Last year, according to the National Retail Federation, the average person spent just under $135 on Valentine’s Day, with total spending over 17 billion bucks. Wow, those are some BIG numbers. The interesting thing is that most guys wait until the day before V-Day to buy gifts or make dinner plans. The result is spending WAY more money than you should on flowers, dinner, and popular gifts like jewelry, candy, and personalized gadgets.

I’ll admit right up front that my wife and I aren’t big Valentine’s Day people as we realize much of the hoopla is man-made. But I always get her something, take her out for dinner, or do something extra nice for her. I have also realized over the years that with just a little bit of planning and strategy you can easily save a significant chunk of money and still make the day special. Here are some timely tips to get you started in the right direction.

1. Find Deals on Roses

Roses can be darn expensive, especially the week leading up to Valentine’s Day as growers start price gouging as demand goes through the roof.

Your best best for finding bargain roses is to shop locally for the best deals and avoid online florists altogether.

Especially consider warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club, and specialty retailers like Trader Joe’s, where you’ll be able to get a dozen roses for up to 33% cheaper than online florists like 1-800-Flowers.com, FTD.com, and ProFlowers.com.

Also, if you have a problem with your flowers, you can get an easy exchange or refund from a local store where a problem with an online purchase will result in a long customer service call and probably no flowers to give your loved one on the big day.

Another smart tip is to consider roses of a color other than red. A dozen red roses are typically $20 more than yellow, pink, or orange roses. 

lso, if you have a few red roses arranged with some less expensive flowers you can save a solid chunk of change as well.

Another tip is to not fall for the “free” vase trick as often you can buy your own vase and get a better deal overall.

If you do decide to order from an online florist, try setting the delivery date to the day before Valentine’s Day as it can be much more affordable.

2. Find a Killer Valentine’s Day Coupon

Keep in mind that Valentine’s Day is a big time of year for many online retailers and they throw out the incentives and coupons to maximize profits.

So be sure to always look for a coupon code when shopping online for gifts like jewelry, flowers, candy and personalized gifts.

Here at Rather-Be-Shopping.com, we have already received great coupons from Harry & David, Red Envelope.com, 1-800-Flowers.com, Shutterfly.com, and Ice Jewelry.com.

You can easily save 15%-25% off your online purchase this year by spending the 45 seconds required to find a coupon code and plugging it into the box when checking out from the retailer’s website.

3. Save Money at Restaurants

The single best way to score a deal at a restaurant is to use Groupon and LivingSocial in the week leading up to V-Day as both always have great local restaurant coupons specifically for the big day.

Last year, Groupon let me buy a coupon good for $30 off a meal for 2, including drinks, appetizer, and dessert at a very highly regarded restaurant in my town. Look for more of the same this year.

Also, if possible, consider a Valentine’s Day lunch and avoid the crowd and more expensive meal.

Another smart tip is to consider going out to dinner with your honey on the day before (or after) V-Day as you’ll have access to even better coupons and won’t have to fight the crowd to reserve a table.

Many restaurants only have a set menu for Valentine’s Day and it can be more expensive than their regular menu.

4. Use a Discounted Gift Card

Are you aware that you can purchase discounted gift cards for restaurants like Outback Steakhouse, P.F. Chang’s, Red Lobster, Applebee’s,  Black Angus, Ruth’s Chris, Longhorn, Macaroni Grill, and Olive Garden to name a few?

We are talking pretty significant savings up to 25% off. My favorite website for buying discounted restaurant gift cards is Raise.com.

For example, right now on their site you can buy a $25 Outback Steakhouse gift card for $21.50. You can also buy a $50 Red Lobster gift card for just under $44 with free delivery.

Also a $75 Black Angus Steakhouse card for $64.50 with free delivery caught my eye. The savings goes on and on.

Important Tip: If you know where you’ll be dining on V-Day, shop NOW to maximize your savings on a discounted gift card. The sooner the better.

5. See a Movie…on the Cheap

The first thing you need to do is look for free movie screening in your area by entering your area code on the site GoFoBo.com.

If you strike out on free, then move on to cheap. The best way to do this is to buy a discounted movie theater gift card from Gift Card Granny.com.

They sell gift cards to AMC Theaters, Cinemark, Regal Theaters, Fandango, Landmark, and many others. Looks like the average savings right now is around 15% but you can buy a $10 AMC Theaters gift card for a really cheap $5.19.

6. Free (or almost free) Gift Ideas

Here are some great out-of-the-box ideas to woo your wife:

• Leave stick-it notes around the house; write the things you love about her on them.
• Clean out the refrigerator and put her favorite Jamba Juice smoothie inside.
• Wash and vacuum her car and leave a nice note inside.
• Do the grocery shopping and make dinner for her.
• Organize the 2 messiest drawers or cupboards in the house that drive her crazy.
• Get some paint swatches and offer to paint a room in the house how ever she wants.
• Dinner date? Come to the front door and pretend it is your first date.
• Do the laundry and put all the clothes away.
• Make her a music mix (or playlist) with songs that remind you of her.

The comments on my “50 gift ideas” article were very interesting as some folks apparently think I’m a total jerk of a husband for even suggesting some of these.

Please chime in with a comment, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy savings and I hope you have a great Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart. Just make sure it’s NOT at full price.

By Kyle James

Have you ever been stuck with something that’s brand spanking new that you know you’ll NEVER need or use? Whether it be that Tiger King t-shirt your Mom gave you, or that 2nd crock pot from the in-laws, there is always something you wish you could return if you just had the dang receipt. Well, now you can. I researched a bunch of popular retailers that will happily take back items without proof of purchase.

Costco

Because Costco keeps track of all your purchases in their computer system, they don’t require a receipt to make a return.

As long as you have your membership number they can look up your buying history and verify the purchase.

Pretty handy, especially since they allow you to return items at practically any point in the products lifespan.

The only exception is electronics which has a 90 day return policy.

I have personally returned a Keurig coffee maker without a receipt over a year after I originally purchased it. They took it back with no questions asked.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

According to the Dick’s return policy, “If you no longer have your receipt from an in-store purchase, contact our Customer Service team by phone at 1-877-846-9997 or chat now to have a copy of your receipt sent to you, if available.”

If they can’t find it, they’ll ask for a photo ID and issue you store credit for the lowest selling price.

See Also: These Stores Let You Keep Some Items You Try to Return

Home Depot

If you try to return items to The Home Depot sans receipt you won’t be completely out of luck.

According to their return policy, “Returns made without a valid sales receipt or an expired receipt may be exchanged or refunded to a Home Depot store credit or a Home Depot Commercial Account for the lowest advertised price.”

Store credit is WAY better than being stuck with a set of wrenches that you’ll never use.

Home Goods

If you lose your Home Good receipt you’re not completely out of luck.

They’ll give you merchandise credit buy you’ll have to show them your I.D. so they can track your return history.

Their website also states that the name on the merchandise credit must match the name on the photo ID if you ever want to actually use the credit in-store.

Kohl’s

According to the Kohl’s return policy, if you don’t have you receipt, no problem.

From their website, they can “cannot locate your original purchase and/or for non-receipted returns, information from your valid ID will be stored to monitor your return activity.”

Kohl’s won’t give you cash back, but they will give you merchandise credit based on the lowest price of the item in the past 13 weeks.

Lowe’s

According to the Lowe’s website, “In most instances, your receipt can be retrieved by using the original credit card, checking account number, MyLowe’s card or by your phone number.”

Lowe’s also leaves the option open to only give store credit (at the current selling price) on returns without a receipt in case they are unable to retrieve it.

5/15/20 Update: I received a comment from someone saying that Lowe’s has placed a $100 limit on items you can return without a receipt if you’re requesting CASH. Any truth to this? Let me know in the comments.

Macy’s

Macy’s claims they will take back items without a receipt as long as the product still has the original tags or price stickers on it.

As I wrote about here, they can also look up your purchase using “the credit card you used to make your purchase, your return label, packing slip, order or shipping confirmation email or registry number.”

Nordstrom

Nordstrom should be able to help you find your purchase but they’ll probably need your original form of payment to do so.

If they can’t find it, they’ll ask for a valid ID, track your return, then give you credit via a Nordstrom gift card.

Office Depot

The folks at Office Depot will work with you if you don’t have a receipt but there are a bunch of caveats.

First, all returns without a receipt require a valid ID card and tech products without a receipt are NOT returnable.

From the Office Depot website, all other items returned without a receipt “that are active in our computer system will be refunded in the form of an Office Depot or OfficeMax Merchandise Card in an amount equal to the lowest retail price during the preceding 90 days.”

REI

Not only will REI let you return something for up to a year after you bought it, but you don’t even need your receipt to make it happen in most cases.

If you’re a REI member they can look up your purchase easily, if you’re not, they can use your original form of payment to track it down.

You might be stuck with store credit but that ain’t so bad.

ROSS – Dress for Less

While it can be a bit tricky to return an item to Ross without a receipt, it can be done.

From their website, “Merchandise returns without a receipt will require a valid picture ID and if approved by the refund system, will be refunded in the form of a store credit or exchanged at the item’s current selling price.”

Hey, always worth a shot. Return items sooner, rather than later, as stuff gets lowered in price quickly at Ross and you’ll want to get the highest price-point possible.

Sam’s Club

Similar to Costco, Sam’s Club has some solid ways to find your receipt so you can make a return.

First off, you can visit this page, login using your membership number, and print any receipt from the past 3 years.

In most cases, you can also show up at a Sam’s location and they can lookup your purchase history so you can make a return without your receipt.

Worst case scenario you’ll get store credit or a partial refund if they can’t find any proof of purchase.

Staples

Staples will do their best to try and find your purchase using your debit or credit card.

If they can’t find it, and the item is still in sell-able condition, they will issue you store credit for lowest price in the past 30 days.

They reserve the right to say “no return for you” if they feel you are abusing their “no-receipt” return policy.

Target

Target has the ability to look up your purchase, making an original receipt totally optional.

If the item was a gift, and you don’t have a receipt, you are going to be stuck with store credit.

But if you made the purchase with a Target RedCard, Visa, MasterCard, AmEx, or Discover card they can usually find your purchase.

If they can’t find any evidence they will deny the return or give you store credit.

TJ Maxx

TJ Maxx will happily give you store credit if you return items without a receipt but a valid ID will have to be provided.

Your store credit is redeemable both online or at any retail location.

If you’re returning an online purchase you can use your email confirmation if you lost your packing slip.

Tractor Supply Co

Tractor Supply has no problem taking your return if you don’t have the receipt, but be prepared to show a valid ID as they’ll track your returns that way.

If it’s a large order it will require manager’s approval.

You won’t get cash back but they’ll give you store credit for the item’s current price.

Walmart

Walmart also has a fairly liberal return policy when you return items without a receipt.

With NO receipt, Walmart gives customers the option of a cash refund (if the purchase was under $25), or a gift card (if it was over $25), or an even exchange for an identical product.

It has also been suggesting in the comments that the number of allowed “no receipt” returns at Walmart varies from state to state.

Ask the Reader: Do you know of any other popular stores who will take something back without a receipt? Let me know in the comments and I will check them out.

By Kyle James

Procrastinating your Christmas shopping just might save you a BUNCH of money this year. Well, now that you have found this article anyway. While shopping year-round and only buying when you find screaming deals is typically the best way to save on your shopping, these 6 tips just might help you save even more money. Use them wisely, protect them closely, and unleash them often young Jedi. May the force (and savings) be with you…

1. Learn to Negotiate a Great Deal

Shopping in-store between now and Christmas and the things on your list all seem to be marked at full price? Don’t fret as you can still score a deal by negotiating with the employees on the floor.

I have done this successfully at Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sears, and even Costco. Look for things like flooring models, display models, damaged packaging, and don’t forget to become a price matching ninja.

Start by asking for 20% off and be prepared to meet in the middle. Also, try the bundling technique where you ask for a discount when buying 2 or more significant items.

Example: Bundle a TV and a Bluray player and ask for a discount. Be polite and you’ll be surprised with how well it works.

More Info: Talk Your Way to a Deal: How to Negotiate at Major Retailers

2. Abandon Your Virtual Cart

If you’re making a significant purchase like a new TV, computer, riding lawn mower, Les Paul electric guitar, treadmill (you get the idea) try this tip to score a coupon.

Just register with the website where you plan to purchase, login to your account, add the items to your virtual cart, then when you reach the payment page, instead of entering your credit card info simply log out of your account and abandon your cart.

This will trigger an email by many large online retailers enticing you to come back to your virtual cart by offering a coupon code to complete your order.

Popular retailers where this often works include JCPenney, Best Buy, Guitar Center, Bass Pro Shops, Babies R Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Macy’s.

Sure, it’s a bit passive aggressive, but who the heck cares, save money any way you can!

More Info: 17 Online Retailers Who’ll Bait You Back with a Coupon

3. Shop on the Right Day of the Week

Were you aware that many popular retailers do their clearance markdowns and add new items to the clearance rack on certain days of the week? Yep, it’s true!

I actually wrote an article recently on 12 Insider Tips on Store Markdowns that will help you shop on the right day and save some serious money when finishing up your Christmas shopping.

After all, there is nothing worse than shopping in the clearance section and finding if completely picked over.

In the 10 days leading up to Christmas be sure to shop the following days to score the best clearance deal at the following stores:

• Sunday: Joann Fabrics & Crafts
• Monday: Gap, CVS Pharmacy
• Tuesday: Macy’s, Anthropologie
• Wednesday: Ross, Old Navy, Best Buy
• Thursday: Babies R Us
• Friday: JCPenney
• Saturday: Kohl’s

See Also: Here Are the BEST Days to Shop Between Now and Christmas to Save

4. Free Shipping Day (December 14th)

When shopping online perhaps the best day to procrastinate, and still score a deal, is Thursday, December 14th, also known as Free Shipping Day.

A day when over 1,000 online retailers come together to offer guaranteed Christmas Eve delivery with NO minimum purchase required.

A few retailers that are offering free shipping, that typically don’t, include Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops, J.Crew, Crutchfield, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Most retailers will offer free shipping with NO coupon code required so be to sure to look for an online coupon to stack on top of the free shipping offer to score the best deal possible.

5. Shopping Online? Hit Up Live Chat

This tip is one of my favorite ways to score an online deal when no coupon is available and you seemed destined to pay full price.

Hit up the live chat feature that many online websites employ and politely ask for a coupon for free shipping or a percent off your entire purchase.

A large percentage of live chat operators have coupon codes ready to hand out to encourage shoppers to complete purchases and build brand loyalty.

Start taking advantage, like right NOW.

More Info: Frugal Hack: Use Live Chat To Score Deals

6. Buy Discounted Gift Cards

Perhaps the best (and most popular) gift idea for procrastinators is the gift card.

The gift that says you spent as little time as possible shopping for someone. Kidding.

That is not always the case as gift cards are often great ideas for folks who are impossible to shop for.

Let them pick out something they actually want.

But why pay full price for one when you can buy discounted gift cards for most popular stores?

Did you know you can typically pay 8-20% less for gift cards by using websites like Gift Card Granny.com,  GiftDeals.com, Raise.com, and GiftCards.com.

Check them out and save yourself some money when buying last minute gift cards this year.

Happy savings.

By Kyle James