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According to Wikipedia, Valentine’s Day didn’t become associated with
romantic love until the High Middle Ages when the tradition of courtly love
flourished. Ever since, the day has been fraught with symbolism tinged with
traces of anxiety.
We all want our gifts to communicate the appropriate amount of love, but
we’re sometimes unsure how to accomplish that. Questions abound. Should you buy
him a sexy card or tickets to a basketball game? Should you present her with
costly French perfume, and if so, what brand? Will she take those teardrop
earrings to mean more than you intend—or quite a bit less? And then, on the
other end of the love spectrum, what if you simply can’t afford to shower your
loved one with the gifts that he or she deserves?
If you’re watching your money (and these days, who isn’t?), the good news
is that we live in an era when the grand gesture can be more meaningful than a
present costing hundreds of dollars. And with a little forethought, yours will
convey just the right amount of love. Here are six gift ideas for the frugalista
with a heart of gold, but a wallet running on empty:
1. Invent a signature drink for your sweetheart.
Is he of Russian descent? Perhaps the drink should contain Russian vodka in
his honor. Does she hail from Florida? Maybe the drink should be made with
fresh-squeezed oranges instead. Are you dating a redhead? Consider adding ginger
as one of the prominent drink flavors. For added fun and hijinks, print up the
recipe on cardstock so that your loved one can order the libation with ease at
restaurants and bars. Be sure to put some personality into that recipe card.
2. Get inventive with the I.O.U.s.
These ingenious notes can save you a small fortune ... or even a large one.
Instead of running around trying to find the perfect present for your paramour,
take half of an afternoon to design a pretty I.O.U. certificate on your computer
for “one free home-cooked meal.” Then fill in his name, print out the document,
wrap it with a ribbon, and you’re done. Cupid will attest, the quickest way to a
man’s heart is (still) through his stomach.
3. Name a star.
It’s a symbolic gesture that has little to do with science, but much to do
with love and affection. Plus, it can add a real bright spot to your
relationship. Call a star after a girlfriend, boyfriend, or even “just a friend”
for under $15. Every time that special person in your life stares up at the
heavens, he or she will be sure to think of you fondly.
4. Shop your closet.
“Love consists of desiring to give what is our own to another and feeling
his delight as our own,” Emanuel Swedenborg wrote. Passing on something that was
yours to someone you cherish is not merely about the value of the item itself.
Hopefully, the gesture will stike an emotion, and you’ll have a chance to see
your own joy reflected back in the recipient’s face. Please note: Never
relinquish something that you can’t live without should the relationship
combust.
5. Say it with music.
When love is in the air, why not pretend that you’re an on-air personality
and burn a CD of the tunes that remind you of your sweetheart? If you have been
dating for over a year, the songs might hearken back to the night you met. Or
the CD might include the melody that played when you first kissed. Sweet dreams
are made of this.
6. Something, anything, in her or his color.
Some women look dashing in pink. Some guys look fetching in emerald green.
When you know your lover’s favorite color and then buy a present in the precise
shade, it shows an extra degree of thought. These gifts needn’t be costly.
Scarves, hats, and gloves in every color of the rainbow can be purchased for
under $10 at your local street vendors. Even something as frivolous as a pink
pen can bring a smile to the right face—hers.
If you have just started dating, Valentine’s Day is a built-in opportunity
to move your relationship forward by mutually exploring a new level of intimacy.
On the other hand, if you have been dating or married for a while, Valentine’s
Day presents the perfect chance to rekindle the romance and remember why you
fell in love in the first place. No matter what you spend on your significant
other this Valentine’s Day, don’t forget to say, “I love you.”
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发表于 2017-2-17 20:51:38