type of perfume to buy? Girlfriend wants some apparently but I'm completely clueless about what to get...

Hiya classic fragrances

The new Sarah Jessica Parker

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_list_new_template.jsp?classificationid=1038234


Estee Lauder Pleaseures

http://www.boots.com/brandrooms/lauder.jsp?&wblinktype=DD&n-state=http://www.esteelauder.co.uk/products/fragrance/index.tmpl~~shopping-cart-location!www.boots.com~G!0A357FC85AA6!D/pqkwKFiWle8w%3d%3d


But I am sure the best thing you can do is pick her a fragrance that you have spent ages smelling and choosing x

love alison x

alison6692

Ponder wrote:

for valentines i got my gf a few pressies but the main thing i did was make a four poster bed. (poo'd my pants though as after i got the stuff she saw one in a mag and said she hated them) still it all turned out brilliant in the end and was 'super cheap'.
what i used--

-carpet tubing (need a big car) cost

FREE

-bits of wood, couple of pounds

£1-3

-material. this was the expensive thing but if you shop round you can save loads. As it only dangling from the top if you measure the out side of the bed that approx how much you need (approx 6m length for a king size)

UP TO YOU

i used a pale blue see through stuff (bloke discription ' it was like gauze/mozzie net' ;D) Shes kept the material to reuse SO 2 FOR THE PRICE OF 1

It took a couple of hours to make (tubing for the posts, wood for across the top for stability and the material to go round the top) but the look on her face was so worth it. ;D
As a bonus it stayed up for about two months (only took it down as family was coming round).

(to much blue peter when i was younger ::))

Wow weee what a fab idea! Good Work - ha ha x

alison6692

I had a lovely Christmas a few years ago when my husband (this is before we were married) made me box full of lovely thoughtful gifts. They weren't anything too fancy - Bath Bombs from Lush. Girlies socks, a heart shaped hand warmer, some perfume, etc and a thong saying "its your lucky night" (Hmmm ????, can't win 'em all)

But the point was I know he spent hours collecting all the stuff. Buying the great box and that was just lovely.

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Ideas for you ......


A £99 eternity ring - I have used this site was very -pleased with it.

http://www.greatvaluediamonds.co.uk/products.asp?id=534
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A piece of jewellery made with your other halfs birthstone.

Like this - garnet

http://www.asimi.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=19

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Go to a paint your own pottery place and paint him or her a bit of pottery! awww.


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Make breakfast on bed on xmas day with sparkling wine, croissants, fancy jam, etc and serve it on the personalised photo tray (these are fab quality - I have seen them in real life and they are fab)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glass-Sealed-Serving-Photos-Natural/dp/B000FHR8ZI/sr=8-2/qid=1163660844/ref=sr_1_2/202-4836709-2091037?ie=UTF8&s=kitchen

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Not very MSE but lovely all the same - a personalised make up bag

http://www.bagsoflove.co.uk/bags/photo-bags.aspx

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A silver heart locket - put a picture of you and or the kids in it and I am sure she will be pleased.

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Find some old prints or postcards of where your other half lived when they were younger and get them framed - lovely idea I reckon!

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Trace their family tree - I did this for my Dad and he was well chuffed.

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Love alison x

mdcoach

If your considering a customised gift using photographs, I am this Xmas, try https://www.pixum.com. They have offers and discounts all the time - once you use them they send you emails with offers. I have already used them to print large photos and I did check, they were the cheapest...that was before any discounted offers.
I really like the idea, a totally personal gift, thoughtful, perfect presentation instead of the way if would look if I tried to do it - all I have to do is pick the photos and email. Prices are really good.

meerustar

This is one thread I will be printing out and leave lying around ... next to the remote

pooranddesperate

might be considered slightly cheesy but on my boyfriend's 29th birthday got a box of cadbury's heros.. on the top of the box i put a label saying "29 reasons you're my hero" and then unwrapped 29 of the chocolates and rewrapped them with a piece of paper with a reason included in each one..