I checked out some Valentine’s Day gift ideas from Ebates, where they’re offering double cash back rewards for any purchases you make through their site.
Still wondering what to get your beloved on Valentine’s Day?
This year I’ll be celebrating my 10th Valentine’s event with my spouse, though only the third since we were married. In the spirit of the holiday, I’ve been trying to think of an appropriate gift — something befitting of a decade of togetherness, but hopefully, not too budget unfriendly. I also tend to pick up a Valentine’s Day gift each year for one of my close single gal pals as an I’m-thinking-of-you token.
In search of ideas, I dropped by Ebates, the deals site that gives me cash back bonuses for shopping at my favorite etailers. Right now, in response to this upcoming shopping holiday, they’re offering double the cash back at some select online gift stores. For even MORE savings, you can apply online store coupons (provided by Ebates) to your purchases that are already subject to cash back.
Ebates Stores With Double Cash Back For Valentine’s Day
Here are the select stores at Ebates that offer these extra bonuses:
Flowers, Gift Baskets, Romantic Gifts
- Teleflora: Was
6% cash back, now 13% cash back for flowers - ProFlowers: Was
10% cash back, now 13% cash back for flowers - Gourmet Gift Baskets: Was
5% cash back, now 7% cash back - Crabtree and Evelyn: Was
6% cash back, now 12% cash back - Red Envelope: Was
6% cash back, now 12% cash back
Remember that you can always apply online store coupons and discount codes on top of these cash back rewards. If you want to know how Ebates functions, check out more details in our Ebates review.
Other Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas For The Flexible Budget
I also checked out other etailers at the Ebates portal, as well as other online sites for some interesting gift suggestions. Note that some of these gifts may be on the pricier side. I wouldn’t suggest committing your credit card to any of these unless you’ve got the budget to back it up. I’d use these ideas as inspiration for something more affordable; if you’re resourceful enough, you can find suitable options at these same online stores.
For Him
- In the quest for better health, my spouse, a big fan of beef, has eaten far more veggies and skinless chicken in the last year than he’d like to admit. As a little treat for the steak lovers in your life, check out the great deals offered by Omaha Steaks (Ebates: 2% cash back). For this kind of gift, you’ll have to work a little on presentation.
- Valentine’s Day falls on a Saturday this year. You can actually pick up some great discount gift certificates from Restaurant.com for at least 60% off ($10 for a $25 gift certificate) for a romantic dinner at your favorite local restaurant (here’s more on restaurant discounts). These dining coupons are pretty popular and very affordable. If you’ve got a little cash left, and don’t mind dropping off your kids with their grandparents, you can check out Priceline.com to name your own price for a room in a nice local hotel for an evening of room service… and well, whatever tickles your fancy.
- Does your fella seem a little lost in the weeks following the Super Bowl? You might want to check out StubHub for tickets to see his favorite basketball or hockey team play. If the tickets are a little bit out of reach, try NFLshop.com (Ebates: 6% cash back) to pick up a team jersey and take an extra 15% off your entire order.
For Her
What’s the perfect gift for the lady in your life?
- If you’ve got the budget for it and diamonds are something you’ve been mulling over for your significant other (there are still a few of you out there going this route, maybe?), check out Ice.com (Ebates: 4% cash back) to pick up some sparklers with her name on them. Use coupon codes as well, to save an extra 20% and score free shipping. Other places that offer pretty baubles are Stauer and Ross Simons (I get regular catalogs). Even if diamonds aren’t in the budget, chances are good that you’ll find something shiny that she’ll love.
- Most ladies I know love pretty underthings. Visit Victoria’s Secret (2% cash back) for a fantastic selection of lovely lingerie that both she AND he can appreciate. Note to the guys: If you aren’t sure of sizes, don’t even bother trying. You can get a gift card from Victoria’s Secret or a place like GiftCertificates.com and decide to pick out an item with her later.
- The spouse and I recently bought a new house. Since “romantic” seems to fall outside of his vocabulary, he (wisely) asked me what I would like for Valentine’s Day. Normally, something in the white gold or platinum families would please me, but this year I’m being practical and shooting for a different metal. Stainless steel. Yes, the way to my heart this year is through a shiny, sexy refrigerator. I bet that’s a statement that you’ll never hear again! The more practical among you may be delighted with such a gift. Along these lines, you may want to opt for quality cookware, in case your lady is fond of being the chef (but you’ll have to make sure this is truly her cup of tea).
- If, like me, you’re shopping for a single female friend, visit RedEnvelope.com (Ebates: 6% cash back) for a great selection of cute, thoughtful gifts such as a luck toggle bracelet or a pretty embellished purse mirror.
If none of these strike your fancy, here’s one more idea: you may still want to turn on your loved ones to the perfect hobby. If there’s an activity, sport, craft or hobby you know they might enjoy doing or are already spending time cultivating, then a gift that supports their habits may work out pretty well.
I haven’t yet made a decision about the perfect gift for either my spouse or my friend, but I found some pretty good gift options by simply starting my shopping at Ebates.com and other online sites.
So what are you planning for Valentine’s Day?
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
At the risk of never meeting a lady in cyberspace again (should I become single some day!) I have to admit I’ve abandoned buying jewelry and clothing for my lovely girlfriend.
It’s pretty much impossible to get something right without asking, which for me takes away the fun.
Luckily she loves practical gifts like kitchenware and similar, so she’ll still do alright on February 14th.
Haha. Right. I get the worst gifts on valentine’s day. But then again, it’s the surprise that counts.
I absolutely hate Valentine’s Day. While I can appreciate you going frugal here, I still think this is one of the most over-commercialized holidays in the U.S. I’d actually venture to say the world, but I don’t know about that. At any rate, why must we as a society spend tons of money on flowers that will be thrown away and chocolates that destroy the momentum of our new year goals, to show that we care for someone? That sort of thing should be shown daily without the expensive price tag to accompany it! I wonder if people in this country even know the story of how the holiday came to be!
I would much rather my significant other keep his money for something more productive and useful than wasting it on me for Valentine’s day. I am in the minority here, I realize that, but I just don’t understand the obsession with V-day. I guess for me, it comes down to showing your level of commitment to someone more than 1 day a year.
But, I love the post nonetheless. It has useful information, the V-day references notwithstanding.
To be Frank, I missed my url above. Got lost in the V-Day memories lol
Ed: No you didn’t miss your url. I banned it since it’s not something we can allow on this site. Thanks!
I agree with Kristy. Valentine’s Day is already over-commercialized that its meaning is already overshadowed in this day and age. For me, everyday is Valentine’s Day. I have a wife whom I love to the bone. I help her in any way I can each day. I make life easier for her in whatever way I can. Plus, I tell her that I love her everyday. We can celebrate Valentine’s and make it meaningful without spending at all.
A small token doesn’t hurt. I keep trying to tell my husband we don’t need XYZ on Valentine’s Day, but there’s a little bit of that tradition he believes that we must uphold. I’m less traditional so I don’t mind skipping the gifts on any event!
So on this day, I usually get chocolate (I’m a chocoholic, ack) or flowers from our garden: tokens or gifts that are much more toned down than when we were still dating.
Typically, Valentine’s Day is more for people who are dating — maybe singles still out to impress their beloveds, still trying to put their best feet forward. When you get married, you can then negotiate how you want to spend the day!
Although I’m sure there are really money frugal and money savvy folks who negotiate their gifting practices regardless of their marital status…
Hey, I love your ideas. I actually checked some out for my valentines day. In John Wants… I.L.! I write more about Valentine’s Day. I didn’t really get this stuff, since it’s only sometimes that John gets what John Wants.
Loved the tips and ideas!
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i hate valentine day, i never know what to buy, and she will be mad if i don’t give her something. never planned it anyway.