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Unique Valentine’s Day gifts under $50

Interesting, practical and geeky gift ideas

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woman holding Star Wars-themed plushies ThinkGeek

This Valentine’s Day, instead of buying your favorite person a generic bouquet of overpriced flowers that they’ll keep on their desk way too long because they feel bad throwing them away, or a generic teddy bear holding a heart that you found in the checkout line at CVS, we have a few better ideas.

Whether you’re looking for something fun, funny or thoughtful, we’ve rounded up our favorite gifts for the gamer in your life. A tiny arcade cabinet is a fun, silly gift for retro arcade fans. If you’re looking for something they’ll use every day, you can’t go wrong with a smart home device or a handmade iPhone case. For something whimsical, a plushie bouquet or Hello Kitty candy box is a cute twist on a V-day classic.

Read on to shop for these and more unique Valentine’s Day gifts we love.


Plushie bouquet

ThinkGeek

Each adorable bundle includes a group of themed plushies (kittens, dragons, Star Wars characters) that are attached to wooden dowel “stems” and packaged in crepe paper like a bouquet of flowers.

Buy it here: ThinkGeek (starting at $19.99)

Big Hard Sex Criminals Vol. 2: Deluxxxe

Chip Zdarsky/Image Comics

For comic lovers, the book compiling the third and fourth arcs of the Eisner Award-winning comic about a couple who stops time when they orgasm was released on Jan. 3.

Buy it here: Comixology ($25.99)

Love Hotels

Love Hotels cover Misty Keasler/Amazon

You and your partner can explore the weird fantasy world of Japan’s hourly love hotels, no passport required, in this photography compilation.

Buy it here: Amazon ($27.51)

Echo Dot

Amazon

The perfect addition (or introduction) to any smart home, an Echo Dot is a practical and thoughtful gift.

Buy it here: Amazon ($29.99)

Bonsai tree

1-800-Flowers

A juniper bonsai tree is more interesting than a bouquet of flowers and will last a heck of a lot longer.

Buy it here: 1-800-Flowers ($39.99)

Star Wars beanies

ThinkGeek

Grab two of these reversible beanies if you want to role play as your favorite space princess and scruffy-looking nerf herder this Valentine’s Day.

Buy them here: ThinkGeek ($19.99 each)

Tiny arcade cabinet

mini Asteroids arcade cabinet ThinkGeek

An itty-bitty Asteriods cabinet is great for a retro gamer. Just be prepared for your Valentine’s Day date to devolve into a competition to see who can get the high score.

Buy it here: ThinkGeek ($15.97 each)

iPhone case

Etsy/izzylikestodoodle

Get your priorities straight with an iPhone case that declares their love for pizza, coffee, naps, or Barack Obama.

Buy it here: Etsy ($25.29)

Pixel heart necklace

CherrylocoJewellery/Etsy

Heart jewelry is pretty cliché on Valentine’s Day, but pixelated heart jewelry is way more fun.

Buy it here: Etsy ($17.66)

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.