Valentine’s Day being only two months after Christmas, the world’s #1 gift-giving holiday, should be criminal.
While in university, it is hard to save and make money. If you are anything like me, February 14th is yet another day in a string of back-to-back gift-giving holidays. For me, September is my birthday, October is my anniversary, November is a break, December is Christmas, January is my boyfriend’s birthday, and the season ends with Valentine’s Day in February. As somebody whose love language is gift giving, it is hard to say no to buying my loved ones gifts or doing something to make their celebration extra special.
My boyfriend and I have decided that we are simply not at a point in our lives where we can afford to celebrate Valentine’s Day with all of the bells and whistles anymore.
After having a few “full out” Valentine’s Day celebrations, I feel that I am qualified to speak on what Valentine’s traditions are worthwhile, and which ones are a waste.
- Homemade love letters are worth way more than a store-bought card
Around this time of year, there are plenty of pretty Valentine’s Day cards in the store, but they can be expensive. I have found that people will cherish a letter that is written from the heart. It is important to tell our loved ones why we appreciate them and how much we do. This would mean a lot more to a person than a generic “Happy Valentines” card and you could save some money!
- A stay-in date can be much more romantic than an expensive night out
Imagine this: candles are lit, a delicious meal is cooking in the kitchen, a specially curated playlist is filling the room with romantic tunes, and your loved one is there beside you. To me, this honestly seems so much more romantic than sitting in a busy restaurant that has cold air blowing in from the front door every time somebody decides to walk in or out. You could put on a cheesy rom-com or stream a movie that neither of you have ever seen. The possibilities are endless when it comes to a romantic night-in.
- Gifts?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there is a time and a place to shower your S/O in gifts and college is not it. Now, this doesn’t mean no gifts ever, but maybe skip the new shoes and opt for a basket of their favorite snacks instead. If your partner is okay with it, you could even discuss not getting each other gifts at all until you both get “big kid” jobs. It does take a bit of the fun out of the holiday, but think of it this way: now, you can spend a little more on their birthday present!
- Do I still need to buy dessert?
This one depends on your partner. If they aren’t all that into sweets, then save the money and just enjoy your nice home-cooked dinner. If they do like sweets, then you might want to figure something out. If they like chocolate, nobody has ever gone wrong with a box of Lindt Truffles or Ghirardelli, but I also recommend that you make sure that you know what they like. In my opinion, no chocolate is better than cheap chocolate which can make you sick or regretful. If they are more of a traditional cake or ice cream kind of dessert person, they might really appreciate it if you tried to make something homemade just for them!
- Love is all you need
At the end of the day, Valentine’s day is the holiday of love. Do what will make you and your partner happy, don’t worry about what other people are doing. It is easy to get absorbed in social media and think that either you or your partner aren’t doing enough, but there is no need to compare your relationship to anyone else’s. I feel that it is too easy to fall into this cycle of self-loathing due to constant comparison spurred by the overconsumption of social media. Just remember, this is a holiday that celebrates love, so don’t think about all that you don’t have or all that you could have done, think about how much you love your partner and how much they love you.