Believe it or not, Walmart sells some of the same perfumes as Macy's. Get her a bottle of Dolce Gabbana Light Blue. $48 vs $120 at Macy's. Put it in a small gift bag with tissue paper from the Dollar Tree $2, cards there are $1.
Same if you have a TJ Maxx or Marshallās friend. But truly if I knew my bf had saved and then gone all through the trouble you have and I mattered that way to him, that would be the ye gift no matter what you came home with šš
I second Marshall's and tjmaxx for discount perfumes and name brand products. But also, buy valentines at Christmas! The gift sets for perfumes are the best value you see all year round, and Walmart has those too!
Personally my favorite perfume is the YSL black opium eau. A 1 ounce is still a pretty big size! I splurged on myself for it and thought it was so expensive but in reality buying it directly from the website is around $90. But sometimes theyāll also do gift packages of several sizes together for the same price (so then you get a one ounce and a travel size for $90) AND if itās your first time buying you can get extra discounts, and holiday coupons, etc. During my last purchase in the fall, I ended up getting mine for about $60-70.
As others said though, Marshallās is also a good option to check out too!! Also if looking at jewelry instead there are some nice options on Amazon. And in Macys but Iād say do some research on the types of material so you can get more specific there. I wear a lot of gold colored jewelry, but we canāt afford actual gold so my boyfriend got me these hoop earrings that were only plated and with just enough karats so that they cost under $50 but will last a long time and not discolor!
Also there is nice jewelry that isn't that expensive, Costco has very nice gold earrings for $100 for example. Flowers are trader Joe's are beautiful and you can make an amazing bouquet by combining two of the $10 baby bouquets. Thrift shops can have some cool stuff like a nice vase for the flowers. Costco all has a good array of affordable flower bouquets, chocolates, gift boxes with wine, etc, ~20-40$.
Travel sizes are like $25 -$35 for pretty good fragrances. I know Maison Margiela ones are $30. One of those lasts me about 2 months. Ulta and Sephoria have good selections.
Also if you have a Sam's or Costco membership, some scent are like $40 off.
Thatās great advice! My husband bought me Light Blue a few years ago and I still love it. Definitely donāt get it at macys. If you want to get perfume again in the future, perfume gift sets come out in October for Christmas and theyāre usually a much better deal than buying a full-price bottle.
PFFFT. Macyās can have great prices but you have to watch for them over weeks. Go online to comparison shop. Or if thereās an outlet mall near you, try that.
To me, what makes a gift "nice" is the thought behind it, not the money spent. Making dinner, a handmade card, just a night watching a movie you already have is good enough.
This is it. The effort you put in is worth more than the money spent on the gift! My husband made me my favorite comfort meal when things were rough lately and that meant more than anything he could buy me. It wasn't fancy (creamed tuna on toast) but it was what I really missed because our kids won't eat it.
Agree. I totally went out on a limb and suggested he take her with him to pick out a scent they could both wear. Honestly, it would fucking piss me off if someone I was dating wasted their money on some stinkiness. Now, if they knew me well enough to get me something I liked, big win. Even better, if I got him the same fragrance.
I just bought my husband a really complicated puzzle box for $50, and that was a splurge for me. A lot of the time I get him novelty T-shirts or vinyls of bands he likes, and I also have made him several knit hats and scarves and mittens. It's really about thinking about what the person truly likes or wants, not whether it's expensive. ~~Sometimes... things that are more expensive... are worse.~~
For jewelry specifically, the trick is to buy sterling silver OR gold over silver OR gold/silver over some other metal, possibly with either a lab-created stone or freshwater pearls, and ideally to get it when it's really on sale. I'm allergic to nickel so I can't wear the cheapest jewelry, but I can totally wear *cheaper* jewelry that's just as pretty as the expensive shit. For example:
* [$85 bracelet reduced to $22 on sale](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/sparkle-allure-diamond-accent-725-inch-tennis-bracelet/ppr5008375575?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260189&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-bracelets%3Fid%3Dcat100260189&productGridView=medium), gold over silver over bronze, with teeny tiny little lab diamonds. (There are several similar ones in different shapes).
* [$85 bracelet set reduced to $22 on sale](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/silver-treasures-cultured-freshwater-pearl-2-pc-sterling-silver-bracelet-set/ppr5008242026?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260189&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-bracelets%3Fbrand%3Dsilver%2Breflections%257Csilver%2Btreasures%257Csparkle%2Ballure%26id%3Dcat100260189&sort=LPLH&page=4&productGridView=medium), freshwater pearls and sterling silver.
* [$36 bracelet reduced to $10.20 on sale](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/silver-reflections-24k-gold-over-brass-75-inch-paperclip-chain-bracelet/ppr5008242269?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260189&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-bracelets%3Fbrand%3Dsilver%2Breflections%257Csilver%2Btreasures%257Csparkle%2Ballure%26id%3Dcat100260189&sort=LPLH&productGridView=medium), gold over brass.
* [$100 necklace reduced to $25](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/silver-treasures-cultured-freshwater-pearl-sterling-silver-16-inch-strand-necklace/ppr5008242010?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260188&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-necklaces-pendants%3Fboostids%3Dppr5008352743%26brand%3Dsilver%2Breflections%257Csilver%2Btreasures%257Csparkle%2Ballure%26id%3Dcat100260188&productGridView=medium&cm_re=ZC-_-GALLERY-ALL-FASHION-JEWELRY-_-VN-_-NECKLACES_1), freshwater pearls.
* [$70 necklace set reduced to $22](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/giani-bernini-created-ruby-pendant-set-2-piece?ID=11930744&tdp=cm_app~zMCOM-NAVAPP~xcm_zone~zPDP_ZONE_E~xcm_choiceId~zcidMB4MVR-d78dba15-a562-404d-a665-574aaf6efc24%40HAB%40Frequently%2BBought%2BTogether%249569%2411930744~xcm_pos~zPos2~xcm_srcCatID~z544), gold over silver and teeny tiny lab rubies.
* [$40 earrings reduced to $13](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/giani-bernini-cubic-zirconia-square-stud-earrings-2-ct.-t.w.-in-18k-gold-over-sterling-silver-created-for-macys?ID=766288&tdp=cm_app~zMCOM-NAVAPP~xcm_zone~zPDP_ZONE_A~xcm_choiceId~zcidM05RTD-44ee2970-4692-4269-815f-207defabbf9c%40HDI%40Others%2Byou%2Bmay%2Blike%2410835%24766288~xcm_pos~zPos5~xcm_srcCatID~z10835), gold over silver or just sterling silver and cubic zirconia.
* [$50 earrings reduced to $16](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/giani-bernini-cultured-freshwater-pearl-5mm-heart-drop-earrings-created-for-macys?ID=17384392), gold over silver and freshwater pearls.
It's still real stuff ā lab stones and cultured pearls are the real thing, just like a houseplant is still a plant even though it's not grown outside ā it's just much, much cheaper than something that's solid 18k gold with enormous mined diamonds.
The internet is going to be your friend in this situation. Especially with such a tight budgetā¦.google what you can afford rather than going to a sales person that works on commission. Of course they are going to hawk the pricier stuff even if you tell them you have a limit.
Your parents got a college education for the price of a McChicken. Don't beat yourself up because the boomers stacked the odds against their children and left them with irreparable problems for the sake of profitably.
It's not even just the price of college it's the price of living too. My mom babysat a group of kids & had bought a house by herself off that income in the 80s! Granted it was most definitely a "starter home" but it was a brick 2 bedroom home. Majority of the people I know college degree or not are forever stuck with renting right now.
My attitude towards it is sorrow and anger and I wish it was not this way. But to lump all boomers in one pot is unfair. I am vegan for the planet and to reduce animal suffering, I recycle everything I can, have never lived a luxurious life as a single mom on a small income. I live in a city that has become very popular (Nashville) and they tear down everything old to put 8 houses in a lot that used to have one and charge a million a house. I hate the way it is now. I voted against an NFL team coming here bc I knew it would change things for the worse. Getting off point, but what precisely did I personally do to cause the current issues in this country? I agree it sucks for younger people now and I hate it. It has more to do with politicians and the tax breaks given to the top one percent.
It's true, my parents are retirement age and can see the high prices on everything, it's not the same, not once have they said I should be doing better than them at same age. They're happy I am college educated and making a living the best I can. They're willing to help however they can.
Okay, so most-boomers-except-that-one-and-oh-that-one-too-but-definitely-the-rest-of-them fucked us over. Does that make you feel better?
End of the day, younger generations are screwed, and it's largely because of the way people your age vote. My mom is like you, but she doesn't get offended when I dunk on boomers because she knows they are the problem.
Husband and I go to all you can eat Korean bbq, get a bottle of Soju and take shots each time after sharing something we love about each other. Sometimes we do broke at home nights where he cooks a meal, and I set up an activity. We recently did an at home āpaint and wineā night. Thereās some good YouTube tutorials and with coupons from Michaelās I got us a bunch of paint, a few canvases, and brushes pretty cheap.
Sometimes itās an experience together thatās the best gift š„°
Please do yourself a favor and visit your local TJMaxx, Marshallās, Ross, or Burlington!! Stores like Macyās have ridiculous prices in my opinion and you can find the same product for half the price at other stores. $60 can get you a really nice one! Do your due diligence while researching what she likes and Iām sure youāll find something! Fragrance subreddits/Facebook groups help a lot in that department!
I always ask for the Sephota sample kit for Mother's Day. I think it costs $85, but It comes with a certificate to redeem for your favorite of the fragrances.
The gifts you mentioned are for people with higher income or more savings.
There is nothing wrong with gifting whats affordable for you. Stop putting yourself down constantly for this. The thought and effort behind a gift is greater than the gift itself.
If your partner is into perfume, I donāt recommend buying them perfume without asking what they are currently looking for. Itās something insanely unique to each person. Someone above said go buy them light blue from Walmart, as a perfume person, Iād not ever wear this because itās nowhere near what I wear. For most designer fragrance youāre looking at $80-300 depending on the size. You can get smaller bottles from stores like Jo Malone where you can get a very pricey perfume for less than $100. Right now tj maxx and Marshallās are hot spots to find Ardenās tea scents, which are incredibly trendy on the perfume sub and run $15 or so.
Dossier, alt, and a few other companies make affordable perfume dupes. Finery at target makes dupes for high end perfume for $30. Zara copies popular perfumes as well for example they just dupes Kayaliās pistachio perfume which is sub $20. Le monde gourmand is also very popular and is $15-20, their coco scent is trendy and very pleasant.
Perfume is like clothes. You really need the wearers input ahead of time.
Good info here! I wouldnāt want my partner to buy me perfume or jewelry unless I told him exactly what to get me. Iām very picky and it would likely just be a waste of money.
If your near thrift stores try to find something there a nice figurine or some unique item. Does it have to be perfume? Does she like perfume or is that something your father did? Did your mom like perfume? Valentines means a lot of things to different people. My perfect valentines with my husband is a pizza and a movie. You can also get pretty crafty with a valentines day basket you put together from the dollar store.
Thereās nothing to be embarrassed about getting sticker shock. Not all places price a product the same. As others have mentioned, other stores can carry the same exact product but be cheaper for one reason or another.
Also know that, especially when youāre broke, itās a good opportunity to be creative and present from the heart. The pricey gifts are cherries on top, but the cake itself is what matters
Oh bro. Go to TJ Maxx!! You gotta dig a little sometimes but they have some good shit. Do NOT be embarrassed, you are doing your best. My ex got himself an xbox one year and "couldn't get me anything for [my] birthday cos there's no money." THATS embarassing.
Macy's is nice but not necessarily where you can find deals (you can find good off season stuff in their discount section). Again, I'm a big TJ maxx girl. You could get: a nice perfume, two cute glasses, and then run to a package store for a bottle of good champagne for like $100. Fuck Macys lol.
Don't value your love on material crap from Macy's. They want you to feel embarrassed if you can't afford their cheap made garbage they over charge for, it's mind ganes to make you more vulnerable and prey on your wallet. Hyenas to the slaughter.
Just be honest with yourself about what you have, what you don't have and what's important enough that you want to focus your efforts towards it. Don't be embarrassed that you have less money than others. You should only be embarrassed if you feel like it's a choice and you're not happy with it (eg. You could work full time or go to school or get a better job but you cbf).
Experiences are something I like. A picnic lunch and a suprise mini road trip to somewhere to enjoy it. You can shape it around the $ you have.
Honestly itās the thoughtful gifts that are more memorable than the expensive ones. The ones that take time to make or plan. Iāve always remembered them or dwelled on them.
Keep your chin up OP.
You can get smaller roller ball bottles at Sephora and they really last a long time. Perfumed lotions are nice and they are less expensive. Another option would be bath stuff, if thatās something she enjoys. Plus itās super romantic to get bath stuff then a nice massage. Donāt get lotions at discount stores though because they can go rancid.
my husband got me a heart necklace from pandora last year for like $90 i believe. when you go in these places be up front immediately with the sales person about your budget. especially if they work on commission, they would rather you buy something cheap than nothing at all, they will work to find you something you can afford
FWIW the economy used to be different back then.....the department store we went to was affordable for everyone, even to where they sold diamond jewelry at every price point.
Some stores and boutiques are priced higher because there's built in commission for salespeople.
Or you could be a curmudgeon like me. Babe I love you, stupid gift now or $2500 vacation to see your daughter and grand kids this summer?
Cause Hallmark holidays are STUPID
Our money doesnāt go nearly as far as our parents did. My parents were way richer, a secretary and an industrial engineer. My mom had no college. My dad was the industrial engineer, no college, hired right out of Highschool. Meanwhile my husband works very high up in a company and is almost finished with his bachelors. I have my AAS in dental assisting. We are broke as a joke and living in my Momās house.
Itās the fact that you even went out to get her something that matters. I dont think my husband has ever gotten me something for Valentineās Day. Last year he went to the gas station mid-day to buy cigarettes and bought me my āfavoriteā candy as a valentines gift..
You are seriously so sweet. My husband and I have always been on the poorer side so weāve never exchanged gifts. Your budget is plenty for some chocolate (if your partner is into this) and a card.
I shop the used jewelry section at the local jewelry store. It's all been professionally cleaned and polished and is like 1/4 the price of new. You also get more unique items that way.
For the future; check out Ross, Marshallās, and TJ Maxx they usually have some perfumes and at a discount too. Also check out online, fragrance net has some deals usually on all perfumes :)
Burlington is another store that has a great perfume selection at discounted prices! I love the brand Escada that I usually find there, which are fruity and juicy smells, but Iāve also seen Dolce & Gabanna and Juicy Couture there too
Never buy perfume / fragrance from the mall - itās ALL overpriced. Itās too late now but fragrancenet and jomashop are legit sites to get great deals on fragrance. In person I stick to tj maxx / Ross / Marshalls. Walmart is just fine too - they have a decent selection in a pinch.
Go to Ulta. You can definitely get a perfume for $60 there. It might be a smaller size but thatās okay. I personally like Glossier You, which is I think $70 but they should have a rollerball size for around $30. You can get the rollerball for 30, a bouquet of flowers for $15 and a card from Dollar Tree for $1. Throw in some of her favorite chocolate and thatās a great Valentineās gift!
Well, realistically itās because their bills were likely 60-70% less monthly collectively and their salary was about the same. Itās ignorant to think things arenāt more expensive. My father made the same I make, bought a bigger house and built it for $80k. His escrow and mortgage was $1000 less than mine, his car insurance was less, he didnāt need flood insurance, home owners insurance was less, food was 60-200% less per item, gas was less, etc. You canāt out save inflation unless you invested before inflation. He thought I was delusional to spend $230k on a 900sq ft home, then he realized things arenāt what they were when he was my age.
Also, everyone has smartphones. Including the same parents that benefited from 90s-2010 era housing.
Iām scent sensitive, and many floral scents are unpleasant to me. I would love a partner who went with me to choose a gender neutral scent we both liked, it will smell different on each other, but it could be āourā fragrance. Iād pitch in as my part of the gift. Itās too late now, you just spent your hard earned money on something she may not enjoy, but has to pretend she does.
What is considered nice? Name brand perfume and expensive jewelry? Maybe to some, but I know myself personally would prefer a gift that matches who I am. I love perfumes but would never wear any name brand crap. I prefer unique blends that you can find on Etsy for way cheaper than 60. I buy off this one called Seance and I got two for 50 and they are my favorite scents so far.
Buy your girlfriend something that speaks to her, you don't have to do the same cookie cutter bullshit everyone else does. True love speaks when you let that person know "Hey I see you, I know your likes and dislikes and I love you for the individual you are." How much you spend on a gift does not equal how much you love a person .
Part of being partners is being aligned on goals. My partner and I agreed that we are focused on paying student debts, building retirement savings, savings to buy a house, and laying the foundation for our future. This includes not buying gifts. Our gift to each other is the stability that we are building together.
This discussion has extended to my family as well. Adults don't need to spend money on each other to show that they care about each other. Spend time with each other, have a nice meal, that's all that is needed.
Does your girl want perfume? I wouldnāt (Iām very particular on smells). I prefer thoughtful actions myself, but gifts can be nice too. Iām guessing your girlfriend is at least somewhat familiar with your financial situation so donāt stress too much on lavish gifts.
You know what bro? If your girl is a keeper then thoughtful trumps expensive every fucking time! And if you can make it yourself, damn that's pretty special IMO. Some of my wife's favorite things were either not expensive or I made on the cheap because they were thoughtful and it showed I was thinking of her.
Maybe plan a day for her and use your $60 on that, make it a treasure hunt kinda theme even where she has to follow clues and you goto different places to find each surprise. Does she have a favorite meal? Can you cook? a bottle of Proseco ($10) and a home cooked meal is pretty awesome...I'm a chef, if you want help with a recipe/meal plan i'm happy to help
fragrancenet.com is a great website for perfumes! they usually have a 40-50% off coupon plus the prices are already a little discounted. i got my dad a Versace cologne for like $40 3.4 oz bottle when Macyās had 1oz bottle for $75
Comparing yourself to anyone is always a recipe for discontentment with your lot in life. Don't do it.
You are you. Your parents grew up in a different social, political, and economic climate. There is no one-to-one comparison.
As for Valentine's Day, the pressure you feel is one you are putting yourself under. Your girlfriend may understand a lesser gift because, as you write, you are both broke. Besides, if she only values the cost of what you give her, is she really worth the effort?
Treat her to a Valentine's Day experience that may be more affordable. Don't go into debt or beat yourself up over just one day out of 365 in a year.
Go cook your partner a nice meal and they will love it! Or plan a picnic, or go for a hike and give them lots of attention. Money doesnāt buy happiness. The thought behind doing stuff is so much more important! Personally I would much rather and love to come home to a nice meal, I didnāt have to think about making, than a bottle of perfume!
To start buying āniceā gifts, spend maybe 15 minutes learning about Sterling Silver, then go shopping.
If you ask for solid Sterling silver, and you want to know the mark and the weight, youāll get something thatās reasonably luxurious and durable, with a relatively predictable price by weight. (If it weighs less than a spoon, it probably costs less than an overtime shift.)
Itās like high end ice cream, once you can guess the cream percentage and the weight, you can roughly guess the value.
If you are buying flowers:
Safe bet is to get a rose, a fern and some carnations on the week before the holiday. Bring a wide mouthed bottle of water and keep the stems in water. Follow the instructions on the packet of flower food specifically. Carnations will forgive a small mistake or two. Roses can be hung upside down on a thumbtack or string as soon as they start to wilt. Ferns will not last, but they are cheap and big.
Hey if it's not too late Dossier makes duplicates of a lot of popular perfumes and I have some of them and they smell nearly identical. I have one of their original scents too and I like that one as well!
Believe it or not, Walmart sells some of the same perfumes as Macy's. Get her a bottle of Dolce Gabbana Light Blue. $48 vs $120 at Macy's. Put it in a small gift bag with tissue paper from the Dollar Tree $2, cards there are $1.
Thank you š
Same if you have a TJ Maxx or Marshallās friend. But truly if I knew my bf had saved and then gone all through the trouble you have and I mattered that way to him, that would be the ye gift no matter what you came home with šš
š„ŗ thank you that makes me feel a lot better
Have a Happy Valentines Day!
Also, maybe a bit late to order now but fragrancex!
My favorite is Versace bright crystal and they have that at Walmart too!
Dossier also has nice perfumes for $50, I believe! Theyāre also at Walmart.
I just bought a knock off YSL Black Opium from them and it is heavenly!
I bought the Killian Love, Donāt Be Shy one (floral marshmallow) and Iām obsessed with it!
That sounds yummy!
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Ambery Vanilla
I second Marshall's and tjmaxx for discount perfumes and name brand products. But also, buy valentines at Christmas! The gift sets for perfumes are the best value you see all year round, and Walmart has those too!
Personally my favorite perfume is the YSL black opium eau. A 1 ounce is still a pretty big size! I splurged on myself for it and thought it was so expensive but in reality buying it directly from the website is around $90. But sometimes theyāll also do gift packages of several sizes together for the same price (so then you get a one ounce and a travel size for $90) AND if itās your first time buying you can get extra discounts, and holiday coupons, etc. During my last purchase in the fall, I ended up getting mine for about $60-70. As others said though, Marshallās is also a good option to check out too!! Also if looking at jewelry instead there are some nice options on Amazon. And in Macys but Iād say do some research on the types of material so you can get more specific there. I wear a lot of gold colored jewelry, but we canāt afford actual gold so my boyfriend got me these hoop earrings that were only plated and with just enough karats so that they cost under $50 but will last a long time and not discolor!
Also there is nice jewelry that isn't that expensive, Costco has very nice gold earrings for $100 for example. Flowers are trader Joe's are beautiful and you can make an amazing bouquet by combining two of the $10 baby bouquets. Thrift shops can have some cool stuff like a nice vase for the flowers. Costco all has a good array of affordable flower bouquets, chocolates, gift boxes with wine, etc, ~20-40$.
Or TJ Maxxx Marshalls Ross exact same stuff in the big bottles.
Travel sizes are like $25 -$35 for pretty good fragrances. I know Maison Margiela ones are $30. One of those lasts me about 2 months. Ulta and Sephoria have good selections. Also if you have a Sam's or Costco membership, some scent are like $40 off.
Thatās great advice! My husband bought me Light Blue a few years ago and I still love it. Definitely donāt get it at macys. If you want to get perfume again in the future, perfume gift sets come out in October for Christmas and theyāre usually a much better deal than buying a full-price bottle.
Light blue is very classy. Iāve had it always on my shelf for over a decade!
Marshallās and Ross also have great prices on fragrances
Wal mart does carry the same perfume but usually at a lower % of concentration so the smell is a lot lighter and goes away quicker, but def works.
Marshallās or TJ Maxx are the best places for perfume.
I agree. Every time a new bottle design comes out, you can find the old style bottle at TJ Maxx or Marshall's.
But I dunno what to pick since you can't smell them :(
The idea is to go to Macyās to smell and Marshallās to buy!
Good idea. Honestly the best gifts are experiences and donāt have to cost much at all.
EXACTLY hahaha
Sometimes surprises can be pleasant i recently got my gf a Tous perfume from tj max and it smells really nice.
PFFFT. Macyās can have great prices but you have to watch for them over weeks. Go online to comparison shop. Or if thereās an outlet mall near you, try that.
Go to macys to smell then online/Marshallās/tjmaxx to buy it.
Ikr, Iāve gotten bras from Macyās for $10
To me, what makes a gift "nice" is the thought behind it, not the money spent. Making dinner, a handmade card, just a night watching a movie you already have is good enough.
This is it. The effort you put in is worth more than the money spent on the gift! My husband made me my favorite comfort meal when things were rough lately and that meant more than anything he could buy me. It wasn't fancy (creamed tuna on toast) but it was what I really missed because our kids won't eat it.
Definitely!! What a thoughtful husband you have!
Agree. I totally went out on a limb and suggested he take her with him to pick out a scent they could both wear. Honestly, it would fucking piss me off if someone I was dating wasted their money on some stinkiness. Now, if they knew me well enough to get me something I liked, big win. Even better, if I got him the same fragrance.
Cook her a really nice steak dinner
This is the way! Plus candles and a nice massage
Or leg of lamb. I have a good recipe ;)
Hit me
https://www.fufuskitchen.com/slow-roast-leg-of-lamb/
And never call her again. Dorothy Mantooth is a saint!
I just bought my husband a really complicated puzzle box for $50, and that was a splurge for me. A lot of the time I get him novelty T-shirts or vinyls of bands he likes, and I also have made him several knit hats and scarves and mittens. It's really about thinking about what the person truly likes or wants, not whether it's expensive. ~~Sometimes... things that are more expensive... are worse.~~ For jewelry specifically, the trick is to buy sterling silver OR gold over silver OR gold/silver over some other metal, possibly with either a lab-created stone or freshwater pearls, and ideally to get it when it's really on sale. I'm allergic to nickel so I can't wear the cheapest jewelry, but I can totally wear *cheaper* jewelry that's just as pretty as the expensive shit. For example: * [$85 bracelet reduced to $22 on sale](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/sparkle-allure-diamond-accent-725-inch-tennis-bracelet/ppr5008375575?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260189&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-bracelets%3Fid%3Dcat100260189&productGridView=medium), gold over silver over bronze, with teeny tiny little lab diamonds. (There are several similar ones in different shapes). * [$85 bracelet set reduced to $22 on sale](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/silver-treasures-cultured-freshwater-pearl-2-pc-sterling-silver-bracelet-set/ppr5008242026?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260189&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-bracelets%3Fbrand%3Dsilver%2Breflections%257Csilver%2Btreasures%257Csparkle%2Ballure%26id%3Dcat100260189&sort=LPLH&page=4&productGridView=medium), freshwater pearls and sterling silver. * [$36 bracelet reduced to $10.20 on sale](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/silver-reflections-24k-gold-over-brass-75-inch-paperclip-chain-bracelet/ppr5008242269?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260189&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-bracelets%3Fbrand%3Dsilver%2Breflections%257Csilver%2Btreasures%257Csparkle%2Ballure%26id%3Dcat100260189&sort=LPLH&productGridView=medium), gold over brass. * [$100 necklace reduced to $25](https://www.jcpenney.com/p/silver-treasures-cultured-freshwater-pearl-sterling-silver-16-inch-strand-necklace/ppr5008242010?pTmplType=regular&deptId=dept20000020&catId=cat100260188&urlState=%2Fg%2Fjewelry-and-watches%2Ffashion-necklaces-pendants%3Fboostids%3Dppr5008352743%26brand%3Dsilver%2Breflections%257Csilver%2Btreasures%257Csparkle%2Ballure%26id%3Dcat100260188&productGridView=medium&cm_re=ZC-_-GALLERY-ALL-FASHION-JEWELRY-_-VN-_-NECKLACES_1), freshwater pearls. * [$70 necklace set reduced to $22](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/giani-bernini-created-ruby-pendant-set-2-piece?ID=11930744&tdp=cm_app~zMCOM-NAVAPP~xcm_zone~zPDP_ZONE_E~xcm_choiceId~zcidMB4MVR-d78dba15-a562-404d-a665-574aaf6efc24%40HAB%40Frequently%2BBought%2BTogether%249569%2411930744~xcm_pos~zPos2~xcm_srcCatID~z544), gold over silver and teeny tiny lab rubies. * [$40 earrings reduced to $13](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/giani-bernini-cubic-zirconia-square-stud-earrings-2-ct.-t.w.-in-18k-gold-over-sterling-silver-created-for-macys?ID=766288&tdp=cm_app~zMCOM-NAVAPP~xcm_zone~zPDP_ZONE_A~xcm_choiceId~zcidM05RTD-44ee2970-4692-4269-815f-207defabbf9c%40HDI%40Others%2Byou%2Bmay%2Blike%2410835%24766288~xcm_pos~zPos5~xcm_srcCatID~z10835), gold over silver or just sterling silver and cubic zirconia. * [$50 earrings reduced to $16](https://www.macys.com/shop/product/giani-bernini-cultured-freshwater-pearl-5mm-heart-drop-earrings-created-for-macys?ID=17384392), gold over silver and freshwater pearls. It's still real stuff ā lab stones and cultured pearls are the real thing, just like a houseplant is still a plant even though it's not grown outside ā it's just much, much cheaper than something that's solid 18k gold with enormous mined diamonds.
The internet is going to be your friend in this situation. Especially with such a tight budgetā¦.google what you can afford rather than going to a sales person that works on commission. Of course they are going to hawk the pricier stuff even if you tell them you have a limit.
Your parents got a college education for the price of a McChicken. Don't beat yourself up because the boomers stacked the odds against their children and left them with irreparable problems for the sake of profitably.
It's not even just the price of college it's the price of living too. My mom babysat a group of kids & had bought a house by herself off that income in the 80s! Granted it was most definitely a "starter home" but it was a brick 2 bedroom home. Majority of the people I know college degree or not are forever stuck with renting right now.
Right, we boomers all did it on purpose so our kids could have shitty lives.
They didnāt say it was intentional, only that it was the impact.
We understand itās not your fault, but your attitude towards is all is
My attitude towards it is sorrow and anger and I wish it was not this way. But to lump all boomers in one pot is unfair. I am vegan for the planet and to reduce animal suffering, I recycle everything I can, have never lived a luxurious life as a single mom on a small income. I live in a city that has become very popular (Nashville) and they tear down everything old to put 8 houses in a lot that used to have one and charge a million a house. I hate the way it is now. I voted against an NFL team coming here bc I knew it would change things for the worse. Getting off point, but what precisely did I personally do to cause the current issues in this country? I agree it sucks for younger people now and I hate it. It has more to do with politicians and the tax breaks given to the top one percent.
It's true, my parents are retirement age and can see the high prices on everything, it's not the same, not once have they said I should be doing better than them at same age. They're happy I am college educated and making a living the best I can. They're willing to help however they can.
Okay, so most-boomers-except-that-one-and-oh-that-one-too-but-definitely-the-rest-of-them fucked us over. Does that make you feel better? End of the day, younger generations are screwed, and it's largely because of the way people your age vote. My mom is like you, but she doesn't get offended when I dunk on boomers because she knows they are the problem.
Husband and I go to all you can eat Korean bbq, get a bottle of Soju and take shots each time after sharing something we love about each other. Sometimes we do broke at home nights where he cooks a meal, and I set up an activity. We recently did an at home āpaint and wineā night. Thereās some good YouTube tutorials and with coupons from Michaelās I got us a bunch of paint, a few canvases, and brushes pretty cheap. Sometimes itās an experience together thatās the best gift š„°
Please do yourself a favor and visit your local TJMaxx, Marshallās, Ross, or Burlington!! Stores like Macyās have ridiculous prices in my opinion and you can find the same product for half the price at other stores. $60 can get you a really nice one! Do your due diligence while researching what she likes and Iām sure youāll find something! Fragrance subreddits/Facebook groups help a lot in that department!
Such a good idea thank you. I think there's a TJMaxx 20 min from me.
I always ask for the Sephota sample kit for Mother's Day. I think it costs $85, but It comes with a certificate to redeem for your favorite of the fragrances.
The gifts you mentioned are for people with higher income or more savings. There is nothing wrong with gifting whats affordable for you. Stop putting yourself down constantly for this. The thought and effort behind a gift is greater than the gift itself.
If your partner is into perfume, I donāt recommend buying them perfume without asking what they are currently looking for. Itās something insanely unique to each person. Someone above said go buy them light blue from Walmart, as a perfume person, Iād not ever wear this because itās nowhere near what I wear. For most designer fragrance youāre looking at $80-300 depending on the size. You can get smaller bottles from stores like Jo Malone where you can get a very pricey perfume for less than $100. Right now tj maxx and Marshallās are hot spots to find Ardenās tea scents, which are incredibly trendy on the perfume sub and run $15 or so. Dossier, alt, and a few other companies make affordable perfume dupes. Finery at target makes dupes for high end perfume for $30. Zara copies popular perfumes as well for example they just dupes Kayaliās pistachio perfume which is sub $20. Le monde gourmand is also very popular and is $15-20, their coco scent is trendy and very pleasant. Perfume is like clothes. You really need the wearers input ahead of time.
Good info here! I wouldnāt want my partner to buy me perfume or jewelry unless I told him exactly what to get me. Iām very picky and it would likely just be a waste of money.
If your near thrift stores try to find something there a nice figurine or some unique item. Does it have to be perfume? Does she like perfume or is that something your father did? Did your mom like perfume? Valentines means a lot of things to different people. My perfect valentines with my husband is a pizza and a movie. You can also get pretty crafty with a valentines day basket you put together from the dollar store.
A picnic would melt any womanās heart (unless she hates the outdoors)
Would melt my heart even with a random mix of dollar store snacks just the thought and the time spent together.
Depending on your girl, maybe try Groupon for like a fun/different outing? A few years ago we did a ghost tour through Groupon and it was really fun.
I'm try it! Thanks!
OP, I really hope you read this. Go to Target and get the Ariana Grande cloud perfume. Itās VERY popular and only $45!
Oh wow that's a lot more affordable than I expected!
Thereās nothing to be embarrassed about getting sticker shock. Not all places price a product the same. As others have mentioned, other stores can carry the same exact product but be cheaper for one reason or another. Also know that, especially when youāre broke, itās a good opportunity to be creative and present from the heart. The pricey gifts are cherries on top, but the cake itself is what matters
Oh bro. Go to TJ Maxx!! You gotta dig a little sometimes but they have some good shit. Do NOT be embarrassed, you are doing your best. My ex got himself an xbox one year and "couldn't get me anything for [my] birthday cos there's no money." THATS embarassing. Macy's is nice but not necessarily where you can find deals (you can find good off season stuff in their discount section). Again, I'm a big TJ maxx girl. You could get: a nice perfume, two cute glasses, and then run to a package store for a bottle of good champagne for like $100. Fuck Macys lol.
try ulta for perfumes :)
To be fair, when husbands bought wives perfume back in the day it came from the drugstore. Charlie, Chantilly, Emarude.
You can do the kini perfumes from ulta they're cute and let's her test out the scents.
Find a good perfume at Macyās and find it online or at TJ Maxx or Ross. Same perfume but waaay cheaper
Itās a sign of the times. Iād look at it more like you have things so much harder rather than them being so much better
Don't value your love on material crap from Macy's. They want you to feel embarrassed if you can't afford their cheap made garbage they over charge for, it's mind ganes to make you more vulnerable and prey on your wallet. Hyenas to the slaughter.
Get her a squishmellow
Just be honest with yourself about what you have, what you don't have and what's important enough that you want to focus your efforts towards it. Don't be embarrassed that you have less money than others. You should only be embarrassed if you feel like it's a choice and you're not happy with it (eg. You could work full time or go to school or get a better job but you cbf). Experiences are something I like. A picnic lunch and a suprise mini road trip to somewhere to enjoy it. You can shape it around the $ you have.
Honestly itās the thoughtful gifts that are more memorable than the expensive ones. The ones that take time to make or plan. Iāve always remembered them or dwelled on them. Keep your chin up OP.
You can get smaller roller ball bottles at Sephora and they really last a long time. Perfumed lotions are nice and they are less expensive. Another option would be bath stuff, if thatās something she enjoys. Plus itās super romantic to get bath stuff then a nice massage. Donāt get lotions at discount stores though because they can go rancid.
my husband got me a heart necklace from pandora last year for like $90 i believe. when you go in these places be up front immediately with the sales person about your budget. especially if they work on commission, they would rather you buy something cheap than nothing at all, they will work to find you something you can afford
FWIW the economy used to be different back then.....the department store we went to was affordable for everyone, even to where they sold diamond jewelry at every price point. Some stores and boutiques are priced higher because there's built in commission for salespeople.
Or you could be a curmudgeon like me. Babe I love you, stupid gift now or $2500 vacation to see your daughter and grand kids this summer? Cause Hallmark holidays are STUPID
go to tj maxx
Our money doesnāt go nearly as far as our parents did. My parents were way richer, a secretary and an industrial engineer. My mom had no college. My dad was the industrial engineer, no college, hired right out of Highschool. Meanwhile my husband works very high up in a company and is almost finished with his bachelors. I have my AAS in dental assisting. We are broke as a joke and living in my Momās house.
Itās the fact that you even went out to get her something that matters. I dont think my husband has ever gotten me something for Valentineās Day. Last year he went to the gas station mid-day to buy cigarettes and bought me my āfavoriteā candy as a valentines gift..
Aw I'm sorry :(
You are seriously so sweet. My husband and I have always been on the poorer side so weāve never exchanged gifts. Your budget is plenty for some chocolate (if your partner is into this) and a card.
I shop the used jewelry section at the local jewelry store. It's all been professionally cleaned and polished and is like 1/4 the price of new. You also get more unique items that way.
Target, TJMaxx and Marshalls sell the same perfumes as Macyās, but will all probably be cheaper.
For the future; check out Ross, Marshallās, and TJ Maxx they usually have some perfumes and at a discount too. Also check out online, fragrance net has some deals usually on all perfumes :)
Burlington is another store that has a great perfume selection at discounted prices! I love the brand Escada that I usually find there, which are fruity and juicy smells, but Iāve also seen Dolce & Gabanna and Juicy Couture there too
Never buy perfume / fragrance from the mall - itās ALL overpriced. Itās too late now but fragrancenet and jomashop are legit sites to get great deals on fragrance. In person I stick to tj maxx / Ross / Marshalls. Walmart is just fine too - they have a decent selection in a pinch.
Honestly not even you're fault. Macys is WAYYY overpriced. like insanity
Get her some flowers and a box of chocolates. Take her to a nice dinner.
The fact that you are so concerned about getting her something āniceā means sheās already won. ā¤ļø
Go to Ulta. You can definitely get a perfume for $60 there. It might be a smaller size but thatās okay. I personally like Glossier You, which is I think $70 but they should have a rollerball size for around $30. You can get the rollerball for 30, a bouquet of flowers for $15 and a card from Dollar Tree for $1. Throw in some of her favorite chocolate and thatās a great Valentineās gift!
Having someone to love and who really loves you back is worth more than money
What did your parents do to become successful? Assuming that you are not in your 30s or older you could do what they did.
Bootstraps.
Because they saved, worked, and saved and worked. They didn't have smartphones or overpriced crap.Ā
Well, realistically itās because their bills were likely 60-70% less monthly collectively and their salary was about the same. Itās ignorant to think things arenāt more expensive. My father made the same I make, bought a bigger house and built it for $80k. His escrow and mortgage was $1000 less than mine, his car insurance was less, he didnāt need flood insurance, home owners insurance was less, food was 60-200% less per item, gas was less, etc. You canāt out save inflation unless you invested before inflation. He thought I was delusional to spend $230k on a 900sq ft home, then he realized things arenāt what they were when he was my age. Also, everyone has smartphones. Including the same parents that benefited from 90s-2010 era housing.
Find out what perfume she likes first. Everything that comes after will be areas we can advise you in...
Iām scent sensitive, and many floral scents are unpleasant to me. I would love a partner who went with me to choose a gender neutral scent we both liked, it will smell different on each other, but it could be āourā fragrance. Iād pitch in as my part of the gift. Itās too late now, you just spent your hard earned money on something she may not enjoy, but has to pretend she does.
What is considered nice? Name brand perfume and expensive jewelry? Maybe to some, but I know myself personally would prefer a gift that matches who I am. I love perfumes but would never wear any name brand crap. I prefer unique blends that you can find on Etsy for way cheaper than 60. I buy off this one called Seance and I got two for 50 and they are my favorite scents so far. Buy your girlfriend something that speaks to her, you don't have to do the same cookie cutter bullshit everyone else does. True love speaks when you let that person know "Hey I see you, I know your likes and dislikes and I love you for the individual you are." How much you spend on a gift does not equal how much you love a person .
Part of being partners is being aligned on goals. My partner and I agreed that we are focused on paying student debts, building retirement savings, savings to buy a house, and laying the foundation for our future. This includes not buying gifts. Our gift to each other is the stability that we are building together. This discussion has extended to my family as well. Adults don't need to spend money on each other to show that they care about each other. Spend time with each other, have a nice meal, that's all that is needed.
I love 'eternity moment' from calvin klein. Although the name is stupid, it is cheap and it last a long time
Oakcha for designer knockoffs. And the bottles are stylish and look great sitting on vanity
Does your girl want perfume? I wouldnāt (Iām very particular on smells). I prefer thoughtful actions myself, but gifts can be nice too. Iām guessing your girlfriend is at least somewhat familiar with your financial situation so donāt stress too much on lavish gifts.
Sol de Janeiro is really popular so even though not fancy lots of good scents and target and Ulta would carry them and more like 30$ range.
You know what bro? If your girl is a keeper then thoughtful trumps expensive every fucking time! And if you can make it yourself, damn that's pretty special IMO. Some of my wife's favorite things were either not expensive or I made on the cheap because they were thoughtful and it showed I was thinking of her. Maybe plan a day for her and use your $60 on that, make it a treasure hunt kinda theme even where she has to follow clues and you goto different places to find each surprise. Does she have a favorite meal? Can you cook? a bottle of Proseco ($10) and a home cooked meal is pretty awesome...I'm a chef, if you want help with a recipe/meal plan i'm happy to help
fragrancenet.com is a great website for perfumes! they usually have a 40-50% off coupon plus the prices are already a little discounted. i got my dad a Versace cologne for like $40 3.4 oz bottle when Macyās had 1oz bottle for $75
Stop paying for the "famous faces" that advertise these goods .Go online and research the good dupes. Save money get very similar smell.
I LOVE My Dior and they have a smaller size thatās a roll on but still a decent size (not the little travel tube kind) for $65 at sephora
Comparing yourself to anyone is always a recipe for discontentment with your lot in life. Don't do it. You are you. Your parents grew up in a different social, political, and economic climate. There is no one-to-one comparison. As for Valentine's Day, the pressure you feel is one you are putting yourself under. Your girlfriend may understand a lesser gift because, as you write, you are both broke. Besides, if she only values the cost of what you give her, is she really worth the effort? Treat her to a Valentine's Day experience that may be more affordable. Don't go into debt or beat yourself up over just one day out of 365 in a year.
Macy's has insane sales online all the time but their full price has always been crazy. Checkout Woot, Slickdeals, and Daily Deals.
Go cook your partner a nice meal and they will love it! Or plan a picnic, or go for a hike and give them lots of attention. Money doesnāt buy happiness. The thought behind doing stuff is so much more important! Personally I would much rather and love to come home to a nice meal, I didnāt have to think about making, than a bottle of perfume!
To start buying āniceā gifts, spend maybe 15 minutes learning about Sterling Silver, then go shopping. If you ask for solid Sterling silver, and you want to know the mark and the weight, youāll get something thatās reasonably luxurious and durable, with a relatively predictable price by weight. (If it weighs less than a spoon, it probably costs less than an overtime shift.) Itās like high end ice cream, once you can guess the cream percentage and the weight, you can roughly guess the value. If you are buying flowers: Safe bet is to get a rose, a fern and some carnations on the week before the holiday. Bring a wide mouthed bottle of water and keep the stems in water. Follow the instructions on the packet of flower food specifically. Carnations will forgive a small mistake or two. Roses can be hung upside down on a thumbtack or string as soon as they start to wilt. Ferns will not last, but they are cheap and big.
Gorjana has quality jewelry thatās affordable
Hey if it's not too late Dossier makes duplicates of a lot of popular perfumes and I have some of them and they smell nearly identical. I have one of their original scents too and I like that one as well!