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Are flowers too expensive? Try these budget-friendly alternatives for Valentine’s Day

With the price of roses higher than ever and tariffs threatening even higher prices, you can still find affordable Valentine's gifts for as little as $5.

Carolyn Kaster/ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2007 file photo, red roses wrapped individually in cellophane wait for Valentine shoppers at the Milton Hershey School Valentines Day flower sale, in Hershey, Pa. Valentine's Day is the biggest selling day for fresh cut flowers, including roses, accounting for 40 percent of overall holiday sales, which also include Mother's Day, Easter and Christmas, according to the Society of American Florists, a trade group.

By: John Matarese , Emily Hanford-Ostmann

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Roses are red, violets are blue and this time of year, they get pretty expensive, too.

A dozen long-stem red roses in the U.S. now costs an average of $90, according to FinanceBuzz. That’s 2% more than last year. While you may cherish your valentine, nearly $100 is a hefty price for something that doesn't last very long.

Other budget-friendly gift options

Brooke Emling is a bargain hunter, even on Valentine's Day.

“I love flowers, but I'm an experienced girl,” she said while shopping at Walmart, “and my boyfriend and I typically just go to dinner.”

That's the vibe these days, according to Walmart manager Jayna Hill.

“We have some fun games, whether it’s a date night game or a game for friends,” Hill said. “We have the For The Girls party games. These run about $20.”

Walmart is also stocked with gifts under $10, from stuffed bears to the popular Bricktanicals building sets. These sets let you build your Valentine a box of chocolates for $10 or a long-stem rose for $5.

“We have a lot of things that are non-traditional,” Hill said. “You have people who are sometimes allergic to flowers.”

See the Valentine's alternatives at Walmart and local chocolate shops:

Roses can cost $100: here are some budget friendly alternatives

Inexpensive chocolates are a great option

Chocolates can be another affordable option, according to Tracy Oenbrink, a shop manager at Aglamesis Brothers Gourmet Chocolates in Cincinnati.

You can pay extra for a 2-pound box of chocolates or $5.50 for a 2-ounce box of chocolate hearts.

“You get everything gift-wrapped from us, so you don't have to worry about anything,” Oenbrink said. “Just come in and buy it.”

Stephanie Carls, a retail insights expert with the savings site RetailMeNot, shared other gift trends for the holiday season.

“We are seeing that fashion is actually one of the top categories for Valentine's Day gifts,” Carls said. “So thinking those cozy lounge sets, maybe stylish accessories, even sneakers.”

RetailMeNot also suggests:

Personalized necklaces
Personalized tumblers
Kitchen accessories like a tea infuser or French press coffee maker
Monthly subscription boxes for new books or beauty products

Lastly, Carls said you can’t go wrong with a digital gift card if you're in a pinch.

“Those can be a lifesaver,” she said, “to maybe a favorite spa, nail salon, maybe a favorite go-to store that that person loves.”

To save for Valentine’s Day, Carls suggests shopping before prices spike, comparing prices across retailers, and taking advantage of cashback offers.

“Don't leave money on the table,” she said. “A browser extension like RetailMeNot finds and then applies those promo codes and cashback offers automatically.”

Back at Aglamesis Brothers, Chanelle Combs was grabbing a bag of chocolates for her mom.

"We fly out today, so we want to give it to her in person now,” she said.

It's a simple, thoughtful gift, so you don't waste your money.

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