You know what they say: “A friend who never lets you down is the best kind of friend.” Friends are always there when you need them, but they also make life more fun. Whether it’s a shoulder to cry on or someone to share your deepest secrets with, friends are great.
The problem is that sometimes it can be hard to show just how much we appreciate our friends especially when we don’t want to make them feel uncomfortable or force them into a situation where they have no choice but to accept our token of appreciation (or return the favor).
If you’re looking for a creative way to let your special pal know how much you care about them this Valentine’s Day (and every day), here are some ideas that will show your appreciation for their friendship in a way that won’t make either of you blush at all!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to show your friends how much you appreciate them. |
| There are many affordable gift ideas that will be just as meaningful as more expensive options. |
| Celebrating Valentine’s Day with your friends can be just as fun as celebrating with a romantic partner. |
| Personalizing your Valentine’s Day gift can add a special touch and show your thoughtfulness. |
| No matter what your budget is, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your friends. |
A Personalized, Handmade Card
A personalized, handmade card is a great way to let someone know you appreciate them. There are so many different ways that you could make a card for your friend that says “I am special!” and “You mean the world to me!”
- Include your friend’s favorite photo on the front of the card. You could use a selfie or something else they love, like their dog or cat!
- Make sure there is room inside for a handwritten message. Don’t forget to write it on both sides so they can read it when they open it up!
- Write their name in big letters on top so even someone who doesn’t know where their eyes should be looking will still see how much you care about them (even if it’s not just platonic).
Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for him? Look no further! Our guide on Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Him has got you covered with unique and thoughtful gift ideas that will show him how much you care.
Your Favorite Funny Gift
Sometimes a funny gift is the best kind of all. Whether you want to send a card or give someone a gift basket filled with goodies, these are great options for showing appreciation for the person who has made your life more fun and entertaining.
You may even find that the more humorous your gift choice, the more appreciated it will be! A funny card from The Greeting Card Factory is guaranteed to make any recipient smile, because it’s personalized just for them.
You can also go beyond the standard greeting cards and do something unexpected by sending thoughtful gifts like Candy Snack Bags or Mustache Party Straws so they know how much fun you’ve had together over the years. Your friends will love getting this unique surprise in their mailbox!
Hilarious Gift Ideas for Your Funny Friend
| Gift Idea | Description |
|---|---|
| Prank Pack Nap Sack | A fake gift box that looks like a product for taking naps in public. Perfect for the friend who loves to sleep on the go. |
| Game of Thrones Toilet Decal Set | Add some laughs to your friend’s bathroom with themed toilet decals inspired by the hit TV show. |
| Punderdome Card Game | A party game that challenges players to come up with the best puns. Perfect for the friend who loves dad jokes. |
| Knock Knock WTF Nifty Notes | Quirky sticky notes that feature clever prompts for expressing frustration in a humorous way. Great for the friend who needs to vent. |
| Big Mouth Toilet Mug | A coffee mug that looks like a toilet. Hilarious and practical, it’s sure to start conversations at the office. |
| The Office: Dundie Award Replica Trophy | A replica of the iconic trophy from the hit TV show The Office. Perfect for the friend who loves the show and deserves an award. |
| Bob Ross Happy Little Accidents Heat-Changing Mug | A heat-changing mug that reveals a happy accident painting when hot liquid is added, inspired by the famous painter. |
| Goopery Nostril-shaped Glasses Holder | A funny glasses holder that looks like a nose to keep glasses safe and in place. Perfect for the friend with a silly sense of humor. |
| Fred & Friends High Five Cake Topper with Candles | A cake topper that looks like a giant hand giving a high five, complete with candles. Ideal for birthdays and celebrations. |
| BigMouth Inc. Inflatable Pizza Slice Pool Float | A large inflatable pool float that looks like a delicious slice of pizza. Perfect for the friend who loves to lounge in the pool. |
| Schylling Rubber Chicken Handbag | A handbag that looks like a giant rubber chicken, sure to turn heads and spark laughter. |
| Knock Knock Why You’re My Bestie Fill in the Love Journal | A fill-in-the-blank journal that let’s you express appreciation for your bestie with humor and wit. |
| Fred & Friends Bear Hands Oven Mitts | Oven mitts that look like bear paws, sure to add some fun to cooking and baking. |
| Beistle Inflatable Banana Costume for Halloween or Parties | An inflatable banana costume that’s perfect for Halloween or costume parties. Ridiculous and hilarious. |
| Funwares Tricera-Taco Ultimate Taco Holder in Dinosaur Shape | A taco holder shaped like a Triceratops dinosaur, sure to make taco night even more fun! |
An Unexpected Foodie Treat
A foodie gift is a fantastic way to show appreciation. It’s something they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves and it feels more personal than a gift card or generic goody bag.
The key is finding something that is a little out of the ordinary, but still cost-effective.
Here are some ideas:
- A subscription to an unusual food magazine like Wallpaper* Magazine (they have an excellent cookbook) or Lucky Peach.
- A fancy coffee grinder (this one has great reviews) so you can serve up fresh beans at home together!
- A steel cutting board with rubber feet so it doesn’t skid around on your countertop while you chop and dice away!
Show her your love this Valentine’s Day with a heartfelt and meaningful gift. Check out our guide on Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Her for inspiration on how to express your love in a special way.
A Fancy Candle
While some people may prefer the idea of receiving a gift that has personal meaning and significance, for others it’s the thought behind the gift that matters most.
If you find yourself in this group, here are some ideas for Valentine’s Day gifts for friends:
A fancy candle. Candles make great gifts because they can be personalized to fit your friend’s taste or personality, and they’re something that most people won’t buy themselves but still use regularly when they’re around.
You can stop at any store (Target is probably my favorite) and pick up an inexpensive set of candles with different scents or colors. Or if you have extra money to spend on your friend (or if she’s really into candles), check out places like Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters they’ll have fancier selections available with names like “Eucalyptus” instead of just “Clean Cotton”!
They also tend not to cost too much more than drugstore brand options that might not be as good quality!
A book from their favorite author/series/genre! If there’s one thing I know about my friends, it’s what kind of books they enjoy reading more than anything else: romance novels!
And since Valentine’s Day falls during February National Romance Book Month there is no better time than now to give them something related directly towards their interests by gifting them either one specific title from this genre (such as The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks) or even better yet…a whole series!
Luxurious Candle Brands for a Cozy Night In
| Candle Brand | Description |
|---|---|
| Diptyque | A luxury candle brand with elegant scents and sleek design. |
| Jo Malone | A high-end brand with a variety of unique and sophisticated scents. |
| Boy Smells | A popular unisex candle brand with modern and complex scents. |
| Voluspa | A luxury candle brand with a wide range of exotic and unique scents. |
| Yankee Candle | A well-known brand with classic and comforting scents for every occasion. |
| Byredo | A luxury brand that combines unusual scents with minimalist design. |
| NEST Fragrances | A luxury brand with candles inspired by exotic locations and nature. |
| Jo Loves | A premium brand founded by Jo Malone with an assortment of unique fragrances. |
| Fornasetti Profumi | A luxury home fragrance brand known for its artistic ceramic jars and elegant scents. |
| Cire Trudon | One of the oldest candle makers in the world, offering exquisite and unique scents. |
A Custom Sweatshirt, Mug Or Pajama Set
If you want to give a gift that shows true appreciation for someone’s individuality, consider purchasing something custom. You can make custom items with your own photographs or artwork, which makes it more meaningful than buying a generic sweatshirt, mug or pajama set from the store.
Purchase adorable t-shirts from Etsy and have them made in different colors so each friend can choose their favorite color.
Create a photo book that contains photos of your friendship over the years and give it as a gift!
Long-distance relationships can be tough, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day with your far-away lover. Our guide on Long-Distance Love Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas has ideas for thoughtful gifts that will make your loved one feel close to you, even from far away.
Photos Of You Together In A Frame
If you’re looking for a gift that will show your friend how much they mean to you, but also save a little cash in the process, consider framing some photos of the two of you.
A nice photo frame can be found at any department store and can be decorated with any number of things. You could use ribbons or Christmas lights (this is an especially good option if your friend is into that sort of thing).
The first thing to remember when preparing photos for a frame is quality: make sure the pictures are good quality so nothing looks pixelated or blurry when printed out on high-end paper. If possible, have someone else take photos for you especially if they have more experience with photography than yourself!
Framing stores will often have special deals on bulk orders so stock up when buying materials from them; this way all those extra frames won’t go to waste later down the road when friendships change over time due to outside factors like moving away or graduating college.”
Top Brands for Personalized Picture Frames
| Brand | Description |
|---|---|
| Shutterfly | A leading provider of personalized gifts, including photo frames and albums. |
| Personalization Mall | A go-to destination for customizable picture frames with unique designs. |
| Minted | A design marketplace with a wide selection of personalized picture frames. |
| Artifact Uprising | A premium brand focused on high-quality materials and minimalistic design. |
| Framebridge | A custom framing service that lets you upload a photo to create a framed masterpiece. |
| Things Remembered | A timeless brand with a wide selection of personalized gifts, including picture frames. |
| Cathy’s Concepts | A brand with a variety of unique and personalized home decor items, including frames. |
| Pottery Barn | A well-known brand with stylish and elegant picture frames in a variety of sizes. |
| Paper Source | A brand with a vibrant and fun collection of picture frames, perfect for any occasion. |
| Kate Spade | A premium brand with sophisticated and chic designs for picture frames and home decor. |
Tickets To Your Favorite Movie Or Show
If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift that shows how much you care about your friend and their interests, consider buying them tickets to their favorite movie or show.
Your friend will appreciate the gesture of your thoughtfulness and be able to enjoy an experience with someone they love going forward.
Other ideas include:
- A gift card for a sporting event (e.g., baseball game)
- A gift card for a concert (e.g., The Rolling Stones)
- A gift card for theater tickets (to see Hamilton)
- A gift card for comedy club tickets
Are you and your significant other tech-savvy? We’ve got the perfect Valentine’s Day gift ideas for you! Check out our guide on Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Tech-Savvy Couples for the latest tech gadgets and devices that will add some excitement to your romance.
A Gift Card To Their Favorite Place, In A Cute Cardholder
Gift cards are a great way to show your appreciation for a friend’s company. But there are a few things you need to do in order for them to be received well.
First, make sure the gift card is from their favorite store or restaurant that way, it’ll be something they’ll actually use and not just toss in the back of their closet because it was “the thought that counted”.
If you’re not sure what this might be, ask them what places they like going to most often and look up gift cards for those places online.
Then all you have to do is print out these gift cards on nice paper or card stock and slip one inside an adorable card holder (I recommend this one!).
You could also get creative by using old books as storage containers; just cut out one of the pages so that it fits snugly into the spine… then fill in whatever words fit best with your sentiment!
A Thoughtful Book They’ll Love And Cherish Forever
A thoughtful book is the perfect gift for a friend. But be careful: you want to choose something that’s not only meaningful to you, but also meaningful to them.
You may have some ideas about what kinds of books your friend would enjoy and even if they haven’t read any of them, it might be possible to make an educated guess based on their interests and values.
Maybe they like reading historical fiction set during WWII; maybe they really enjoy memoirs written by authors who grew up in rural Louisiana; maybe they are obsessed with the TV show The Great British Baking Show and would love some cake recipes written by one of its contestants.
These are all fairly specific examples, but this principle can apply to just about anything: poetry collections, children’s stories (especially picture books), graphic novels or comic books—you get the idea!
Be sure your selection includes a certain level of quality and thoughtfulness something that celebrates friendship in some way–and let Amazon do most of the work!
Want to add a personal touch to your Valentine’s Day gift for your friend or loved one? Check out our Personalized DIY Gifts for a Special Touch guide for creative and meaningful DIY gift ideas that will show them how much you care.
A Fun Activity You Can Do Together
The best way to show someone you care is by engaging in fun activities together. You can do this with anyone, but it’s especially appropriate when it comes to platonic relationships. Here are some ideas:
Go to a museum! This can be anything from art museums that are dedicated exclusively to one type of art, like museums that focus on modern art or contemporary sculpture, all the way down to zoos and aquariums.
The biggest takeaway here should be that there are tons of options for your date night without having to pay too much money. If you want something more specific than just “going out,” then make sure you know what kind of museum your friend likes before choosing something.
Go see a concert! Whether this means going all-out with some big name headliner performance at Madison Square Garden or catching up with your favorite local bands at some hole-in-the wall venue downtown; if music is important enough for them then they’ll definitely appreciate getting tickets as part of their Valentine’s Day gift from you! Just make sure not everyone else gets tickets too (unless everyone wants them).
Go try out some new food together! Some people like dining out because they can try new foods without spending too much money doing so; others prefer making their own meals where they’re able either cook themselves or even order takeout instead depending on how busy things get during their busy weekdays/weekends/holidays etc… Either way though don’t forget about dessert afterwards: ice cream cones work great here!
An Experiential Gift (One That’s All About Trying Something New)
An experiential gift is one that brings you and your BFF together to try something new. It could be a concert, a play, or even a restaurant you’ve never been to before.
Maybe it’s something you’re both interested in doing but haven’t gotten around to yet. The point is that this gift is all about building memories together and having fun!
Experiential gifts can also be great for people who have known each other for years—or even decades!
If the two of you have grown up together, maybe there’s something from your past that would be fun now: a favorite food place (that hasn’t closed down), an old arcade game at an arcade bar, etc.
Conclusion
These are just a few ideas of how to show your friends and family that you care, without breaking the bank.
It’s all about making those close relationships stronger with thoughtful gifts that they’ll love and cherish forever!
Further Reading
If you are looking for more inspiration for Valentine’s Day gifts for friends, check out the following resources:
10 Valentine’s Gifts for Your Friend: A list of cute and affordable Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your friends.
Best Valentine’s Day Gifts for Friends: Teen Vogue’s list of unique and thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift ideas for your besties.
How to Show Love and Appreciation to Your Friends on Valentine’s Day: A blog post on the Sealand Government website with tips on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your friends.
FAQs
What is Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th that is traditionally associated with romantic love, although it has also become a day to celebrate friendships and other types of love.
Why should I give Valentine’s Day gifts to my friends?
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to show your friends how much you appreciate them and to celebrate your friendship. Giving gifts can be a way to express your love and gratitude for their presence in your life.
What are some good Valentine’s Day gift ideas for friends?
Good Valentine’s Day gift ideas for friends include personalized gifts, cute and funny mugs, friendship bracelets, and DIY gifts like scrapbooks or photo albums.
What if I don’t have a lot of money to spend on Valentine’s Day gifts?
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to show your friends you care. There are many affordable gift ideas, such as making your own gifts or baking something special for them, that will be just as meaningful as more expensive options.
Can I celebrate Valentine’s Day with my single friends?
Absolutely! Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples, it’s also a great opportunity to celebrate all types of love. You can plan fun activities like a Galentine’s Day party, or spend time with your single friends and do something special together.
Hey there, I’m Hellen James, and I’m here to help you find the perfect gift for all your favorite people. I have been working in the retail industry for a little over ten years now, and I’ve seen a lot of people struggle to find the right gifts for their loved ones.
