Moms Talk: Valentines Day Gift Ideas On The Cheap

Editor's Note: Moms Talk is a new feature on Chestnut Hill Patch that is part of a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families.

We invite you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Chestnut Hill.

Each week in Moms Talk, our will take questions, give you advice and share solutions. Ideally, you'll have a new resource for questions that have to do with family- and child-related issues.

 This week, we asked local moms what type of gifts busy moms could get their significant others for Valentines Day when money and time are tight.

Our first response came from Moms Council member and Patch contributor Virginia St. Claire:

“When money's tight, the first thing I think of is what I can make or what I can offer of my time that doesn't cost anything. My favorite has been heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink icing. I make the pink by adding beet juice to the powdered sugar and butter. I also write notes of appreciation on heart cutouts and put them all over the house. Finally, a foot rub or a back massage is always a welcome sign of love.”

Our second response is from Moms Council member Jeanianne Sedlack:

“In these tough financial times, a gift truly from the heart seems the most appropriate and meaningful, especially when you've been a team for 20 years. I would create a coupon book that would be redeemable for a back rub or wine/cheese/conversation date after the kids are in bed, for example. As a surprise I would place the homemade coupon card and a chocolate rose in my husband's briefcase for him to open when he arrives at work. That puts everyone in a good mood. Valentine's night I would make a special dinner for the whole family to enjoy.”