Red roses, paper hearts, Cupid’s bow, and boxes of chocolates wrapped in ribbon.
You know what that means: Valentine’s Day is in the air!
It also signals another awkward shopping moment on the annual calendar, especially for men. To help alleviate the stress, we offer 10 tips to help you with your Valentine’s shopping.
St. Valentine
But how did the holiday come about? And what does it have to do with chocolates, hearts, and roses?
Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14th of February each year in the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, France, and Australia. The origin of the day is unclear and could have started in a number of ways.
Regardless of how the celebrations began, it is believed that Americans first began giving out hand-made cards in the 1700s, though it wasn’t until 1840 that Valentine’s Day cards were produced on a large scale.
The Greeting Card Association now estimates that approximately 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year.
Shopping Tips
Finding just the right gift for your loved one is hard for many people ahead of Valentine’s Day. Women are estimated to buy 85% of Valentine’s Day cards, and there is often a lot of pressure put on couples to make this one day extra special.
What to buy, or how to celebrate, differs from person to person, and needs to take into consideration how long have you been together, how much money you have to spend, and how extravagant you want to be.
Just follow these 10 tips for your Valentine’s Day shopping and you are sure to have great success!
1.Budget:
Have you ever given a carefully chosen gift that was quite expensive and in return, received something of unequal value? Or on the flip side, received an extravagant gift while only giving your partner an inexpensive ‘token’ of you affection?
To make shopping a whole lot easier, and a lot less uncomfortable, discuss a budget or price range for your gift giving ahead of time. Money really doesn’t buy happiness and even the most budget-strapped couple is likely to find something worthwhile and functional at a dollar store.
There is nothing wrong with an inexpensive gift, just be sure to be on the same page when you do it and avoid the discomfort of mismatched gifts.
2. Plan Ahead
Regardless of the type of giftthat you buy, nothing says, “I don’t really care” as something that is bought last minute (think gas station flowers and chocolates bought on your way home). It’s not going to go well and unless you have a spare room that you’ve been dying to sleep in, we don’t suggest trying it!
Start planning at least a week or two in advance to save yourself from running store to store haphazardly picking through the V-Day left overs.
First prize goes to those who start planning a month ahead. Nowdays, stores take down their Christmas items on Christmas Eve and immediately stock their shelves with hearts and chocolates; there really is no reason to leave shopping until the last minute.
3. Buying Flowers
Red roses may be the unofficial trademark of the day, but they are often overpriced leading up to the holiday, and can seem unoriginal.
Instead of red roses, substitute your love’s favorite blooms. Flowers that are also a good choice include tulips, orchids, sunflowers, daisies, lilies, and carnations.
Word of note though, each flower carries its own meaning, so take time to research a flower in depth before choosing one that may send the wrong message.
Even better, choose a potted plant that will outlive any chopped off stems so you will remain front of mind for a long time to come. If the special person in your life has decidedly un-green thumbs, choose an easy-to-keep-alive plant such as a succulent or even flowering cacti in a pretty glass container.
4. Love Don’t Cost a Thing
If money is short this season, no worries! Even if money isn’t an issue, there are many gifts such as breakfast in bed, or a book of coupons (massages, date night, homemade dinner etc) that can really show your loved one how much you care.
5. Get Creative
No, we don’t mean a hand-made card crafted from colored paper and markers (though you could…). Pinterest and YouTube are chocked FULL of ideas on how to make anything from bath salts to useful wooden serving trays that can be made by literally anyone with a little time, planning, and effort.
6. Experiences
There are gifts that also don’t need to be wrapped up in a bow and put in a box, such as experiences. An adventurous couple may be more suited to a day of zip lining or a night out on the town. Often love is less about the money you spend and more about the time you spend together.
7. Stay Away From Generic
Unless you are in high school (and even then, heed these are words of wisdom) avoid drugstore finds, particularly flamboyant plastic hearts, puppies with hearts and anything else that really lacks imagination. The woman in your life will equate lack of effort with a lack of love.
8. Ignore the Trends
Forget what everyone else is giving; what does your loved one like to do, read, see, or watch? Don’t be drawn into the V-Day hype: remember each other and the love you share first and foremost. Does your loved one have a favorite store? Stop there first.
9. Shop Online
This one’s for the good planners. Don’t let your creativity be contained by the stores in your town; branch out and use the Internet to find a unique gift for your loved one. And for online shopping, make sure you are using coupon codes to get extra savings. Plenty of sites like GiveMeDeals offering free coupons to save your money for thousands of stores.
You can get just about anything from anywhere if you order in advance.
10. Remember the Other 364 Days
At the end of the day we may celebrate Valentine’s Day once a year, but be sure to show your love every day.
