A gift giver’s guide for Valentine’s Day

It’s February and love is in the air. Whether you have a valentine or a galentine, Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate one’s love and appreciation for close friends and significant others. Pulling from the opinions and advice of fellow students, as well as my own experience as a gift-giver to my long-term partner, I created this guide to inspire you to get creative this Valentine’s Day.

1. An experience

What better way to celebrate your love for another than to experience something new or fun together? An experience is a gift you cannot replace and may never forget, and with the right person, just being in the moment creates a perfect gift. This is a great option for those who have some money to spend.

Jake Bergherm, a fourth-year kinesiology major, is planning on going to dinner with his girlfriend of two and a half years. He said going out and experiencing something is more special to him than simply exchanging gifts.

“I prefer to have quality time, and we often don’t have the most time to be together so I value that rather than a tangible thing,” he said.

Some other options:

• Visit the San Diego Zoo and the newest edition: giant pandas ($76 per person)
• Spend the day at Seaworld and enjoy their special “Valentine’s Day Dinner” ($150 for couples)
• Paint pottery or make candles at Liberty Station’s The Hot Spot (price for the pieces only)
• Watch a romantic comedy movie at Rooftop Cinema Club, an outdoor theatre with heated seats and warm drinks with a view of downtown San Diego’s city lights ($20-$40 per seat)
• Four-course meal challenge: Go grocery shopping and take turns choosing the drink, appetizer, main course and dessert. The winner of rock, paper, scissors gets to decide. Then, go enjoy a picnic at Mission Bay, Sunset Cliffs, Shelter Island or the beach. (Depending on where you shop, roughly $30)

John Wu, PLNU professor of psychology with experience in couples counseling, said healthy couples often reflect on their past together.

“Gifts or activities that reminisce or remind you of previous memorable activities or experiences together are likely to be fun and strengthen your relationship,” he said in an email interview.

2. A hand-made gift

You can’t go wrong with a personalized gift made with care and attention to detail. My favorite part about gift giving for a loved one is making something for them. To me, it says more than buying something.

For Joy Russell, a third-year media communications major, a hand-made gift is her favorite sentiment to receive. She said, “It is thoughtful and can usually last forever.”

In the past, Russell’s boyfriend of three and a half years gifted her a book full of pictures of them with a note on each page. She said it was special to her because she can look back at it and all of their memories.

I bought a deck of cards last year and on each card, I wrote something I loved about my boyfriend. I wrote “52 things I love about you” on the outside of the box. I think he appreciated it – it’s something he still has today.

Megan Chin, a third-year psychology major, painted a mug for her boyfriend of two years. She said she is practical and likes to gift things people can use.

Some other ideas:

• A painting or drawing
• Photo magnets
• A scrapbook of memories

3. Flowers

I’m sure you expected this to make an appearance. While it may be cliché, you can never go wrong with a beautiful bouquet. Even better – one you make yourself. 

• Trader Joe’s and Little House of Flowers sell small flower bouquets you can mix and form into your own

In my own experience, receiving flowers is a gesture that speaks volumes. While seemingly small, it makes me feel thought of and admired.  

For Chin, this is her favorite gift to receive. “It’s something I will appreciate,” she said.

4. Something you can use 

For the practical people out there, something your partner uses often and may be running low on or things to feed their hobbies are good gifts. Shopping local and small is a great option for finding unique and personalized gifts, such as farmers markets, locally owned shops and Etsy. Some ideas and thoughts to jog inspiration:

• For an athlete: athleisure, socks, weightlifting straps, new sports equipment, a Yeti and massage gun
• A personalized toiletry bag 
• A personalized bookmark for the readers 
• New perfume or cologne
• Art supplies, journals, pens

5. Care package

Two years ago, I made a care package to send to my long-distance boyfriend full of his favorite sweets, chips, drinks, snacks and a letter. This is great for someone who just wants to be reminded that you care. 

Kristina Patterson, a third-year psychology major, said she likes to gift her galentines a bundle of self-care products such as candles, soaps and face masks.

“You don’t have to do something over the top to let someone know they’re loved,” she said.