Flowers, her favorite snacks, a teddy bear, what else? Is this enough? Does she also want a necklace? My god, and I have to find somewhere to eat? Why all of this in one day? I didn’t even get paid yet.
As we all know, Valentine’s Day is a “special day” where couples tend to spend the day together; getting gifts and showcasing their love for each other in big flower arrangements and candy.
Making sure everything goes according to plan is a big stressor for guys on valentines day. Thinking whether you have done too little or too much can ruin the overall feeling of this special day.
On this holiday, stress and anxiety levels in men increase due to the expectations they are trying to reach in order for their partner to be satisfied. Often it is expected that men get their women something pricey and show love through expensive jewelry or bouquets of flowers.
According to Hilite.org, “…in committed hetrosexual relationships, the man typically gets the woman a fairly luxurious gift. That is the standard expectation for what you do on Valentine’s Day. It is a lot of pressure, because if you don’t do that, it is often interpreted as a sign that maybe you’re not as invested in the relationship as you should be.”
These high expectations lead men to overthink their gifts. Leading many to think that if you are not spending $100+, you do not love your partner.
It is very rare that highschool relationships make it to marriage. This leads many to question whether it is worth it to invest that much money into something that most likely will not workout.
According to unhappymarriage.org, “Only 2% of high school sweethearts – or two in 100 people – stay together long enough to get married. Of those who do marry, less than 1% will last without divorce.”
UACHS senior Omar Parson thinks that the amount you spend on your significant other should depend on how long you have been with them.
“If I was with a girl for a year maybe I would spend $50-100, 2 years $100-200, and like 3 years and longer than that then obviously I’d spend a little more” said Parson. “I tend to think maybe it’s not enough for her, maybe I did too little so sometimes I like to do a little extra just to prove to her that I want to show her love.”
Valentine’s day is a holiday where love is meant to be shared amongst your friends and family, but is usually centered around your relationship. Despite how large or small your gift may be, expense wise, the love your partner holds for you should triumph over all.
If the little things do not count in a relationship, no matter how much your gift may cost, it will never be enough.
