Valentine’s Day used to be easy. You picked out a box of cards featuring your favorite cartoon, signed your name, and dropped them in your classmates’ pink- and red-covered boxes during your class’s Valentine’s Day party. The most stressful thing was gauging how much chocolate you should eat in class versus save for lunch.
Dating in college is an entirely different story. You must determine what kind of gift speaks to your level of commitment and time together. You don’t want to overwhelm your SO with eternal promises (unless you’re at that level, in which case, bravo), but you want to show him/her that you care. There’s also the problem of finances. Dinner at a 5-star restaurant is not in the cards.
What can a mildly-creative, sort of-crafty collegiette do for a Valentine’s Day gift? Here are a few examples that are small financial and time commitments, but big on love.
1. Dinner in
Dinner at a fancy restaurant might not be feasible, so why not bring the Michelin stars to your apartment? Try out that new recipe you found on Pinterest or stick with something basic that a glass of wine on the side could spice up. Whether you go for slice-n-bake cookies or tiramisu, the effort you put into dinner will show your SO the love.
2. Punny candy gifts
Why must the days of giving candy to express affection end in grade school? Take a cue from these clever cards to bring a little sugar into your SO’s life. Plus, who doesn’t love a good, cheesy pun?
- I love you to pieces (Reese’s pieces)
- It may be corny, but I love you (candy corn)
- Life without you is unBEARable (gummy bears)
- I’m hooked on you (gummy worms)
For the health nut:
- I’m bananas for you (banana)
- You’re pear-fect (pear)
3. Fortune cookies
These are easy to make (I can attest, I made these last Valentine’s Day!) and look really impressive. Write a love note, song quote, or cheesy joke inside to have your SO head over heels. Put the cookies in a cute box (I found a Valentine’s take-out box at CVS), and you’ve got yourself a loving gesture.
4. Treat bags
You choose what should inside: candy, fortune cookies (#3), coupons for a free personal massage, etc. Hide them around campus (or just in his/her room) for a mini scavenger hunt.
5. Movie night
If you want a night in this Valentine’s Day, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on being romantic. Order a pizza (pick it up yourself so you can write a note on the inside of the box—“You’ve stolen a pizza my heart”), mix your SO’s favorite candy into some popcorn, and let him/her choose the movie. Channel your inner kid by watching the movie under a blanket fort.
You don’t have to break the bank to make your Valentine’s Day special. Just show your SO what he/she means to you, and you’re guaranteed to succeed.
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