A College Girl's Guide to Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day may be over, but that doesn't mean we can't prepare ourselves for V-Day 2017. Amid the rush to buy last minute presents or the shameless promotion for a singles’ get together (my dorm is having a Valentinder. Really.) you might find yourself overwhelmed. Fear not. Here’s the college girl’s guide to this February 14th.

1. Don’t make your friends feel bad about Valentine’s Day. If you’re in a relationship, don’t make your pals feel bad or jealous for not having a date/being excited. Similarly, if you’re single don’t make your friends who are in relationships feel bad about being excited. I hate to admit it, but I’ve been on both ends of this. There’s no point in trying to make your friends in relationships feel bad for wanting to spend V Day with their S.O., just like there’s no point in trying to make your single friends excited if they don’t want to be.

2. Make Galentine’s Day a thing. We can all take a page out of Leslie Knope’s book. Set aside some time for your Ann Perkins (Perkinses for plural?) on Valentine’s Day or the day before. Make sure to remind them that they still have a special place in your heart, and make it into a fun excuse to watch Parks and Rec and eat some really good $10 takeout with your $10 bottle of Barefoot.

3. Don’t forget that overestimating a gift is a real thing. If you have a significant other, you might feel pressured to get them something really nice. And then you heard from so-and-so that what they got for you is also really nice. And then you start thinking you need to get them something else in case their present is nicer than yours and STOP. Your boyfriend/girlfriend/we don’t like labels but are still doing V Day/whatever you are will still love what you get them. I promise. You'd be happy with whatever they got you, right? Same principle. If you’re really worried, though, it never hurts to talk to them and set limits and a price range (we’re in college for goodness’ sake - expensive gifts really don’t have to happen.)

4. Try not to get upset if you can’t spend the entire day with your person. College doesn’t stop for Valentine’s Day, so that paper one of you has been putting off still needs attention. If your commitments at school are overwhelming you, opt for spending some of the afternoon or evening with the one you love. That gives you enough time to work on something that should be your top priority as well as setting some time for V Day celebrations.

5. If you’re single (or if you’re like me and really just want some chocolate and don’t know if your better half is going to get the right kind for you), wait until February 15th to buy yourself some chocolate hearts. This one may seem like a no-brainer to some, but I still forget that the prices drop on Valentine’s Day candy the day after. Cheap sweets is always a goodie.

6. Don’t feel pressured to go to that fancy upscale restaurant you’ve heard about. Most of us are on a budget here. It’s hard to drop $75 on a textbook, let alone a singular dinner. Opt for making a homemade meal instead, and if you can’t cook, order in.

7. Remember that Valentine’s Day is about love, not how much you spend on dinner or a present. Yes, it’s a holiday created by capitalism and yes, presents are nice. But the most important thing about February 14th is how you show someone you love them. Make it obvious in your actions, not your gift-giving abilities.

To another year!