Another February means another overpriced, adorable holiday: St.Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is the best time to show some extra love toward your significant other — extra, because people really should be appreciative and affectionate with their partner on a daily basis.
However, the downside with this special date is that if you really want to go above and beyond with your significant other but aren’t the best at planning in advance, then you’ll have a difficult time taking them to a fancy restaurant. When the new year starts, the time passes so quickly that you might not even realize how fast February 14th is approaching. Most places are booked at least a month in advance, and if you manage to even find a reservation, certain places are famous for rushing you in order to fit more people on this extremely profitable day of business.
Other than a nice meal, couples and friends normally get one another chocolate, stuffed animals, or anything down the Valentine’s Day aisle that screams cuteness. I know if I see something cute in Valentine’s Day aisle, I just pick it up, put it in my Target cart, and find a way to gift it to my boyfriend or best friend.
With countless others also buying gifts and going out to restaurants, the average person is anticipated to spend approximately $175 on their loved ones. Now, this price may seem absurd to spend for a single day because love isn’t measured by price. You could grab a box of chocolates, write a cute handwritten card, and set up a romantic movie night instead. This approach might seem even more affectionate because of the effort put in — so does it really matter how you celebrate, the amount you spend for Valentine’s Day, or when you do it?
Valentine’s Day holds way too many expectations for couples; maybe we need to rethink how we celebrate with one another.
Since you should always appreciate your partner, does it really matter when you actually celebrate Valentine’s Day? No, it doesn’t. Of course, friends and couples still want to celebrate this day to show some extra appreciation, so figure out a day that works best for both of you.
Since Valentine’s Day falls on a weekday this year, I’m sure most people have school or work, or even both. But, if you postpone your plans or celebrate early, it can be just as meaningful. It would also allow you to be able to spend the whole day together and avoid the Valentine’s Day crowds in restaurants. Plus, some restaurants continue to have cute heart decorations and serve special Valentine’s Day drinks throughout the week.
If you do postpone celebrating and your partner enjoys receiving candy, especially chocolate, take them to Target where they will have discounted candy. You’ll be able to purchase twice as much compared to the day of or weeks prior to Valentine’s Day since it will all be on sale; plus, you’ll know that they’ll actually enjoy the ones you choose together. Your loved one shouldn’t care about receiving the most expensive chocolate; all they want is to see that you put effort and love into whatever you choose to do for them. I especially love going to Target on February 15th because all of the adorable themed sweets are discounted.
Doing something different for your partner other than the basic restaurant date adds variety to your date routine. Take them to a movie, cook for them, have a romantic home movie night, go on a picnic if the weather is nice, do a mini road trip, go to an aquarium/zoo, do a fun activity… basically, do anything the two of you would enjoy besides being in an overpriced restaurant.
Valentine’s day is the perfect holiday for couples and for friends, but it doesn’t need to follow the traditions. If you want to celebrate your love — platonic or romantic — this Valentine’s Day, think about what actually works for you and your partner before trying to squeeze something in on that specific date. Consider when and how they’ll want to celebrate because a neighboring date could be the Valentine’s Day that works best for you.
Never stop showing your love for that special person, and don’t only show it on this day. Make sure your significant other knows 24/7 that they are loved by you; Valentine’s Day is merely supposed to be an amplified version of that.