Whether you love it or loathe it, Valentine’s day is approaching! It’s the ‘one day of the year’ where you can show your loved one just how much they mean to you, some may argue. Here are some of the pros and cons of celebrating Valentine’s day…
Reasons to love it:
Valentine’s day can be a good excuse to celebrate and spend time with your other half. The day itself means that you have something to look forward to and creates new memories for you both! It can be exciting planning something together and do something that you both enjoy.
The 14th of February could be thought of as a day in which couples get to show how much they mean to one another. Simple things like writing a nice card can really show respective partners how much they mean to you. This can be done in many other ways too such as through quirky gifts or photographs.
If you’re not in a relationship Valentine’s can seem quite lonely or simply just annoying. However – it can be good for social gatherings! It can be an excuse to get people together, either for a group meal/group outing or just for a meetup!
There are many things you can do and here are two budget-friendly ideas:
Group meal – One idea may be to cook a meal together! Getting everyone to chip in for the meal and to all cook together might be a way to forget Valentine’s day. Meal ideas could include things like burritos, fajitas, or enchiladas – anything that will get people together and share… and of course, something that everyone will like.
Film Night – Have some friends over and watch some cheesy films. It might be fun to get some snacks in, sit all together and enjoy some old DVD’s.
Valentine’s day is a good opportunity to build up relationships through having a laugh and doing something different with your partner, so it can be good for that reason! The cute products and items that are available such as balloons, games, etc can make it fun and – and make the day romantic and sweet.
Reasons to loathe it:
Though the idea of Valentine’s day can seem appealing, it can be quite expensive. If you’re buying gifts it can work out costly – especially if you’re in competition with your partner. It is often the case that most shops have offers and special deals for Valentine’s day, but even so the price of gifts such as flowers can be high.
Some people see Valentine’s day as a day to be treated or spoiled by their partner with gifts or expensive meals. This not only pressures people to live up to their partner’s expectations but can also make it a negative experience.
There seems to be an added pressure to buy expensive gifts for your boyfriend/girlfriend, and this can sometimes take away the excitement and principle of Valentine’s day. The giving of gifts can get in the way of the reason to be celebrating.
Another aspect to consider is that Valentine’s day becomes another day in which you spend money on gifts as well as birthdays etc. Though it can be a nice/loving gesture to buy gifts it can leave people out of pocket.
So… love it or hate it?
There are more reasons to loathe Valentine’s day. It’s expensive, overpriced and is often celebrated for the wrong reasons. The day itself can be overlooked by gifts and the price of them, and this can make the concept of Valentine’s day seem redundant.
However, it can be nice for people to celebrate Valentine’s day and it can be made a romantic and sweet day for couples that want to make it a day to celebrate their relationship.
