Valentine’s Day is a holiday to celebrate the love around us, and many Lincoln High School students will be celebrating with their boyfriend or girlfriend this year. Gifts are a huge part of this holiday; partners want to show each other that they care by buying thoughtful presents. But Valentine’s Day can be an anxious one for some because what if they don’t get a good gift? This can be a hard one for some because they are high schoolers, and many do not have enough money to buy their partners a gift that they may want. What if they can’t afford a fancy dinner?
So let’s talk about ways to be a good valentine on a budget.
Make it yourself:
“Gifts are the first thing couples think about as February 14 comes around. As kids we don’t have enough cash lying around to spend on one gift, so why spend money when you could just make a gift from the heart? The best gifts come from time and dedication, and that is what matters most on Valentine’s Day.
“I think handmade gifts for Valentine’s Day are sentimental and more special than store-bought gifts because it takes time to make them and you put thought into buying supplies and putting something together rather than buying something,” senior Ava Cabral said. “I would be grateful for either gift or even a gift at all, but I do think that it’s more special to receive a homemade one to show that there was time and effort put into it.”
“I would love a homemade gift; it shows dedication and that you care by spending time on a present instead of just going to the self-care section and picking out everything girly that you see, but I would be very happy and grateful for both,” sophomore Bianca Gomes said.
Stay In:
Valentine’s Day is usually followed by dinner, and taking someone out could be pricey. Other ways you could hang out with one another while enjoying a little snack include staying in for the night. Watch your significant other’s favorite movies while picking their favorite drinks and snacks. Just enjoy each other’s company. It’s not about the big things you do but the little moments you share.
“All I need is quality time and I feel as though that is sufficient, especially as high schoolers who mostly don’t have a lot of money and don’t have jobs to get lots of expensive things,” sophomore Molly Valedofsky said. “I just want to be with my boyfriend. I don’t care if it’s followed by an expensive bill at a fancy restaurant as long as I get to spend time with him.”
“Staying in can be more personal rather than a performative gesture,” Riley McCluskey said. “Going out can sometimes feel like following a script and the crowd by doing what everyone else is doing, but being home creates opportunities for connection, conversation, and closeness without distraction.”
Flowers:
Flowers have always been a great way to express love to those who you like, but the prices of flowers are rising. Roses are about$ 50 to $100 for a fancier bouquet. Having to worry about spending that much along with everything else can cause worry to some, so don’t spend so much on a fancy bouquet. Go to cheaper stores such as Stop & Shop or CVS, and you can get them for about $25 instead.
“Flowers are expensive, and I only work one job,” Muhammad Ndoye said. “If I were to buy the expensive $100 ones that’s basically my paycheck depending on how much I worked. But I do believe they are still a very important part of the gift. So I will be getting beautiful flowers but just in a cheaper setting.”
“I think flowers are some of the most beautiful things nature has to give us,” sophomore Francesca Piccirilli said. “I believe that even the smallest or least expensive of flowers are amazing. So even if they are freshly picked or if they are the finest of roses I would not care.”
It’s not about how much money you spent on your significant other for Valentine’s Day. It is about how much love you give them every day. It is to celebrate the passion you share for one another and this year maybe you can show the love for one another without having to break the bank.
