Cheap Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

Surprise your partner with a picnic. If you live in a climate where it's bearable outside in February, you're in luck.

Pack a gourmet picnic basket for your sweetheart that involves all of his or her favorite foods.

Tuck in a bottle of wine or non-alcoholic cider, bring some nice wine glasses and a tablecloth or blanket to sit on, and your Valentine's Day is off to a great start.

If you've never once gone into the kitchen to whip up a feast, now's your big chance to impress her or him. Get out the pots and pans and find some recipes that you can cook online. It doesn't have to be expensive. Pasta and salad can be romantic when you serve it via candlelight. Or, you can have food shipped to you like lobster tails that you only have to stick in the oven. Or you can order a few prime rib steaks that you only have to grill.

Many mail order catalogs and online stores offer next day shipping so your food will arrive fast and you can cook it up on Valentine's Day. Just realize that the prices are going to be higher on and around Valentine's Day, so order in January for a late January delivery and freeze your food until you need it. Oh, and don't forget the Valentine's Day chocolate.

Make a label for a bottle of wine that she loves. It could include a marriage proposal (how cute would that be!) or a love note that tells her how special she is.

Replace the old label (paste yours with a glue stick right over it) with your label and she'll be surprised and delighted.

Another way to go, is to order her a wine gift basket. It can come with chocolates, and lots of other good items that she will love. Plus, these aren't as expensive as you'd think that they'd be.