Reminder: it’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow (thank us later!)

It's the sneakiest of holidays. One minute, you’re recovering from New Year’s, and the next, you’re running around like a headless chook looking for love-heart chocolates and overpriced roses. 

Every year, couples make the same promise: 

“Let’s not do gifts this time”. 

But let’s be real—most of us cave. The panic sets in when you start wondering… “What if they actually got me something?” Do you really want to be the one who shows up empty-handed while they pull out a beautifully wrapped gift?

Aussies are going all out this year

Aussies are expected to splash out a record $535 million on Valentine’s Day this year, according to Roy Morgan. That’s a whole lot of teddy bears holding a love heart.

Men, in particular, are set to splash out an average of $162, while women will spend $110. That means millions of dollars going towards flowers, chocolates, fancy dinners, and last-minute petrol station gifts (we’ve all been there…)

But does showing love really have to come with an exxy receipt? 

3 budget friendly ideas to nail Valentine’s Day on the cheap:

1. Write a proper love letter – Not just “Love you xx” in a card, but an actual letter. Remind your partner of the little things you love about them. It’s old-school, it’s heartfelt, and it beats any store-bought card.
2. Cook them dinner – Avoid the overpriced Valentine’s set menus and make something yourself. Bonus points if you light some candles and attempt a fancy dessert.
3. Do something sentimental – Take them back to the place you first met, recreate your first date, or even just queue up your songs and have a chill night in. Sometimes the best gift is just showing you actually remember stuff.

At the end of the day, Valentine’s Day is meant to be about love, not spending half your paycheck on a giant teddy bear.

So whether you go big or keep it simple, just make sure it’s about your partner — not just a last-minute panic to tick the love-box.