The front of a grocery store before Valentine’s Day is like a minefield of overpriced crap. Think cut flowers with jacked up prices that die within a week, waxy chocolates in comically oversized heart-shaped boxes, and janky stuffed animals that will end up in a landfill sooner rather than later.
Walk directly past that junk and head for the actually nice Valentine’s Day gifts hiding in plain sight at the grocery store. These are gifts that are more thoughtful, useful, and tastier than what’s up front. If you still need to score an inexpensive, last-minute V-Day present, here are some grocery store ideas you can still pick up in time.
Chili Crisp
Is your sweetie into hot stuff? Chances are they love chili crisp — an aromatic, crunchy Chinese condiment — or are at least curious about it. Head to the Asian aisle and pick up a jar of Fly by Jing, Momofuku, or our favorite, the OG Lao Gan Ma. A jar will run anywhere from $6-$12 in a typical grocery store, depending on the brand.
Bath Bombs and Soaps
Help your partner relax with a little bit of a spa day. Look for cute bath bombs if they’re into that kind of thing (or heck, even if they’re not bath people but maybe could be!). Many grocery stores also sell handmade soaps, sometimes from local makers, which also make a great gift — and they don’t even look like they came from Publix.
Fancy Chocolate Bars
Skip the seasonal candy section (which is full of overpriced red and pink stuff like Sour Patch Kids) and head to the regular candy aisle. There, you’ll find the fancy chocolate bars that will be so much better than the Russel Stover boxes and much more appreciated. We love bars like Ritter Sport and Chocolove (perfect for this holiday!). Bonus points for Dubai chocolate if your sweetie has always wanted to try it.
Potted Plants
If you think your Valentine definitely wants flowers, take a look at the potted plants as an alternative to bouquets. They won’t die immediately, and they’re going to be less expensive. Plus, those supermarket orchids are just as gorgeous and dramatic as red roses, and the flowers usually last over a month.
Bottle of Wine
A nice bottle of wine is always appreciated, and you probably already know your sweetie’s favorite — or at least their favorite type — so treat them. If they prefer a bottle of something stronger or a fancy craft beer, that’s all good too.
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Fancy Cheeses
Look, there aren’t many people we know of that wouldn’t be excited about getting cheese as a gift. Especially if it’s part of a whole little charcuterie board setup. So head to the good cheese case (a.k.a. not the one with the prebagged shredded cheese), pick up two or three things that catch your eye, like a brie and a super aged cheddar, and then grab some nice crackers, jam or olives, and some grapes to round it out.
Breakfast in Bed
It might seem weird to gift someone some pancake mix and bacon, but when you explain that you’ll be cooking and presenting those goodies to them in bed (maybe the morning after Valentine’s Day?), you’re golden. Of course, you could just surprise them with breakfast in bed on Valentine’s Day too, no warning. If you want to make it special, get the freshly squeezed OJ that many stores offer now, and look for Nueske’s bacon, our favorite.
Fancy Fruit
Most supermarkets carry a lot of interesting fruit these days. There are pink pineapples, white strawberries, passion fruit, starfruit, cotton candy grapes, and pluots. Gather up a few of the more interesting options that your sweetie has never tried and have a fun little exotic fruit tasting party.
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Movie Night Supplies
The promise of a date night on the couch, whether it’s on Valentine’s Day or in the future, is a very nice thing to give someone. Plan a movie night and grab popcorn, their favorite candies, other snacks, and maybe even a special soda. Make it extra fun by getting something nostalgic, like a pan of Jiffy Pop, to make together.
Candles
Yep, supermarkets sell the good old gifting staple, candles. You’ll probably know whether your sweetie will appreciate this gift on its own or not, but they’re always a great thing to add to a gift of other pampering supplies, like bath bombs.
Pet Toys
The best way to a man’s (or woman’s!) heart is through… their pets? Maybe that’s not how the adage goes, but we definitely know people who would adore anyone who thinks about their pet’s happiness. A new toy or their pet’s favorite treats will win you a lot of brownie points.
More From Cheapism
- Broke but Romantic? These 14 Valentine’s Day Gifts from Target Cost Less Than $10 — While you can find ways to splurge at the store, there are also troves of affordable options to get your Valentine.
- Because We Can’t Afford Date Night: 14 Valentine’s Day Fast-Food Deals and Specials — This year, skip all that hassle and plan an affordable, easy date night in with some takeout.
- Turns Out Love Can Be Cheap: 16 Valentine’s Day Gifts Under $5 From Five Below — There’s a little something for everyone at this discount store.
