The good, the bad, and the ugly
The top five best and worst ideas in the world of Valentine’s gifting
LET’S FACE IT: Valentine’s Day isn’t always all roses and romance. When that dreaded date in February comes around, everyone is looking for the same thing—the perfect gift. If you’re lucky enough to have a date, whether it’s the love of your life or a passing fling, finding the right present is no easy task. The pressure is on and if you’re not on top of your game you’re likely to find your half-hearted labour of love fall flat. But, lucky for you, there’s no need to fear this Feb. 14—the Fulcrum has your guide to finding a fantastic gift for your special someone.
Ultimate worst gifts:
5. Gag gifts
No matter how similar your sense of humour is to your significant other’s, whoopie cushions, fake vomit, or a rubber chicken just won’t do. Joke junk will likely leave you in the doghouse and your baby wondering why you couldn’t just spring for the classic card.
4. Gym membership
This one is right up there with diet pills and tanning minutes. You may think you’re doing something sweet, but chances are your significant someone is not going to be blown away by your generosity.
3. Kitchen or cleaning supplies
Totally unromantic, not to mention you run a serious risk of your partner either thinking their cleaning habits need improving or that you think that the kitchen is not only where they belong but where they want to be.
2. Nothing at all
Nothing screams “I don’t care about you” like forgetting Valentine’s Day. It’s one thing if you and your partner are not the Valentine’s type, but unless you’ve established that gift-giving is a no-go then you’d better come up with something, however small.
1. The break-up
A break-up on or around Valentine’s Day is the worst of the worst. Do your soon-to-be-ex a favour and get this over with before the big day. Nothing sucks more than getting dumped on the most love-filled day of the year.
All-time greatest gestures:
5. Something home-made
A rule to live by for every stone-broke student—a gift from the heart, however cheap, will always one-up something that takes a five-minute trip to the mall and virtually no thought at all.
4. The classic dinner-date
If you’re on a budget it takes a surprisingly small amount of cash to pull together a great candlelit dinner. But, if you’ve got the spare change, an unexpected evening out is a great way to break out of the study-date rut you’ve run yourself into over midterms.
3. Something they want but would never ask for
This is a tricky one because it takes insight and spare funds, but if you’re able to pull it off there are serious brownie points to be won. This is your chance to show your baby that you’ve been listening to him muttering about how bad he wishes he had the cash to finally pick up Modern Warfare 2, or that you did pick up on the 10 million reasons she’s dying for that American Apparel dress.
2. Scavenger hunt
This is your chance to get inventive and show your sugar how creative you can be. If you’re willing to spend the dough, you can lead your lover from place to place, gathering gifts along the way. If you’re strapped for cash, simply using construction paper, a dozen daisies, and just as many compliments or small sweet nothings will definitely bring a smile to your sweetheart’s face.
1. Quality time
Lack of time is the ultimate curse of college courtship—so, this Valentine’s day, do something about it. Tell your darling to don their skates and take them out for a (free) afternoon on the canal, then head home, toss on a record you can both enjoy, and take the chance to talk about something besides studying.
