We love love. Hearts and flowers and candy, you won’t catch us returning to sender. But, on Valentine’s Day (or any day that you want to show someone love and appreciation via a purchased gift), you don’t have to pick from the same rack of cards as the next person.
It’s the age of entrepreneurship, innovation & creation, which means that tons of startups and businesses have dreamed up unique products and services your friends and family will actually keep and use.
Here’s our list of completely non-cheesy gift ideas for the people you <3.
Feed Them
The way to most everyone’s heart is through their stomach, but instead of giving predictable chocolates, we suggest giving a food box subscription or meal delivery service. It’s a gift that can be enjoyed beyond Valentine’s Day, and depending on which box you pick, you can customize what’s inside based on your loved one’s food preferences, making it a healthier and more thoughtful option.
Some of our favorites:
Love With Food – $7.99-$9.99 for a tasting box of organic & all-natural snacks
Graze – print or email gift vouchers for customized, portion-controlled snack boxes
HelloFresh – give a gift card for a week’s worth of recipes and ingredients
Entertain Them
Everyone needs time to relax and forget about stress (and, um, we hear there’s a bit of that in the spring semester). Give your loved one a break with the gift of entertainment, letting them know it’s OK to put their responsibilities away for an hour or two.
Some of our favorites:
Audible – gift memberships for 3, 6 & 12 months of credits to download audio books
MoviePass – subscription service to see a movie a day at over 4,000 theaters nationwide
LootCrate – themed boxes of pop-culture products (think Marvel, Harry Potter, anime), starting at $15.95 a month
Enrich Them
You probably know this about your friends and family, but chances are, it makes them happy to see others happy. You can go the extra mile by giving a gift that supports worthy charities and causes, too.
Some of our favorites:
Bombas – Socks are the #1 most requested clothing at homeless shelters, and with every pair of Bombas purchased, a pair is donated to someone in need.
Adornia – 10% of net profits from this trendy jewelry line’s lariat and fashion collections are donated quarterly to charities focused on female empowerment.
Charity On Top gift cards – Usually, gift cards are kind of a generic present, but this company creates custom cards that can only be redeemed for charitable giving, allowing the recipient to choose the organization they want to support.
By Jessica Navarro