Valentine's Day: Why You Shouldn't Ignore This Holiday
Whether you love it or hate it, there's no ignoring that Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Sure, this holiday is a bit artificial and commercial. But the reality is that many women (and some men too) like to celebrate it and it wouldn't take much effort on your part to please your sweetheart.
So what does it take to show your significant other that you love her? It doesn't have to cost you much. You could just shower your honey with some extra attention and a card. Still, most of us do go out and buy our lovers something special. Indeed, Americans will invest nearly $16 billion on Valentine's Day gifts this year, according to the National Retail Association. On average, men will shell out $159 and women will spend $75. That's no small sum considering many people -- particularly men -- rank February 14th about as important as Flag Day.
Still, I think this is money well spent, especially for couples with children living at home. As parents we allocate so much of our time and energy to raising kids and working that we often neglect our romantic relationships. And other than our anniversaries, Valentine's Day is the only other official day that we get to show our partners how much we love and appreciate them.
The challenge for many of us is coming up with a thoughtful gift after we've used all of our best ideas at Christmas time. According to etiquette expert Lizzie Post, who also consults for American Express Platinum Card Concierge Service, you can't go wrong when you stick with time-honored traditions, including flowers and chocolates. But if you feel as if you've played out these themes too many times in the past, just add a personalized twist and your present will seem more thoughtful.
How do you transform plain old chocolates and flowers into romantic gestures? Post has a few ideas worth considering:
Flowers: When just a dozen long stemmed roses won't do, consider having a bouquet of seasonal blossoms delivered to the house (or office) e very month, recommends Post. If that's too pricey, hire a babysitter and take your sweetie to your local botanical gardens.
Chocolates: A heart shaped box of chocolates from a drug store may not feel particularly thoughtful to anyone but a five-year-old. But hand-selected treats from a local chocolatier are downright sexy. Another option: Sign the two of you up for a chocolate making class.
Dinner: You can't go wrong with a reservation. But you don't have to go out to a fancy restaurant to celebrate your love. Instead, wait until your little darlings are in bed and cook something decadent together. And to make the meal feel more special, Post recommends dressing up the table with candles and your best dishes.
Most important of all, pay attention to your partner and any hints she may drop regarding Valentine's Day, says Post. Sometimes the best way to show your significant other that you love her is to let her know you are listening.
How much do you plan to spend on Valentine's Day this year?
Stacey Bradford is the author of The Wall Street Journal Financial Guidebook for New Parents.
Tk image courtesy of Flickr, CC 2.0.
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