26 Dollar-Store Finds to Sweeten Your Valentine's Day on a Budget

From delightful decorations to charming cards and gifts, here’s everything you need to have a heart-filled holiday on a budget.

Whether it's your sweetheart, family, best gal pal—or all the above, Valentine's Day is the one day each year devoted to letting your favorite people know just how much you love and appreciate them.

Arriving on the heels of the holiday season (and with Easter right around the corner), there might not be room in your budget for yet another round of seasonal decorations—let alone showering your loved ones with lavish gifts.

Instead of skipping the celebration altogether, or settling for the same old chocolate-and-flowers routine, hit up your local dollar store and stock up on these fun finds. They are sure to level up your holiday game without emptying your wallet.

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1. Good Fortune

chopsticks valentines homemade fortune
Sarah Lemire

Maybe you're celebrating with a special dinner, or staying in and ordering takeout from your favorite restaurant instead. Either way, these foam fortune cookies will help end the evening with a smile.

Sold in packs of 10, the faux treats are available in pink, red, and white—each with its own delightful sentiment stashed inside for your special someone to discover.

02 of 26

2. Cuddly Crews

valentines socks cuddly crews
Sarah Lemire

From playful kitties to corgis wearing heart-shaped sunglasses, you can't beat these cute-as-a-button crew socks. Available in men's and women's sizes, they come in a variety of patterns and are guaranteed to not only warm your favorite person's feet—but their heart, too.

03 of 26

3. 'Be Mine' Bar Cart

decorations be mine bar cart
Sarah Lemire

Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to break out your bar cart and give it some dollar-store love. Plastic sentiment containers work great as wine buckets, themed glassware steals the show, and no tree is necessary to display this festive plaid heart and tinsel garland.

04 of 26

4. Sweet Nothings

cupcakes treats hearts sweet nothings
Sarah Lemire

Skip the bakery and whip up a dreamy dessert at home. Everything you need, from cake mix to hot-pink frosting, can be found on dollar-store shelves for less than you'd pay for pre-made.

Plaid cupcake holders and wooden heart sticks (also from the dollar store) complete your one-of-a-kind confection.

05 of 26

5. Books of Love

rug fabric books book love
Sarah Lemire

If you want to let someone know how much they mean to you, but just can't find the right words, let one of these books do the talking instead.

Filled with expressions of love, these short-but-sweet books offer a collection of heartfelt quotes ranging from Shakespeare to Ingrid Bergman.

06 of 26

6. Green Thumb

wreath love sign garden
Sarah Lemire

Does your Valentine prefer green to pink? No problem. With a wide selection of garden accessories—including plastic pots, gloves, pruning tools, and faux succulents—assembling a gift for your favorite botanist is easy and inexpensive. Top it off with this charming dollar-store "Love" sign, which can stay up long after Valentine's Day is over.

07 of 26

7. Modern Love

black white tree modern love
Sarah Lemire

Instead of going with the traditional Valentine's Day color scheme, give your aesthetic a refresh using a clean, modern theme.

While you're at it, be sure to include these fabulous black-and-jute hearts. Packaged as crafter's chalkboard tags and sold in packs of 4, they easily do double-duty as pint-sized ornaments.

They can be personalized and decorated using chalk.

08 of 26

8. A Sweet Assortment

kisses glass valentines candy bar
Sarah Lemire

There's no shortage of treats at the dollar store, so why not assemble an assortment for your sweetheart or bestie in an indulgent smorgasbord? Give dollar-store jars and other glassware an easy makeover with ribbons and other accoutrements, then fill them with sweets for a decadent celebration.

09 of 26

9. Straight from the Heart

valentines day sugar cookies frosted heart
Sarah Lemire

Not everyone has the time to bake Instagram-worthy confections. Thankfully, these heart-shaped cookies do the job without having to spend a single minute in the kitchen. Better yet? No cleanup either. Packaged and sold individually, they'll have everyone guessing how long it took you to make them. Don't worry; we'll never tell.

10 of 26

10. A-Doorable Mats

front door rugs shoes heart adorable mats
Sarah Lemire

Cute and festive, these door mats had us at hello. Best for indoor use, they aren't made to endure heavy-duty, winter-boot wiping—but they are perfect for greeting Cupid or any other guests that stop by for some Valentine's Day cheer.

11 of 26

11. Hearts on Fire

fireplace mantel valentines décor hearts fire
Sarah Lemire

With a little inspiration, it only takes a few dollars to make your mantel look like a million bucks.

Die-cut felt hearts give a plain mirror a festive feel, coordinating signs add a splash of color, and you can't go wrong layering these fuzzy pom-pom garlands (available in red, pink, and mixed colors).

Related: 37 Valentine's Day Decor Ideas That Will Give You Major Heart Eyes

12 of 26

12. The Gift of Love

valentines bags gift love
Sarah Lemire

Whatever surprises you've picked up for that someone special will undoubtedly look better nestled in one of these sweet gift bags. Available in 2- or 3-packs (depending on size), they come in a variety of patterns and are the perfect way to say, "Be my Valentine."

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13. Sealed with a Kiss

valentines envelope tree hearts
Sarah Lemire

No postage required with these love-letter ornaments. Made from metal, they come in red, pink, or silver.

Whether you tuck a secret note inside or decorate your Valentine's Day tree with them, they're sure to deliver a whole lotta love.

Related: Pink Ceramic Trees Are the Newest Valentine's Day Decor Trend

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14. Quick and Easy

pink wooden love signs quick easy
Sarah Lemire

No time to spare? No worries. Last-minute decor can be easy and affordable with just a little ingenuity. Fill dollar-store frames with pieces of coordinating scrapbook paper for instant wall art, or print off lyrics to your favorite love songs for display. Attach paper heart doilies to a ribbon with glue (or stapler if you're really short on time) for an inexpensive Valentine's Day garland.

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15. 'Love You' Jars

paper messages glass love jars
Sarah Lemire

These swirled-glass candleholders are perfect for votives and other small candles; but for Valentine's Day, give them a new lease as mementos of your affection.

Use a printer or jot down the top reasons why your Valentine is special, then fill up one of these pretty jars with them. The candleholders are completely affordable, but the personalized expression of your love? Priceless.

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16. Treat Sacks

heart pencil treat sacks
Sarah Lemire

Whether it's for the classroom or an after-school party, these mini cotton heart sacks are sure to please when filled up with sweet treats. Available in red and pink, they're sold in packs of three. Larger treat sacks are sold in packs of two.

17 of 26

17. Here's to You!

champagne flute hearts straws cheers
Sarah Lemire

Raise one of these champagne flutes and drink a toast to love—or anything else you're celebrating—this Valentine's Day.

Made of plastic, these fluted heart glasses will take whatever is on the drink menu to the next level. Super-cute red and white striped straws are also from the dollar store.

Related: Everything You Need for a Solo Valentine's Day Filled with Self-Care

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18. Take a Stand

pink white red treat heart stand
Sarah Lemire

From candles to cupcakes, there's nothing you can't display on these ceramic heart-shaped stands. Sold individually, they come in red, pink, and white. Measuring just shy of 4 inches tall, these dainty stands will show off your favorite treasures or are sweet all by themselves.

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19. Made with Love

red white baking betty crocker made with love
Sarah Lemire

These petite utensils are ideal for small spaces, campers, or little kitchen helpers. Around half the size of their typical counterparts, they're probably not practical for everyday use—but are great for kids, gift baskets, your favorite cook, and are just so charming you won't be able to resist.

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20. Tiered Tray

white wooden delivery candy tiered tray
Sarah Lemire

There's no better time than Valentine's Day to deck out your tiered tray with dollar-store finds. The theme is F-U-N, and with bright, cheery colors to work with, the sky's the limit! Turn it into a treat bar or use it to display ornaments, plants, signs, sweets, or anything else you can think of.

21 of 26

21. Table for Two

love valentines red gold table setting
Sarah Lemire

Love is in the air, and it can be on your table, too, when you layer up your place settings with dollar-store dishware. Mix-and-match chargers and plates add visual interest; then complete the aesthetic with one of these Valentine's Day party plates.

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22. Premium Cards

magnet décor craft premium cards
Sarah Lemire

Why pay full-retail price for greeting cards when you can find premium Valentine's Day cards at the dollar store? With a wide selection of quality cards to choose from, you'd be crazy to spend more for the same thing.

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23. It's a Sign!

wooden décor sparkle red pink valentine sign
Sarah Lemire

Even Saint Valentine would have a hard time saying it better than one of these playful signs. With so many to choose from, you might have a hard time picking just one.

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24. Felt Rose Wreath

pink pink felt rose wreath
Sarah Lemire

Felt is totally having a moment, and why not? It's soft, cozy, and looks amazing incorporated into nearly any craft. These felt roses, sold in packs of four (two pink + two fuchsia), are versatile and simply adorable. Glued to a wreath ring, they make the perfect Valentine's Day accessory. The only thing felt isn't compatible with is the weather, which makes this an indoor wreath only.

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25. Objects of Your Affection

Monkey red pink Objects Affection
Sarah Lemire

They say it's the little things that matter. If so, you're in luck; there are plenty to choose from at the dollar store. From cuddly stuffed animals and balloons to pencils and heart-shaped boxes, you can put together a gift basket in no time.

Editor's Tip: To give dollar-store bowls a Valentine's Day makeover, just apply foam stickers—which can be peeled off when the celebration is over.

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26. DIY Garland

be mine valentines felt string DIY garland
Sarah Lemire

It only takes a few minutes to transform a bag of mini felt hearts into a delightful Valentine's Day garland. Sold in multi-packs, you just need to grab some Valentine's twine (available in 3-packs), poster letters (located in the school supplies aisle), and get to work. A glue gun makes the job easier, and the best part? You can customize the message to say whatever your heart desires.

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