Two Day Magazine

Do you have to spend big to enjoy the day?

Those celebrating Valentine’s Day this week are expected to spend more this year than in the last decade, according to a study released earlier this month.

And I won’t be one of them.

Consumers will fork over $126 on a variety of romantic junk — cards, chocolates, stuffed animals, flowers and more.

According to The National Retail Federation which surveyed 8,000 people, men are expected to outspend women $169 to $86.

Overall, consumers are expected to spend $17.6 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts — second only to Christmas.

While consumers will spend most of their Valentine’s Day budget on their lover — they’ll also be buying for kids, parents, other family members and their pets.

Yes, that is correct, consumers will spend about $5 on their four-legged bundles of joy.

Valentine’s Day has become the Christmas of February. You’re welcome Hallmark, Macy’s, Target, restaurants and, apparently, Petsmart.

And I’ll be happy to not partake in any of the crazy spending — sans maybe a box of the traditional conversation hearts for myself and a red toy mouse for my cat, Belle.

All of those spending figures are a bit alarming when you consider that marriages are at an all-time low and divorce rates remain steady. In the last Census, figures showed there were about 19 weddings performed for every 1,000 men and 18 for every 1,000 women across the country in 2009.

Meanwhile, divorces became final for about 9 of every 1,000 men and 9 of every 1,000 women that same year.

But here we are setting recording spending amounts for Valentine’s Day at a time when discretionary spending is tight.

I won’t have to worry much, though. I stopped caring for Valentine’s Day when I no longer decorated a shoebox with Mario Bros. stickers or filled out enough cards for an elementary school classroom. The cupcakes were great and the break from class was fun, but after that, Valentine’s Day became just another forced day in Corporate America.

Like clockwork, January begins with Christmas clearances and stores fill up with everything red.

Lost in all of those red ribbons and plastic hearts is the simple notion of being loved and showing love. Affection for someone isn’t edible and certainly doesn’t come boxed in shiny red paper. See the connections to Christmas?

As restaurants fill their tables and store shelves empty this week, I only wonder how lovers have a difficult time seeing how forced it is to show their undying love and affection this week.

Valentine’s Day for me usually includes dinner with friends or working. Last year, for instance, a group of friends and myself had dinner and celebrated the birthdays of two friends. Tongue-in-cheek Valentine’s Day gifts were exchanged (I received rose petals, a stuffed turtle and a Snoopy T-shirt from two women, and a box of chocolates from a male friend).

Several years ago, I sat in a Pizza Hut with friends eating from the “Lover’s Buffet.”

One year, I actually had what would appear to be an entire date planned out — dinner and a concert. But fear not, this was no Valentine’s Day event. Kenny Chesney and Sara Evans were in town to perform on that fateful day, so we braved the swarms of lovebirds to catch a concert we had been dying to see. As others purchased tickets and reserved dinner plans with their loved ones, there was my friend and I caring little about the calendar date and more about the music. It didn’t seem to bother her, and I certainly didn’t care.

We did get free dessert at dinner only because the restaurant was offering it to couples that night. And for all the waitress knew, my friend and I were a happy couple … of country music fans!

So don’t let the pressure of Valentine’s Day ruin your week. There are no rules to celebrating Valentine’s Day. I certainly won’t be concerned if I spend the night working or lounging. I also won’t mind if my mailbox lacks forced messages of love.

About the only part of Valentine’s Day I won’t mind? Buying the candy on clearance Feb. 15.

My only wish? Why can’t a grinch would come and steal Valentine’s Day, too?

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twoday magazine wants to know: Do you feel the pressure to celebrate Valentine’s Day tomorrow? Share your plans with us on our Facebook page.

Can’t get enough of Bobby Cherry? We can’t, either! So don’t forget to check out his website: GoBobbo.com and follow him on Twitter @GoBobbo.

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