A creative Tesco customer has demonstrated how to assemble a lavish floral bouquet for a mere £22, potentially saving hundreds of pounds compared to traditional florist prices for Valentine's Day. The DIY approach yields over 60 individual stems, creating what the shopper describes as a "beautiful" arrangement that rivals professional displays.
The £22 bouquet that looks like it cost £100
With Valentine's Day approaching, many consumers face steep price increases for floral arrangements, with premium bouquets from specialist florists often exceeding £100 during the peak season. However, one resourceful social media user has revealed an affordable alternative that delivers impressive results.
Ashleigh, who shares money-saving tips online as @Ashleighmoneysaver, documented her process of creating an expansive bouquet using readily available Tesco products. "The cost of flowers for Valentine's Day can be crazy expensive," she noted, highlighting how seasonal upcharges significantly inflate prices.
How to assemble the budget bouquet
The shopper's method begins with purchasing six packs of £3 roses from Tesco, each containing nine stems, providing 54 roses in total. She then supplements this with a £2 pack of Gypsophila (commonly known as baby's breath), which typically includes six stems.
Preparation is key to professional results:
- Remove all leaves that would sit below the water line in your vase
- Carefully peel off the guard petals - the tougher outermost petals that protect roses during transport
- Cut the rose stems at an angle to increase surface area for water absorption
- Gradually build your bouquet while incorporating the Gypsophila throughout
"This next bit takes a little bit of effort, but trust me, it's worth it," Ashleigh advised her followers. The angled cutting technique helps flowers stay fresher and last longer, while removing the guard petals eliminates any discoloured or slightly damaged outer layers.
The impressive results
When combined, the six bunches of £3 roses (£18 total) and the £2 Gypsophila create a £20 floral arrangement that appears far more expensive than its modest price tag suggests. The content creator shared photographs showing the flowers several days after arrangement, with the roses fully opened and blooming beautifully on her dining table.
The finished bouquet contains approximately 60 individual stems and measures substantially larger than typical supermarket bouquets. Ashleigh's creation prompted numerous positive responses online, with other women reportedly "hinting at their husbands" about the impressive results.
Alternative budget flower options
For those seeking additional affordable floral solutions, B&M operates a little-advertised flower delivery service offering arrangements from £22.99. These include mixed bouquets featuring red carnations, eucalyptus, and cinerea - providing another cost-effective alternative to traditional florist prices.
The DIY approach offers particular appeal for Valentine's Day shoppers who want to present impressive floral gifts without the premium price tag. With basic preparation techniques and readily available supermarket flowers, consumers can create professional-looking arrangements for a fraction of typical florist costs.
As Ashleigh concluded: "I'm certainly no florist, but one tip I was told was to cut [the rose stems] at an angle. It gives them more surface area to drink from, so they stay fresher and last longer." The finished bouquets can be wrapped in decorative paper for gifting or placed directly into vases for immediate display.
