Roses. Chocolates. Cards. If you’re single, you may not be receiving any of those Valentine’s Day staples this Saturday, unless your dad mails you some “I’m sorry you’re sad and alone” flowers, or your aunt sends a last-minute cheesy Hallmark card. But have no fear. I’ve been single on Valentine’s Day for 18 of my 20 years now. Let my experience from getting through February 14 without feeling miserable help you make the most of this storied holiday of love.
1. Someone on campus is bound to give you free candy. Clubs on campus love to table on holidays. Keep your eye out for the goods while in MGC. Also, if you need to stock up on sugar for those inevitable midterms coming up soon, head to CVS for the after-Valentine’s Day sales. Go crazy. Bring friends with you on a sweets run in case you’re planning a night in.
2. No valentine equals no stressing over gifts. With winter comes what feels like never-ending gift giving. Single life means you don’t have to splurge on gifting. The money you save can also help you buy some more Founder’s Day essentials. Being single alleviates the pressure of buying a present for a significant other, only for them to be overwhelmed and for you to be stressed out. Goodbye to stress-induced breakouts and creepy stuffed animals, hello to a new dress for the ball.
3.You have a free pass to watch cheesy rom-coms. We’re not just talking the typical Nicolas Sparks movies here. Take it back to the late 90s and stream movies like Notting Hill or P.S. I Love You for equal amounts of laughing and crying. Can’t bear to watch another typical romance? Think Halloween and rent the B-horror movie My Bloody Valentine. (Disclaimer: I’ve never actually seen this one, but I’m sure it’s the antithesis to the rom-com.)
4.Celebrate Galentine’s Day with the crew, even a day late. God bless Parks and Rec’s Leslie Knope for creating this holiday on February 13, which she says is “like Lilith Fair, minus the angst…plus frittatas.” A Friday night out with your friends will end all annoyances with this uber-romantic holiday. Continue into Saturday by going out to brunch. I’m predicting a high chance of bottomless mimosas specials if you’re over 21. End Valentine’s Day by combining most of the upsides – raid the nearest drugstore with your friends for cheap candy and cheesy movies. And if you’re in the gift-giving mood but the cash flows low, bless your friends with the glorious Kanye and Drake inspired valentines floating around the Internet.
On the off chance that none of your friends are single and Galentine’s day is a bust, you should 1) get new friends and 2) take it in stride. Remember that Valentine’s Day is just that – one simple holiday that is exploited by all industries to make some cash. And when someone sheepishly asks you if you have any plans, don’t sound down. Invoke your inner Beyoncé and declare, “I’m feeling myself!”