Is it possible to give gifts that don’t clutter up the house and meet your loved one where they most feel loved? I think so! Check out these 5+ clutter-free Valentine’s Day gifts for any love language.
Ever since I read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up last fall, I’ve been on a mission to bring less stuff into our home.
But how does that translate to holidays where loved ones traditionally give to each other?
I’ll be honest and admit that I’m not a gift person. My husband is far more generous than I am, and although I appreciate a heartfelt gift from others, gifts don’t give me the warm fuzzies like other expressions of love do.
Our pastor is going through a sermon series on love right now, and last week he challenged us to discover our spouse’s and children’s love languages, so we can express love to them in the way they best receive it.
If you are’t familiar with love languages, the basic premise is that everyone gives and receives love differently.
My husband and I first read about it in the Five Love Languages book in a marriage class during our newlywed days. The five languages are acts of service, physical touch, quality time, gifts, and words of affirmation. You can take free love languages tests for any age group here.
With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, this got me brainstorming: Are there ways in which we can give clutter-free Valentine’s Day gifts for any love language?
Thankfully, my daydreaming led me to a resounding “yes” on both of these questions!
5+ Clutter-Free Valentine’s Day Gifts for Any Love Language
1. Acts of Service: House Cleaning, a Meal Delivery Service, or Yard Care
When I took the love languages test last week, I was surprised–but not shocked–that acts of service has moved up to the number two slot on my list.
When I first took the test in my newlywed days, it was not anywhere near the top of how I received love!
However, I remember a friend with three younger children at the time telling me that her love languages had changed since becoming a mom. She felt so incredibly loved whenever her husband would help out around the house since homemaking and motherhood kept her on her toes cooking and cleaning most of the day.
Following her pattern, I took this exact same shift!
So whether you’re a fellow homemaker wanting to bless a friend, sister, your daughter, or another loved one this Valentine’s Day, or you’re a husband reading who wants to show his wife love via an act of service, you might want to consider purchasing a house cleaning session or a meal delivery service.
Even one day “off” can make a busy wife and mom feel so incredibly loved!
If you’re looking for a gift for your acts-of-service husband, consider getting him a gift card to a yard service or pre-paying for a month or two of yard service.
My husband loves weekends when he doesn’t have to mow our lawn!
2. Physical Touch: A Massage
Physical touch used to be my number two love language, but since becoming a mom it actually moved down to near the bottom of the list! (I attribute that to the fact that I breastfed three kids over the course of six and a half years!)
Still, a good massage can make my week!
If you’re a husband reading and you know your wife’s love language is physical touch, she would probably be over-the-moon excited to open up a “gift certificate” to a night of you massaging her feet, neck, back, etc. (You can even learn how to massage like the pros!)
As an alternative, your wife might like a day on her own when she can go and get a professional massage, if it’s in your budget.
This is one of my absolute favorite gifts.
I have even mentioned to my husband before that I wouldn’t mind a massage for every special occasion!
3. Quality Time: A Night Out–Sans Kids!
I know some couples have date nights every week; I wish I were you! In all transparency, this is something my hubby and I need to work on. We probably average a date night once per month.
If date nights aren’t something in your regular routine and your spouse receives love best via quality time spent together, then a night out together–sans kids–would probably make their Valentine’s Day!
I know that, for some of you, date nights are just not possible due to the cost of eating out, going to the movies, etc. (I’ve been there!).
Instead, think about creating a “date night” at home. See if you can swap childcare with friends, and surprise your spouse with a special dinner at home and a Netflix movie!
4. Gifts: Flowers, Chocolates, Subscription Box
If your loved one has the love language of gifts, don’t think you can’t give a clutter-free Valentine’s Day present as well!
When we first got married and I learned that my husband’s primary love language is gifts, I was frustrated, thinking I would have to spend hundreds of dollars each year just to make him feel loved!
As a frugal penny-pincher this was going to be quite the challenge for me! Not only that, but there were very lean years early in our parenting where buying gifts was truly cost prohibitive!
Thankfully, I learned that gift giving doesn’t need to mean extravagant gifts or things that would lend themselves to clutter.
Simple yet classic gifts like freshly-cut, delivered flowers and a homemade chocolate treat can actually make the perfect gifts! (There’s a reason gifts like these are so popular and have been around for so long; they really do convey love!)
Even though I’m not a gift person myself, I appreciated this gesture and felt loved because I now realize that when he gives me a gift, he is showing me love in his highest form! I have loved looking at the flowers sitting in a vase on the kitchen table; they brightened up the whole room!
Any time my hubby saves money on gifts for me, it speaks my frugal-loving “love language”!
There are also a number of subscription boxes that have become popular and would make great gifts that keep on giving.
5. Words of Affirmation: A Heart-Felt Card, a Journal, or an Encouraging eBook
This final love language might actually be the easiest–and most affordable! It also happens to be my top love language.
Truly, I feel the most loved when others speak kindly to me and give me any kind of verbal encouragement. This can come in an email, card, or in person.
But what are some ideas for specific Valentine’s Day gifts for those who receive love via words of affirmation?
Writing a heartfelt, hand-written card is a good start–and your loved one might even be completely satisfied with just that! Or, step it up a notch with a journal you’ve written love letters in.
Lastly, a less personal but still really exciting gift for those who receive love via words might be an encouraging eBook they’ve been eyeing.
Besides being a words-of-affirmation person, I am a big bookworm, and books are usually my favorite gifts. Gifting them in eReader format may sound cheap, but, truly, it’s not.
At least for me, I would prefer an eBook because they don’t clutter up my house, and I can take hundreds of books with me anywhere, via my Kindle! With services like audible (2 free books) and Kindle Unlimited (2-month free trial), it makes it even easier.
What are your suggestions for clutter-free Valentine’s Day gifts for any love language?
See all of our previous gift guides HERE!
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I just read the 5 love languages last year. I loved it so much I am now reading 5 love languages for teens. My husband and I love to do a professional massage together for gifts to each other. We have a place nearby that is $20 for an hour, so we go every year on our anniversary/Valentine’s Day.
Erin
$20/hour! That is amazing!!! What an amazing gift!
Keelie Reason
Valentine’s in my favorite holiday! I love celebrating love. We don’t buy each other gift very often. We do cards and have a nice dinner together whether it is at home or get a sitter and go out. I just love Valentine’s though.
Erin
I was thinking about you when I wrote this post and thinking: “I bet Valentine’s Day is one of Keelie’s favorites!”
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Hey, that’s the greatest! So with ll this brain power AWHFY?
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
Receiving a gift certificate for a house cleaning service would be amazing! Typically, we do not exchange gifts, or even prioritize Valentine’s date nights. But a special card or note is something we both cherish. This year I won’t even be home Valentine’s weekend, so I will have to try and think of something creative I can have for my husband while I am away.
Erin
I hope y’all both have a great Valentine’s Day!
Christina @ Martha, Martha
I love this! It combines two of my favorite things: loving your husband and keeping a tidy home! Great ideas. I’m working on a 12 Months of pre-planned dates gift!
Erin
That is wonderful to think ahead to 12 months of gifts–one each month! My husband would absolutely love that!
Jo Lynn
Great ideas. I’m also trying to declutter my home and simplify my life. I like some of the ideas you’ve mentioned here. And you gave me the idea to give my husband books for Valentine’s day. He’s always adding books to our shopping cart online, but hardly ever buys them.
One thing I like to receive as a gift from my husband, that makes me feel really loved, is for him to watch the children so I can take a bubble bath or take a walk all by myself. (I love being with my kids, but I also like to have a bit of quiet and relaxation every now and then.) I always feel so special when he gives me the gift of time to myself.