Unique Ways to Express Your Love This Valentine’s Day

Are you scrambling to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your spouse or the special someone in your life? Most people take the easy way out; they order flowers to be delivered, bring home a box of chocolates, and make a dinner reservation. In 2023, Valentine’s Day spending in the U.S. came to $185 per person. Yet, 34% of adults surveyed expressed disappointment in their partner’s expression of love on the holiday. Forty percent of women felt their partner fell short of adequately celebrating the occasion.  

The moral is that spending a lot does not necessarily make your loved one feel special. So, this year, instead of overspending and stressing your budget, you might consider giving gifts that take a bit of effort but cost little or nothing. Making the effort to create a gift or doing an act of kindness demonstrates your love for the recipient.   

Consider what type of action or gift is most meaningful to your spouse or partner. Gary Chapman identified five languages of love:  physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time together, and physical gifts. He theorized that people have preferences and will appreciate and value the gift and you if you cater to them.

If your partner’s love language is touch, consider treating them to an in-home personal spa day.  

• Prepare a warm bubble bath with a soft, fluffy towel nearby for drying off.
• Give your partner a neck or back massage or a coupon for a massage once a month for a year.
• A foot soak followed by a massage is an excellent “touch” gift.
• If your partner is a lady, paint her toenails.
• Make an effort to give frequent hugs and kisses throughout Valentine’s Day and every day.

For those who value words of affirmation, a handmade Valentine’s card or note will be significant.

• Write a note or poem expressing the qualities that you love about your partner.
• Hide messages of affirmation around the house and in lunchboxes and briefcases.
• Take notice of the unique things they do for you and thank them for doing those things.
• Print out the words of a song that describes your feelings and put them inside a handmade card.
• Post Facebook messages telling all your friends how special they are to you.

Acts of service require a bit of effort, but you could demonstrate love to those with this love language in many ways.

• Cook your loved one’s favorite meal rather than going out.
• Bake their favorite cookies, cake, or pie. 
• Do a chore for them, especially one you know they do not enjoy doing.
• Complete one or more chores from the “honey do” list that your spouse has made for you.
• Give your partner a book of coupons for services you will do throughout the year.

Spending quality time together requires little more than clearing your schedule and making the love of your life the focus of your day.

• Plan a day of doing their favorite things, whether antiquing, hiking, visiting a museum or art gallery, or attending a sporting event.
• Recreate your first date or a favorite date.
• Turn off your cell phone and watch a romantic comedy or an action movie.
• Cook your favorite meal together.
• Participate in their favorite hobby—play pool, paint, go to a pottery class, or go fishing.

Select a meaningful gift if your loved one values a present over words and action.

• Frame a favorite picture of the two of you or your family.
• Buy a favorite dessert from a local bakery.
• Rather than a box of inexpensive chocolates, select a few pieces of high-quality chocolates in a beautiful red or gold box.
• Purchase a plant that will live long after a bouquet of roses has been discarded.
• If your loved one is a collector, a new piece to add to their collection is a thoughtful gift that will not disappointment.

If God has blessed you with someone special to share your life, be grateful to Him. Take time this Valentine’s Day to thank Him for the gift of romantic love in your life. Remember that actions speak louder than words unless your partner values words of affirmation about other expressions of love. 

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 (NIV)