How to Impress Your Valentine (For Free!)

The lead-up to Valentines Day can be an extremely stressful time. What if you don’t like the gift you receive from your Valentine? Or even worse, what if your Valentine doesn’t like the gift you give them? Those are all valid concerns, but I’m sure there will be countless articles published on how to choose the perfect gift, so I don’t need to tell you again. Instead, I’m going to try and ease the stress on both you and your wallet, and talk about ways that you can impress your valentine without spending a neopoint!

It seems as though, in the materialistic society we live in nowadays, we can sometimes forget what the true spirit of holidays entails. Most of them, and Valentines Day is no exception, are about celebrating love and friendship, and showing others how much you care for them. Of course, spending your hard-earned money on a beautiful gift for your loved ones is a very caring and selfless gesture that will undoubtedly be appreciated. However, there are little things you can do to complement the exchange of gifts that will show those you love that you really do care about them, on a deeper level than simply by giving material goods.

Tip #1: Smile!

This tip sounds ridiculously simple, and perhaps even blatantly obvious. However, it is possible to get so caught up in nerves around your Valentine that you do not show how happy you are to be spending time with them on this special day. Even the most expensive gift will not bring joy to its recipient if it is handed over with an expressionless or sour face. Everyone looks better with a smile, so put one on your dial and watch how it brightens everyone’s day!

Tip #2: Write a personal card

When I say that you should write a personal ‘card’, I am not talking about buying a mass-manufactured, generic Valentines card with “I HEART U” emblazoned inside it in glitter font. Those cards undoubtedly have their place, but I know that I, for one, greatly appreciate receiving a handwritten card on any special occasion. It is a curious thing that to me, receiving a present without an accompanying card just doesn’t seem right, yet receiving a handwritten card without an accompanying present is still a sweet and thoughtful gesture. There is nothing like good old-fashioned pen and paper to help you express how much you care for someone, and you may be surprised to find how greatly appreciated personal cards are. I know that I would certainly appreciate a handwritten card as an expression of a loved ones feelings, over a generic card with no personal touch. Another danger of buying mass-produced cards is the potential embarrassment that could be caused by being out and about and seeing somebody else holding the exact same card! You will never run into that sort of trouble with personalized cards, and your Valentine will love you for the effort you’ve put into making it!

Tip #3: Be complimentary

Never underestimate the power of a genuine compliment to absolutely make someone’s day. It doesn’t matter whether you tell your Valentine that their hair looks nice, or that they have a great smile, or that you like their shoes - if you truly mean what you say, and you say it with a smile (see Tip #1), the compliment will be warmly received and appreciated. And who knows, you may even receive a compliment in return!

Tip #4: Don’t buy your loved ones an Un-Valentines Skeith Plushie

This is very much tongue-in-cheek, but it’s true. Nobody wants to be given a crying beast holding a torn heart on Valentines Day – it kind of sends the wrong message, don’t you think? So really, just don’t. The serious message in this tip is that if you do decide to buy your Valentine a gift (as well as utilizing all my other tips to complement the gift, of course!), make sure that your present is something that you yourself would like to receive, or can imagine that the other person would genuinely appreciate. Don’t buy something generic and tacky just because it’s heart-shaped – if you are buying it in the hopes that it will express your feelings appropriately to your Valentine, it really won’t. Try for something a little more personal!

Tip #5: Don’t be afraid to show how much you care

As well as telling your loved ones how much they mean to you this Valentines, don’t be afraid to show them! In addition to smiling as much as possible, make sure that you give out a generous amount of hugs and don’t limit your expressions of affection to words. Everyone loves a bear hug, and Valentines is the perfect time to share those cuddles! Don’t be standoffish because you’re afraid of looking uncool if you’re too enthusiastic about expressing how much you care – being aloof on Valentines Day is not the way to win your Valentines (or anyone’s!) heart. So don’t be afraid - an affectionate gesture can say just as much, if not much more, than words can. Best of all, like every other tip listed here, it’s totally free!

So there you have it! Those are just a few of my top tips for having a great and rewarding Valentines Day this year. Obviously there are many more things that you can do to make Valentines Day extra special for your loved ones, but if I covered every nice gesture in the book we’d all be reading until the Advent Calendar starts up again! I wish each and every one of you a very happy, exciting and rewarding Valentines Day filled with love and laughter, and spent in the company of those that mean the most to you. Happy Valentines Day!