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With Valentines Day almost here, the pressure is on to come up with that perfect way to celebrate the occasion. We all know that flowers and chocolates make great gifts but if you are like many people out there, perhaps funds are a little tight this year and you are looking at other ways to convey your feelings that won’t burn a hole in your wallet.

1. A handwritten love letter might sound old-fashioned but it is still the best way to say “I love you” particularly if you are not known for putting your thoughts down on paper. Post the letter to your partner in time for Valentines Day to show that your thoughts were not a last minute thing. Alternatively, leave a series of love notes in places that they will be easily found by your partner, such as a lunch box or makeup draw.

2. Put small gifts or love notes inside some see-through balloons. Inflate them with the surprises inside and tie them into a bouquet to give to your date.

3. Prepare a Valentine themed meal. You could use a heart shaped mould to bake a cake or make heart biscuits or just cut some food items into heart shapes. Decorate the table in red to complete the theme.

4. Make a collage of photos featuring the two of you. Choose photos that have special meaning and write your thoughts beneath them. Cut a couple of the photos into heart shapes and present the collage in a photo frame.

5. Make up some “gift vouchers” that your partner can surrender at any time. Perhaps a massage from you, a partner’s choice movie night or even a candlelit dinner at home, would make welcome gifts.

6. If you are the musical type then you could serenade your partner with a favourite love song. If not, compile a collection of their favourite romantic songs on CD to add to the mood of the evening.

7. Cut out a series of hearts from red and white paper and on each one write a few thoughts about what your partner means to you. String the hearts together and hang them from the ceiling as decoration.