By: Henry Fisher | February 14, 2022
Photo Credit: Creative Commons
Tying love to money can be an incredibly dangerous prospect. While gift-giving is a love language, getting presents based on price can set up a poor precedent and may distract from the real valuable part of the relationship – each other. A potential solution this Valentine’s Day is homemade.
Does what I said above apply to everyone? No. Every relationship is unique and different, and maybe expensive presents are just what each partner enjoys. That’s okay! What I’m offering today is an alternative but before you do anything, it may be a good idea to ask your partner. Though you may choose to do something different, you don’t want them feeling like they came up short or went too far.
Let's say that, as a college student, you plan on getting a $40 gift for your loved one. For the purposes of this discussion, let's say you work a minimum wage job in the wonderful city of Albany. That’s $13.20 an hour. So for a $40 gift, you’re working about three hours. My proposition is that instead of working three hours for a present, work for three (or more) hours and make something yourself! Yes, it can be cheesy.
Maybe this is something classical, like some poetry, a song, or a painting. But don’t feel limited! For the green thumbs, maybe you grow one of their favorite flowers. That’s hours of work cultivating something you know they love. Cacti are also options. For a more modern option, you could make a video compilation! Put on some of their favorite music and watch those memories fly by on the screen. For the bakers or the chefs, you can always make them something! Food is the window to the soul, as they say.
There are so many wonderful ideas, but you may be thinking: “What if I’m not good at any of those things?” That’s okay! The fact that you are putting in the effort to actually make something that is for them is the best part of it all. It’s something that is unique to your relationship, something they could never truly get from a store. Also, the more you do this, the better you’ll get at it!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
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