Last year, one of my customers bought a LoveStars report for her Australian soldier boyfriend in Iraq - and she said one of the reasons she bought it was because it was all about them as a couple and it was light to mail to him.

So it got me thinking about this Valentines Day. If your partner is in the armed forces in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere in the Middle East, you’ll be wanting to send him or her something that’s suitable (ie pornography of any kind is banned) and also lightweight so it doesn’t cost you a fortune shipping it there! And also something that can make it in time.

There are a number of websites that specialise in presents for those in the military, but here’s 30 gift ideas which could make ideal Valentines Day gifts for your solider boy (or girl)…

Practical Valentines Day gifts
Everyone needs new clothes from time to time and these Bad Booty Wear underpants will hopefully encourage your man not to keep his antique, holey jocks! Cool meat-tray packaging too. Since it’s winter there, some cosy thermal underwear could go down a treat while some men might appreciate military-themed cufflinks. If they get the time for a swim, female officers might like the modest swimwear by HydroChic. Since the war ain’t for sissies, you might find some cool items in the Black Helmet Apparel’s (just the name sounds like tough-guy clothing) website, for them to wear on their days off. Some men might like the new Remington personal groomer with all the attachments for pesky poking-out hair, while the ladies could appreciate the world’s first collagen-infused skin moisturiser (disguised as a candle) which warms the room and softens their skin.

Thoughtful Valentines Day gifts
If they love taking photos and videos, give them the X Shot camera extender so they can finally be in the shot with their buddies! Combat Ready Balm soothes dried-out skin at the end of a tough day. The Porta Pocket lets them carry around their MP3 player or mobile on their days off. If you’d like to give them to chance to buy what they want, give them a gift card to Gift Card Mall which gives them the choice of more than 350 gift cards. I love the frangipani-print portable speakers by Sonoma Living Green which plug into any Mp3 player. Chocolate could melt on the way there but a Tortuga rum cake (with only 0.05% rum content) in that cool pirate-y packaging could make their day. Pewter heart-shaped charms are sweet and light to send. Heart-shaped cookies are a yummy thought. Motomail makes it easy for friends and family members of Marines to write a letter that is downloaded, printed and delivered within 24 hours.

Personalised Valentines Day gifts
If you’re quick, you may be able to order a pretty customised nightgown for your lady. If you want them to “see” you last thing at night, send them a photo night light with a favourite 3×5 photo already it. When they switch it on it illuminates with their image. If your man loves the idea of custom-made shirts, why not get something made for him at Shirts My Way, and send it to him with your love? And if “it’s in your kiss”, send him a cute Kiss Kanvas printed with your own lip-shaped kiss. Who doesn’t love all the amazing flavours at Jelly Belly? If you know his or her favourite flavour (I love watermelon), you can customise a tin just for them, even adding your photo of you two on the lid. Keep everyone close in their thoughts with a customised cover photo book. Or give them a rechargeable USB drive keyring that holds 60 digital photos. Get a dialogue going with fascinating conversation-starters in the Between Me and You relationship keepsake journals. And send ‘em a Valentines Day card with your photo printed on it.

Entertaining Valentines Day gifts
An iTunes card will let them download their favourite songs of course while these cute heart-shaped ear-buds for their iPod are adorable! Does she get time to bake cakes? She might love this super-inexpensive diamond ring-shaped cake tin if you’re engaged. but if they like reading, there are so many books to choose from - Reporting for Doodie (a fun story of a grandmother looking after her grandson while her daughter and son-in-law went off to fight), The Commuter Marriage: Keep Your Relationship Close While You’re Far Apart (which says it all, really), and You’re My Guy Because (which is full of witty reasons you love him).

What Valentines Day gifts are you going to send?

A post-Christmas spending survey confirms what most of us already know by looking at our credit card balances: we overspent on Christmas gifts.

The US Consumer Reports survey found that consumers planned to spend an average $699 on Christmas gifts but this was blown out to $811, with about one in five spending over $1,000 on gifts.

Almost half (47%) of the consumers were very naughty, using their credit cards to buy some or all of their gifts. And since credit cards feel like magic money(!), they spent more, too, with an average Christmas gift expenditure of $896. Those who lived in households earning over $100K spent a whopping $1,570 on their credit cards.

While 40% plan to settle their Christmas gift credit card debt by the end of January, one in five won’t pay it off until March with 9% expecting to pay it off in full by June.

As you can probably guess, I didn’t spend $1,000 on gifts - probably closer to about $350 - but then I like buying Christmas and birthday gifts all year long as it’s fun AND it lessens the expense in December.

If you plan to spend $1,000 on Christmas (and/or birthday) gifts this year, remember that you need to put away about $83.33 a month every month until December (or buy gifts to that value every month when you see something great on sale).

A survey by eBillMe of over 1,200 consumers has found that 57% are looking for something more original than the old Valentines Day gift standbys of flowers and chocolate and they plan to spend an astonishing average of $236 (that can’t be right, can it?! If it is, I’ve been dating the wrong man).

Nearly a quarter (23%) plan to buy it online but with Valentines Day only a couple of weeks away, they’d better get their skates on if they want it delivered in time (ie by Friday 12 February)!

Half the men are unsure what to get their ladies for Valentines Day while a surprisingly high 45% of women don’t know what to get their men. All this dithering around of course means more than a few of them will resort to roses and chocolate…

Here’s some fun Valentines Day gift ideas by Sun sign in case you’re stuck!

If you’re one of the 19% of consumers who received a dud Christmas present (and you’ve managed to get hold of the receipt), you’d better get cracking if you want to return them for a refund!

While some stores will allow refunds up to a year later, many will refund goods brought in their original packaging (hmmm - how often does that happen!?) and tags up to the end of January.

Other stores won’t give you a refund at all but merely an exchange or credit for something else in their store. According to the US National Retail Federation, American retailers took back an estimated $17 billion of unwanted gifts. What’s more, 17% of retailers have tightened their return policies.

If you can’t get cash and you really don’t like the item nor feel you could regift it to another, think carefully how you could use the credit note to “purchase” another gift which will save you spending your own money. You could always select one of the items there for Valentines Day, your anniversary, birthday, Mothers Day or even for Christmas 2010.

A survey by the American National Confectioners Association has found that ony 6% of men receive Valentines Day gifts.

The average man spends $130 on chocolate, cards and other gifts (boy, that is a LOT of chocolate - or a lot of other Valentines Day gifts - take part in OUR survey). In the US, where Things Are A Little Different, children receive the most candy and gifts at 39%. Mothers and wives dole out Valentines Day gifts to their partners and children, and come in second place at 36%.

Between the mothers/wives and the kids, they are six times more likely to receive gifts than anyone else, including pets.

Isn’t chocolate bad for Rover?!

If your boyfriend, husband, girlfriend or wife (or all four!) work in the airlines, sales, military, engineering, mining or diplomatic fields AND they will be out of town on Valentines Day, it’s quite possible you’ll be sending them an electronic gift card or certificate if they can’t be with you on the day.

This year Valentines Day falls on a Sunday which means you’ll be paying premium rates to get flowers and other gifts delivered on the day - if they offer weekend delivery at all - which makes it a far more attractive idea to send them an electronic gift certificate.

According to a recent survey, 68% of online shoppers said an e-gift certificate was more convenient than shipping physical plastic (or paper) gift certificates to the recipient while 80% said they would purchase an electronic gift certificate if their favourite etailer sold them.

An amazing 85% who planned to give gift cards were interested in purchasing online gift cards/certificates that could be personalised and sent via email.

Siblings (48%) and friends (45%) dominated the recipient category (remember, this was for Christmas, not Valentines Day) while the most popular type of gift card category was for restaurants (59%), followed by general retail (56%) and consumer electronics (35%). 

Just make sure you don’t send it to um, the wrong recipient…

If you live in Sydney, Australia or will be travelling there with your partner between now and 31 March 2010, book into the Medusa in trendy Darlinghurst in Sydney.

It’s In The Stars has teamed up with Contemporary Hotels so that guests staying at this contempory luxury boutique hotel can receive a LoveStars astrology report for couples as part of the LoveStars of Medusa package!

Ideal for Valentines Day getaways and anniversary celebrations, you’ll receive one night’s accommodation in a Deluxe room, a LoveStars report (after supplying your birth details), upon arrival, Aveda products in your room, newspaper and Lindt chocolates, complimentary use of Fitness First Gym and Cook & Phillip Pool, late checkout (subject to availability) for just $240 or you can upgrade to a Premium Deluxe room for $290 per night or the Grand room for $340 per night.

Some Sun signs luvrrve Valentines Day and all its romantic trappings (guess who?!) while others loathe it. How does your partner react to Valentines Day?

If they’re a typical:

Aries - they could be all hot and heavy, keen and ardent (especially if you have other suitors after you) or frankly selfish and ignore the whole day if you’ve been together for years. They tend to do things in a rush so they might pick up a bunch of flowers and a box of Cadbury Roses from the service station at the last minute.

Taurus - they tend to like doing the same things, over and over and over. If you received roses last year, it’s a pretty good bet you’ll get ‘em this year too. Got a favourite restaurant?  You could well be there too on the day. Most Taureans like floral fragrances, on the sweet side, such as magnolia. Anything that affects their five senses is off to a good start.

Gemini - they love surprises and novelty. They may start the day off with a cute text message or love note on your pillow. They can write fantastic love letters when they’re in the mood. These are the ones who may surprise you with one of those personalised novels with both of you starring in it. Then again these are the guys who will make light of your 50-year marriage with a joke card.

Cancer - male Cancers feel put-upon and obligated to “do” Valentines Day, grumbling it’s all a commercial exercise. Female Cancers are devastated if their mate forgets or organises nothing and will hold a grudge for the following week. No money? Cook ‘em a wonderful meal at home.

Leo - I hope you have some money if you’re with a Leo! Only the best will do, thanks. Valentines Day is your chance (along with their birthday, anniversary, Christmas.. you get the idea) to prove how much you worship (sorry, LOVE) them. While Valentines Day falls on a Sunday this year, they are especially happy if their colleagues go green with envy as a courier delivers a glorious package/hamper etc to them at work.

Virgo - you can probably save your money if you’re with a Virgo as they’re most likely to see it as corny, demeaning and a waste of money. That said though, if you do a load of washing, the dishes, some vacuuming and the bathroom that will put them in the mood for a bit of loving’ and squeezin’ faster than any box of candy will.

Libra - pull out all the stops, guys. I know Valentines Days falls during Sun in Aquarius, but really, this is Libra’s day! Whether you’re giving them chocolates, flowers, jewellery, lingerie, perfume, personalised romantic gifts, a restaurant dinner, weekend away or all of the above, don’t stint - and don’t ignore them.

Scorpio - the types of gifts Scorpios like to receive aren’t the ones I can publish here… Do nothing however and watch out!

Sagittarius - they love chocolate, laugh at lingerie and tend to lose jewellery, so if you can wing it, give them a weekend away where you can explore something. Both sexes see themselves as adventurers so try something new.

Capricorns - female Capricorns are curiously sensitive to time passing and often put arbitrary deadlines on things ie Christmas - met the parents. New Year’s - decided to move in. Valentines Day - proposal??? This is a good time to let them know where they stand. Married Capricorns like to discuss plans for the future too. Oh, and a little bauble from Tiffany’s doesn’t hurt.

Aquarius - again, this is another bunch who find the concept icky. They’re most likely to arrange a casual BBQ with friends, taking particular care to invite those who are single so no-one feels left out. If you arrange anything, make it novel and unique.

Pisces - these guys are romantics on par with Librans. If you make no effort only to discover they’ve arranged some magical day for you, they will be crushed. Their ability to express their deepest feelings for you is touching - and memorable. While I wouldn’t normally recommend giving pets as gifts, these are the ones who would go ga-ga over a new puppy, kitten, hamster or school of goldfish. They keep all their cards and gifts from exes so ask them casually what their favourite gift was as it will give you a clue.

Debenhams, a UK department store, is cashing in on the huge (post) wedding gift registry market by - cynically, I would suggest! - creating what might be the world’s first divorce gift registry.

In happier days, the couple (well, really it’s the woman) picks out the chinaware and whitegoods that will adorn their new home.

When couples get divorced, there’s always someone who ends up with the huge plasma TV (often the man), while all those bits and pieces get halved. For example, someone’s going to need more dishes - and not just because a few of them got thrown around in the lead-up to the divorce - which means that more homewares are needed.

As the post-Christmas period is the most common time for couples for separate (they wait until Santa’s arrived for the kids), it is also when most divorce petitions are filed.

And according to this, is also when you get asked to give your mate Chris a toaster all over again…

Many dealers sell a huge number of cars in December and January. Some of them are end-of-season or end-of-model specials, others are selling cars to kids who need them for the holidays while others feel like spoiling themselves with their own gift of a vehicle. Many guys love their cars so one of these ideas might make a clever Valentines Day gift (don’t forget men like gifts that do something).

Here’s 10 Valentines Day gift ideas for your favourite car-owner!

1. Gas or petrol card
Petrol isn’t really getting any cheaper so a prepaid gift card with one of the giants, will help to ensure they have enough money to buy gas next time they fill up. Amounts range from $25 to $500.

2. Car wash
Some areas have pretty fierce water restrictions so it’s not like the old days when you got all soapy with a bucket and hose out the front driveway! Plus, who has the time! Give them some car wash gift certificates to keep it looking good.

3. GPS unit
Unless they’ve bought a high-end or newer car, it’s pretty unlikely their car will already come with a satellite navigation device. As Navman says, they stop “carguments” which I think is brilliant - and the prices have come right down, too.

4. Backseat organiser
Perhaps they’ve bought a car because they’ve just had kids and need a bigger wagon for all their little Indians. A backseat organiser can hold their bottles, books, CDs, spare nappies or whatever without it spilling over all the car floor. It’s also not a bad idea to store the Gregory’s street directory, a box of face wipes or the miscellaneous other stuff that seems to go on perpetual travels…

5. First aid kit
No, it’s not exciting, but if anything happened, both you and they would be relieved to have it.

6. LED torch keyring
This is kind of a stocking filler idea, but a tiny torchlight that’s always on your own keyring to find your way in the dark? Priceless.

7. Universal mobile/MP3 player holder
Let them clip their mobile or iPod to the air vent for better driver safety. I know I’ve been guilty of scrambling through my handbag while um, I’ve been driving…

8. Talking books
Do they drive a lot for work? Perhaps they don’t get time to read anymore? Let them catch up on the latest bestseller or perhaps a self-help book by listening to a talking book in their car.

9. Driving gloves and/or shoes
One of the loveliest yet most indulgently unnecessary accessories for driving are a pair of leather driving gloves (well, they’re actually a must when you’re driving during winter) or comfortable, studded driving shoes.

10. A weekend away
Once you’ve bought a new(ish) car, you don’t tend to have a lot of money left over for a holiday. What about springing for a night or two at a B&B within three hours’ driving distance?