Love is in the air, and also must be in your wallet. Valentine’s Day is expensive, puts unnecessary pressure on relationships and takes away from the fact that we should show love and appreciation every day, not just on Feb. 14. 

For those who choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day, it can often be incredibly expensive. The act of gifting your partner chocolates, flowers and going out to eat are all things society expects people to do on this day. In a survey taken by the National Retail Federation, individuals said they felt expected to spend an average of $161.96 on Valentine’s Day in 2019. If one is already under financial pressure, the expectations of spending on Valentine’s Day are just an added burden. Choosing to not buy a partner anything on this so-called “day of love” is simply not viewed as a viable option.

Valentine’s Day also puts unnecessary pressure on a new or unstable relationship. If in a romantic relationship, Valentine’s Day may lead to feeling obligated to make a serious investment or declaration of caring to your partner before you are ready. If not in a relationship, it can be a pain or even embarrassing at times to need to explain your choice to be alone. Data collected by CNN concludes how relationship status on a Facebook profile varies the most on Feb. 14, illustrating increased tension in relationships during this time. This indicates that this day of love seems to be anything but relaxing, and potentially strains relationships.

Additionally, why should a person only show their love and appreciation for others once a year? Love and appreciation in a relationship should not be condensed to an annual holiday. We should be celebrating each other and showing gratitude all year round. Only showing your love for someone by getting them gifts and chocolates once a year degrades and objectifies the meaning of love. 

In the end, Valentine’s day is just a holiday—no one should feel pressured or obligated to celebrate it no matter what their relationship status is. While giving someone gifts and chocolate is a great way of showing love, it certainly isn’t the only way.