What to Expect From Valentine’s Day Sales

Valentine's couple kissing

You might think shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts involves simply roaming the aisle at your local grocery store to find a box of chocolates and a bouquet of flowers. Even if you’re sticking to that traditional route this year, you should at least consider the best times to shop.

Check out our guide to Valentine’s Day sales below, so you’ll know what to expect from deals, when to find the best ones, and what to do if you wait until the last minute.

When to Do Your Valentine’s Day Shopping

Last year we saw Valentine’s Day deals pop up as early as January 1, with a few more appearing around January 10 and 11. And more sales appeared as time went on, and many offers ran through February 14 itself. Even though many deals will continue through Valentine’s Day, you’ll have better luck and save more if you shop early.

You’ll have better luck finding Valentine’s Day gifts if you shop early.

Shopping early means you’ll not only have a better selection — no one wants wilting flowers — but you’ll also save on shipping. This is especially true when it comes to floral arrangements, as those prices will spike as soon as we go from January 31 to February 1. And it’ll only get more expensive as the holiday approaches.

The Best Deals on Valentine’s Day Gifts

Whether you plan to give traditional or nontraditional gifts for Valentine’s Day, here are the best deals you can expect.

Valentine’s Day Jewelry

In 2021, the earliest jewelry sale we saw began on January 22 at Target, which knocked up to 80% off fine jewelry earrings, rings, and necklaces. Keep in mind this was an outlier, though – most retailers will only take about 20% to 30% off jewelry during Valentine’s Day sales.

SEE ALSO: The Best Buys of February

While some discounts will be great around the holiday itself — Kohl’s took up to 65% off jewelry on February 8 in 2021 — odds are, the selection will be better if you shop sooner rather than later.

Aside from stores like Target and Kohl’s, be sure to check out Macy’s, Kate Spade, Amazon, eBay, and Szul.

Valentine’s Day Flowers

Floral deals were available as soon as January 10 last year, when 1-800-Flowers cut up to 50% off with an extra 20% off. That doesn’t sound so bad, but just a few days later, on January 14, the same retailer was offering only up to 40% off, with shipping from $4.99. As you can see, deals can change fast for Valentine’s Day.

Opt for rose-free floral arrangements to save a little cash.

With flowers being in such high demand for Valentine’s Day, you’ll find yourself paying far more in February than other times of year. If you shop early, though, you can lock in low prices and schedule your delivery closer to the holiday. Pro tip: Avoid roses if you can. As expected, they’re the premium flower for Valentine’s Day and prices reflect that. Opt for rose-free floral arrangements in order to save a little cash.

Even better, keep an eye out for Wayfair’s sale on Valentine’s Day florals and wreaths. Last year, the retailer took up to 70% off and included fake arrangements; not only are these cheaper, but they’ll last longer than a bouquet that will begin to wilt within days.

couple in kitchen

Valentine’s Day Chocolate and Other Treats

Shop sweet treats at the end of January or beginning of February to have the perfect mix of decent prices and varied selection. Look for items like festive frosted cookie multipacks from $20 at Cheryl’s, but also keep an eye out for tasty deals at stores like Target, Amazon, and Godiva, as well as Kate Spade and Macy’s.

Shop for sweets at the end of January to get the perfect mix of decent prices and varied selection.

Look for classic candies that all ages can appreciate, such as Hershey’s Kisses and Reese’s Cups from stores like Amazon. Last year, we saw a 2-lb. bag of Kisses for $8 and a 30-piece box of Reese’s treats for $14. Amazon also had a 3-pack jar of M&Ms in pretty Valentine-themed colors for $26. If you need something a little more sophisticated, Macy’s offered a 14-pc. box for $26.

If you want to shop Godiva itself, you’ll have to hit the site at just the right time; in 2021, the sweet retailer knocked 20% off gifts around February 4, but the discount jumped to as much as 40% off with free shipping on $15 two days later. However, the next day it was back to a discount of 20% and free shipping on orders of $60. Perfect timing means you’ll save a ton on both gifts and shipping to your sweetheart.

In general, watch for retailers to offer deals like 3 for $10 or 25% off candy at stores like Target and Amazon.

Valentine’s Day Dining

Yes, there’s a covid vaccine rolling out now. No, not everyone will have it by Valentine’s Day. That being said, you don’t neccessarily have to undertake cooking a special dinner on a Sunday night. Most restaurants are offering takeout options these days, so you could easily pick up dinner from your favorite eatery, or even have it delivered in many cases!

SEE ALSO: What to Expect From Presidents’ Day Sales

Most often we see deals geared towards couples for Valentine’s Day, as should be expected. Watch for offers like “buy one, get one half off” or even “buy one, get one free.” One thing you shouldn’t expect is a flat discount for Valentine’s Day dinner — at best you’ll have a set price with a menu of a few different options. Whatever you prefer, watch for these deals to pop up a few days before Valentine’s Day and run through the holiday itself.

Whether you dine in a restaurant or have a picnic in your car, be sure you’re following local COVID-19 regulations and restrictions. No dinner for two is worth catching the coronavirus.

Personalized Valentine’s Day Presents

If you prefer to gift something a little more personal, you can’t get more personal than personalized gifts. (Sorry, was that too personal?) You can easily create custom photo books and prints at sites like Shutterfly and Snapfish. They tend to offer discounts in the lead-up to Valentine’s Day, sometimes as high as 55%.

Watch for couples’ dinner deals to pop up a few days before Valentine’s Day.

Aside from those two sites, you can also expect to find outright freebies on printed photos. Last year, Walgreens offered an 8×10″ print for free as long as you picked it up at your local store; otherwise, shipping set you back $1.99.

Remember that you might not find Valentine’s-themed discounts on these services, but their prices aren’t crazily inflated for the holiday.

Alternative Valentine’s Day Gifts

If you want to think outside the box, consider shopping for new electronics in February. You won’t find the best deals of the year then, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth checking out.

SEE ALSO: What Is a Wedding Registry?

For instance, last year Amazon offered deals on Alexa devices and refurbished smartphones, and it took up to 30% off portable chargers. Apple gear was discounted by up to 50% at eBay, Monoprice boasted up to 40% off select electronics, while Walmart cut up to 69% off.

If nothing in the Valentine’s Day sales is striking your fancy, there should be plenty of Presidents’ Day sales to shop as well. These are especially great if your giftee prefers something practical like clothing, bedding, furniture, or home decor. These might not be traditional gifts, but they can still be meaningful — maybe even more so, depending on the item!

couple exchanging gift

Last-Minute Valentine’s Day Deals

If you’re one of those shoppers who procrastinates no matter the occasion, you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able to find something if you fail to shop early this year. Just remember that the longer you wait, the better luck you’ll have when it comes to nontraditional gifts.

Look for items like clothing, tech, and especially home goods to be on sale. They’ll fill the sales leading up to Valentine’s Day because Presidents’ Day is on February 15 this year. Odds are, you’ll see better savings on these items than traditional jewelry, chocolate, and flowers.

Valentine’s Day Pitfalls to Avoid

A huge number of Valentine’s sales require coupon codes. While some may be obviously advertised, you’ll probably have to search around for others. To keep from overpaying, apply any relevant coupon codes before you hit “buy” when you’re shopping online. Minimum orders are another common shopping trap: last year, we saw a number of retailers offering discounts on purchases of $100 or more; these restrictions could lead to you overspending.

Free shipping isn’t a common Valentine’s Day offer.

Shipping fees are another cost to consider. Free shipping isn’t a common Valentine’s Day offer. If you wait until the last minute and need expedited shipping, your costs will really add up. Be aware of your shipping options, and opt for local retailers or in-store pickup to save money when you can.

Flower retailers also tend to tack on extra fees for delivery in February, and sometimes there will be additional holiday delivery fees. These fees may not be obvious until you reach the checkout page, so pay attention to your total before you order. If fees put you over your budget, think about alternative gift options.

Readers, what gifts are you planning to buy for Valentine’s Day this year? When will you be shopping? Let us know in the comments below!