"Valentine's Day is too commercialized" is a cop-out from people who don't want to put any effort into wooing their partner at any other time of the year either. amirite?

Valentine's Day doesn't have to be about overspending on traditional gifts. It's more about taking the time to make your partner feel loved and appreciated.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

This is what I do too. Then again, I cook 3 meals a day all year around with the exception of major holidays, and I only have to cook 2 meals on my birthday (if I don't include my birthday dessert which i also am responsible for making).

by Agitated_Couple9615 5 months ago

agreed, my partner and i never go out on valentine's day but we still spend it together and make dinner or just hang out together, and that's special by itself! it's too crowded at the restaurants and i never like the pre-fixe menus they offer. and yea we don't need to be buying more plastic that'll end up in a landfill after a few weeks. i enjoy the holiday just for the sentiment, i love love!

by Anonymous 5 months ago

But you get all the candy at half price after

by Anonymous 5 months ago

We chose a wedding date 2 weeks after Valentine's day so we could take advantage of all the clearance sales of heart shaped candy, and other products lol

by Automatic_Ground 5 months ago

Genius

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Well part of it is because many people have expectations to receive exactly those types of gifts on Valentine's.

by Designer-Split 5 months ago

i buy flowers biweekly throughout the year valentine's day comes and the price of flowers shoot up because why not that's commercialization

by StageInfamous 5 months ago

Same thing with "special" restaurant meals. My husband and I choose another day in about a month to do our own Valentine's Day-esque celebrations without worrying about getting the best reservations against everyone else in the city

by vandervortopal 5 months ago

I've made an effort to buy my lady irises all the time, so on Valentine's Day I can avoid the fifty dollar roses.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

When we bought our house, there was a row of rose bushes out front. Everyone told us to remove them because they are so much work to maintain. I kept them because my wife has roses every day while they bloom. And I want to plant some other colors to finish the line on the front fence.

by RevolutionWooden1803 5 months ago

The pirce of flowers shoot up because everyone is buying flowers

by KiwiAcrobatic1604 5 months ago

OP isn't saying commercialization of Valentine's Day doesn't exist, they're criticizing people who complain about it to avoid anything special for Valentine's while not celebrating their lover in any other way on the day, or doing similarly big gestures on other days of the year.

by Rare_Bicycle_8906 5 months ago

I feel exactly the same way. My boyfriend has always ignored birthdays, Christmas, valentines day, our anniversary, etc. He said it's because we can do what we want on any other day. We can go to a restaurant any time we want, get each other gifts and everything. But you're right, he never gets me gifts or takes me places. I am still sad I didn't get a gift or do anything nice for my 30th birthday last year. Or our 10 year anniversary 4 years ago. We haven't done anything nice together like a date in years. I could list every time I've been disappointed but I'd be here all day. But I always try to do things for him. I make him gifts all the time and ask to do things. I even spent the money I had been saving up for years that I got for my birthdays on him for his birthday one year (because I don't make money I don't have any money so my birthday money is all I had) It sucks.

by Johan53 5 months ago

You guys have been together 14 years, aren't married and he doesn't do anything to make you feel special? I mean this as respectfully as possible why are you even with him?

by Background_Guard4140 5 months ago

Girl, you deserve so much better.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

The amount of effortlessness from this may makes me seek that you need to leave him. It's not about the gift. It's about the effort behind the gift that he's refusing to do.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Have you spoken to him about this? if he knows and does not make the effort... damn. My dad was the opposite; he always made a big show every birthday, Valentine's Day, and anniversary. Big, fake and often something that left my mom inconvenienced. Like expensive restaurant so she had to get a nanny OR get us dressed up and save money of the grocery budget after. lack of care comes in many forms and I really hope your bf shows care in other ways and you haven't told him your love language is gifts

by Ok_Recover8630 5 months ago

Wait.....you guys have been together 14 years, since like high school, and you still aren't married? Gurrrrrrrl.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Can't expect someone else to love you when you don't love yourself.

by hodkiewiczsaman 5 months ago

I sort of agree. It is too commercialized...but it doesn't have to be. It can be free.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Ok question what have you ever done for Valentine's Day for your partners? I dislike Valentine's Day because women don't reciprocate the energy. If I set up a day of wooing a women for Valentine's Day and she doesn't woo me back then I don't see the point of Valentine's Day other than to guilt men into doing something for nothing. I always see women complaining about nothing getting done for them for Valentine's Day but then don't do anything other than have sex with their partner which isn't a Valentine's gift.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Even when I was with men who claimed it was too commercialized and didn't want to do anything, I would still get them a bar of their favorite candy and make them a card. I think only one of them ever really cared that I did that though. For my husband, before we started our tradition before we got married I would make him a card and a batch of cookies. Now, each year, we trade off cooking elaborate meals for each other on Valentine's night. Glad you asked, but when I say I like to celebrate love, that's not code for "I like my partners to celebrate me without me reciprocating."

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Wow people really choose to misunderstand op. He is not saying these people should participate in valentines. He's saying the people most vocal about not participating in valentines because of the commercialization, are not doing it because they hate the commercialization but because they don't wanna do any of the romantic work, period. All year these people do nothing and now there is suddenly a day where there is a true expectation they finally do something and these people use "commercialization!" As a cop-out so they can continue to do nothing

by RefrigeratorFluid215 5 months ago

All the time. Am I free to dismiss this pointless "holiday" ?

by Kesslerissac 5 months ago

Only if you bought your wife a big diamond. NOT A FAKE one. It needs to come from a child slave.

by Sharp_Band_9622 5 months ago

We move our valentines day to the weekend after valentines. Less crowds and such.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Me and my husband love Valentine's Day because it's an excuse to be extravagant

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Valentine's Day is literally a commercial invention.

by Icy_Drag_1483 5 months ago

whoosh

by Jarrodkutch 5 months ago

Had that discussion this week. I do all things that you list. Except the love letters. I ain't gonna pay to 3-5 times mark up for flowers, chocolate and restaurant visits just because its Valentines Day. Especially since the last flowers I bought didn't even wither yet lol. But she is also at work till late in the night so I go to a concert this year lol.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Looks like we have a marketing expert here Good luck with your business

by Comfortable-Fix4331 5 months ago

What am I selling, exactly? …bubble baths?

by Icy-Comedian3026 5 months ago

Lol "click the link to learn how to make EVERY day like valentines day!"

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Me. I'm that wife. I always go the extra mile on special occasions, but I try to do romantic things throughout the year. My husband does some romantic things, but I think about it more. Probably because I need it more.

by dejon88 5 months ago

I agree that Valentine's Day is too commercialized, but it is useful to have days like this picked to dedicate time to my wife. Every since we had kids it feels like it's easy for the time to always be dedicated to the kids. having a few days of the year where we decided we would find someone to watch the kids for a night so we can focus on each other is nice because it takes a lot of planning to do that.

by Pacochalenny 5 months ago

A former friend of mine only ever saw Valentine's Day for whatever he could get out of it from his wife. She would have had an absolute fit if she had ever found out that I picked most of the cards and presents he got her for that day, especially since she didn't like me :)

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Joke's on you, I dont have a partner

by Anonymous 5 months ago

It is. The smart way to go about it is to do Valentine's on a different day. You don't have to deal with the hassle nor the price gauging.

by Icy-Swimming-1514 5 months ago

Unpopular. But I agree. People (myself often included) are just bitter, and Valentines Day makes them confront that a bit

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Yeah I think it's too commercialized but I still go out with my SO for Valentine's and get her flowers or a gift, it's not for me and I don't gain anything by dying on some stupid anti-consumerism hill, the only thing that could possibly do is upset my SO.

by Nikolaskassulke 5 months ago

To some people, wooing is just a waste of time anyway.

by Secure_Earth5833 5 months ago

Yep and its the same people who celebrate cinco de mayo and st pattys day to the max..

by Anonymous 5 months ago

I agree! I was actually reading about the origins of Valentine's Day as a love based holiday and it was really interesting, if people brush it off by saying it's too commercialized nowadays the same could be said about literally any other holiday as well

by Temporary_Bar_3814 5 months ago

I prefer anniversaries, but it is ok at the start of the relationship (I don't know if I see myself doing it in the future).

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Two things can be true at the same time.

by smithjohnathan 5 months ago

I welcome any chance to spoil my husband

by Pitiful-Arm6590 5 months ago

I mean, yes, Valentines Day IS too commercialized. But I do think it's important to celebrate the love you have with family, friends, and SOs. For me and my fiancé, we decided we'll celebrate our love on the 21st of February, since that's the anniversary of our first date.

by Alexanneledner 5 months ago

I'm becoming more anti holidays generally because of all the wastage especially from plastics. That said, I'm more than happy to do Valentine's and have an extra day spoiling my partner. She deserves to feel special regardless of my general cynicism.

by No_Talk 5 months ago

Is buying my wife our dream house enough? Or do I need to work even harder to afford marked up dinners out, plastic crap, and monoculture flowers as well?

by Sharp_Band_9622 5 months ago

Why should it be my job to make an expensive purchase multiple times a year when I receive nothing in return. Bedroom stays dead regardless. Valentines day, mothers day, birthday, anniversary, Christmas. The list goes on, how many days does this narcissist get? I get a tie, socks, a card but I'm expected to produce flowers and diamonds and everything else? Bad investment

by NinjaUsual4388 5 months ago

I mean if that's your opinion of your partner, just separate from her?

by Anonymous 5 months ago

maybe you should leave your partner if you're so miserable

by Jarrodkutch 5 months ago

OP works for Hallmark

by Choice-Advantage 5 months ago

Hallmark must be in shambles if I'm promoting them by… telling people to not spend money

by Icy-Comedian3026 5 months ago

I think this is actually a popular opinion. I'm a woman and have never been a fan of it. My bf & I purposely don't do or buy anything around this time for each other because of the points you made. However, in saying that.... I do enjoy hearing about people's dates and actual on vday.

by aryanna18 5 months ago

All restaurants by me in LA switch already being over priced to setting special "Valentines" menus, where they limit you to their choices and charge $195 a person. It's a grift. I'd rather the very next day and spend 1/3rd of the price for the same experience, probably better cause i can actually pick the items I'm interested in ordering.

by MaterialAardvark 5 months ago

My dh and I celebrate our birthdays and wedding anniversary, but not valentine's day even though it's our dating anniversary. Restaurants are crowded, flowers are expensive. It is overly commercialized.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

Best time of year to be single (from a financial perspective at least).

by WillNo 5 months ago

It is also, for the record, a solid way for cynical single bitches like me to complain. So there's that

by Anonymous 5 months ago

I don't understand adults caring about this. It's a kids holiday with candy hearts and stickers for everyone in class. That's it! Adults should not be doing anything for valentines except buying candy for the kids. If you need a stuffed animal to feel loved you have issues

by Anonymous 5 months ago

I've never heard of it being a kid's holiday - that's super weird to me, it's supposed to be about romance.

by Important-Second7166 5 months ago

My favorite is: You're spending $300 on a romantic Valentines suite just to have sex in the same two positions you do at home.

by Anonymous 5 months ago

My wife hates Valentine's Day. Every year I explain to my coworkers we don't celebrate it, they think I'm crazy, every year I come in the next day, balls intact, still happily married. My wife is awesome, we don't do greeting cards, she hates flowers, will occasionally eat chocolate but would be very frustrated if I didn't get it the day after at 50% off.

by langdixie 5 months ago

My wife and I did not celibate this fake holiday after turning 30. It was stupid we decided. I would bring her flowers etc all the time and she would do special things for me all the time. Have in had the chance since she died.

by Quick_Ad_3507 5 months ago