VALENTINE'S Day is coming up, which means flowers are sold everywhere, but there are a few places where it's worth your bucks.
I went to five different store chains in New York City to get flowers, and the prices left me shocked.
If you don't have a partner, you may want to consider getting flowers for a loved one, a friend, or even yourself.
Either way, we break down who has the best bang for your buck.
None of the flower arrangements cost me more than $30, but there was one that stood out to me because it was so cheap.
Each bouquet received a score from one to 10, with 10 being the best.
read more bang for your buck
The flowers were judged on cost, arrangement, and longevity.
All the flowers were bought on the same day: Friday, February 3. We compared how long the bouquet stayed fresh over a six-day period.
Keep in mind, some of the flowers were already bloomed while other flowers were still closed.
Here's how they ranked from worst to best.
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5. ALDI
- Price: $3.99
- Score: 18 out of 30
At Aldi, the store didn't have a large selection of flowers, but luckily, I found the last bouquet of roses.
For half a dozen of roses, it cost $3.99, but after taxes, it was $4.34.
Depending on your state's sales tax, final cost will vary.
My only qualm was that the roses were a little short compared to your standard bouquet.
This may not be the case in all Aldis, but my local Aldi didn't have a section for flowers.
Instead, the flowers were just placed in a bucket by the cashier.
Aldi came in last place for me because there weren't any other decorative flowers, and it seemed a little plain for my liking.
However, if simple is your thing, Aldi is not a bad option.
4. CVS
- Price: $24.99
- Score: 18 out of 30
Flowers at CVS were most costly as it was $24.99, and after taxes it was $27.21.
For a dozen of roses, I thought it was a little too expensive.
There were also two roses that were already withering.
By day six, they were practically dead.
CVS flowers came in fourth place for me because it had more roses than Aldi's flowers, but the price for some withering flowers did not impress me.
3. COSTCO
- Price: $16.99
- Score: 22 out of 30
Costco had to be one of my top favorites of flower arrangements.
The mix bouquet cost $16.99, but after taxes, the price was $18.50.
It had a variety of flowers like roses, asters, and carnations, and after six days in water, it still looked lively.
The arrangement also had layered wrapping - one paper wrapping and one plastic on the exterior.
Costco is up third as it had one of the better flower arrangements.
I liked that there was a variety of flowers you can choose at the large chain as well, so for under $20, it was worth it.
2. TARGET
- Price: $14.99
- Score: 22 out of 30
To be honest, I forgot Target even sold flowers, but the variety of options left me impressed.
The bouquet was priced at $14.99, and after taxes, it cost $16.32.
The arrangement I chose had some flowers that were not fully bloomed, so it lasted for a while.
By day six, the flowers were just beginning to bloom.
My Target location also sold a dozen roses in yellow, red, and orange for only $14.99.
The runner-up is Target since it was cheaper and looked relatively nice like Costco's flowers.
1. TRADER JOE'S
- Price: $12.99
- Score: 24 out of 30
Trader Joe's almost never disappoints when it comes to a good deal, so it was the winner for me because it was the most affordable for the largest bouquet.
My bouquet cost $12.99, and after taxes, it was $14.14.
They had a large section that sold sunflowers, plants, roses, and other varieties.
A dozen roses cost $9.99, and it came in white, red, pink, purple, green, and the classic red.
FLOWER POWER
Overall, your best bet to buy flowers for Valentine's Day is Trader Joe's, Target, and Costco.
While CVS and Aldi sold roses, which were more expensive, the quality was not worth your buck.
SAVE MORE WITH DIY FLOWERS
If you are on a budget, there's actually a more affordable way to get your Valentine a bouquet of flowers.
Since Aldi's flowers were only $3.99 for half a dozen of roses, you can buy two of them, and it will only cost you roughly $8.
At Trader Joe's, the store sells a small assortment of flowers for $3.99.
You can create your own bouquet from Trader Joe's flowers and Aldi's roses for nearly $12.
It will definitely be a little more time consuming, but it might just be worth it for the person you're gifting it to.
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Check out the previous installment of Bang for Your Buck where we tested paper plates.
Plus, we also tried store-bought trash bag brands including Walmart and Hefty.
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