Valentine’s Day 2024: Gifts for Geeks

From Marvel to Music, we’ve got Valentine’s Day gifts for geeks of every kind

I want to get one thing straight. It’s Valentine’s Day, not Valentines’ Day or Valentines Day. The holiday is named after St. Valentine, the moniker of several saints in the Catholic church. All were killed for their romantic beliefs and martyred, according to History.com.

As with so many religious traditions, the Catholics stole the approximate date of the holiday from the pagans. The Christians co-opted the pagan holiday of Saturnalia, which celebrated the days getting longer after the winter solstice, according to NYU research.

The pagans celebrated Lupercalia on February 15. This mid-winter fertility festival honored Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, and Romulus and Remus. (Not the planets from Star Trek: The Original Series. The Roman gods.) Coincidentally (or not), Valentine’s Day falls on February 14.  

On that note, Valentine’s Day in 2024 has evolved into a holiday of extravagant dinner dates, chocolate, and jewelry. Which, I think we can all agree, is better than death and more exciting than agriculture.

Yet, it turns out, the holiday still brings a ton of guilt and feelings of obligation. A recent survey from TrustPilot, reported by GOBankingRates, found that 21% of people in a relationship feel obligated to spend more they can afford, and 19% feel their partner expects it of them.

Thirty percent of Americans, the survey showed, have simply tossed up their hands at the notion of Valentine’s Day due to rising costs, debt, and bills. (They might be Gen X!)

Yet, 26% of millennials and Gen Z said they would sacrifice their gas, food, or rent to treat their significant other to their dream Valentine’s Day. And 25% of millennials said they’d just charge the costs. (It’s really not worth it, unless you have 0% APR and a plan to pay it off, but you do you!)

With this in mind, we took the time to find some fun, affordable Valentine’s Day gifts for the geek in your life.

For Gamer Geeks: Zeagus Headphone Stand

Whether you’re shopping for a teen or your gamer significant other, if you’re tired of finding their gaming headphones on the couch or the floor – voila! A Valentine’s gift idea that will make you both happy!

This handy headphone stand from Zeagus has two USB charging ports, two AC outlets, and a digital alarm clock that lets you set two separate alarm times. I can’t think of a better multipurpose gift for gamers.

For Astronomy Geeks: Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope

If you’re looking for an affordable telescope to foster your loved one’s passion for the stars, consider the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ Telescope. Its compact design, quick and easy set-up (no tools required!) and included tripod make it perfect for travel or at-home use.

Celestron is one of the most reputable brands in telescopes, and their beginner line performs well at a budget-friendly price. This top-rated telescope is on sale at Amazon right now for just $149.

For New Age and/or Marvel Geeks: Marvel Tarot Deck

I fell in love with this Marvel Tarot Deck at Barnes & Noble after a friend told me about it. I finally decided to order my own set thanks to Amazon’s 20% off sale price right now. Merging two of my favorite hobbies, this tarot deck brings beloved Marvel characters to life in Major Arcana roles. I can’t think of anyone but Loki better suited as “The Devil.”

I’ll leave you to guess who plays the role of The Magician. Side note: These are not MCU characters. Our favorite super heroes and villains are drawn by artist Lily McDonnell.

For DC Geeks: Exploring Gotham City 500-Piece Puzzle and Book Set

In the interest of fairness, we had to include a top pick for D.C. Comics fans. I know my son will love this puzzle and book set, Exploring Gotham City from Hallmark. The 500-piece puzzle includes a keepsake box that looks like a hardcover book, plus a guidebook to Gotham City.

For Harry Potter Geeks: Mug and Socks Gift Set

Hallmark has another winner with this Harry Potter Gift Set, available in Slytherin (shown), Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff. The set includes a retro mug bearing the house crest insignia and coordinating socks.

I love that the mug is a hefty 26 oz., because we need lots of room for our milk or Keto Kreme in this house! For just $34.98, this is a gift any Harry Potter fan would treasure.

For Star Wars Geeks: Picture Frame

Hallmark hits a triple play for geeks with this fun picture frame for Star Wars fans. Featuring the classic scene from The Empire Strikes Back with (a very young) Han Solo and Princess Leia, the ceramic frame holds a 4X6 photo of you and your love. For just $25, you can’t find a more heartfelt gift for the Star Wars geek in your life.

For Travel Geeks: Outside the Box: Traveling Families That Work, Educate, and Live on Their Own Terms

Have you always wanted to travel without the hassles of work or school limiting your time away from home? The women in this multi-author book, Outside the Box: Traveling Families that Work, Educate and Live on Their Own Terms, have all found their unique ways to travel on their own terms.

Find my chapter chronicling our 2022 “Rockets and Roller Coasters” 3.5-week trek to Texas, Florida and back. Then, discover tips from world travelers, homeschoolers, and women entrepreneurs on how to create a lifestyle with the freedom you desire. (Edited by Sara Tyler)

For D&D Geeks: Magnetic Dice Tower

When my good friend and fellow author Rebecca Laffar-Smith pointed me in the direction of Wyrmwood Gaming for the company’s offerings of tabletop gaming, it was tough to choose a favorite to feature here. I finally settled on the Dice Tower Gift Set. While not the least expensive gift set, it offers tremendous value, combining a magnetic dice tower with a dice vault and personal tray, perfect for travel or at-home use. Choose from eight different types of wood to match your style. The company offers custom engraving to personalize your gift, as well. Prices vary.

For Work-at-Home Geeks: MERACH Under Desk Elliptical

I’ve been wanting a way to keep moving while I’m at my desk for a while. At just under $120, the MERACH Under Desk Elliptical makes it easier to stay fit, even on deadline. We all know the benefits of cardio exercise, from fat-burning to heart health. This elliptical eliminates that age-old excuse of being too busy to get in a quick workout during your workday.  

For Fitness Geeks: MERACH Exercise Bike

For those times when you can slip away from your desk, consider the MERACH Exercise Bike, rated the #1 new release in exercise bikes on Amazon. At just $249 from Amazon right now, this bike has everything you’d expect from much pricier models, including an enhanced LED monitor, silent belt drive, and a water bottle holder. Stay tuned as we test drive this five-star rated bike soon.

For Tech Geeks: 1More Aero Wireless Earbuds

A good set of wireless earbuds is a necessity for your workouts, for travel, or really anytime. We’ve been using the 1MORE Aero Wireless Earbuds with spatial audio and active noise cancellation.

Retailing for just $109, these earbuds deliver the audio quality of much pricier models. We also love the sleek look and convenient charging case.

For Music Geeks: House of Marley Stir It Up Wireless Turntable

For true audiophiles, there’s nothing like the sound quality of vinyl records. They deliver an amazing ambiance and clarity you just can’t get from streaming music on your smartphone. My daughter has been blasting everything from the Arctic Monkeys to Taylor Swift on this House of Marley Stir It Up Wireless Turntable for more than a year now. The quality is so good, it sounds like it should cost way more than the retail price of $249, and it’s 20% off right now, too. Pair it with House of Marley wireless speakers in matching bamboo finish and you’ve got a set-up designed for years of music enjoyment.

Valentine’s Day is approaching quickly. Don’t panic. And don’t break the bank. With a little creativity and some savvy shopping, you can find affordable gifts that will ship in advance of the holiday. Geek Travel Guide is happy to help with these suggestions.