Valentine’s Day is a holiday that some people love and others love to hate. The day of love doesn’t have to be limited to romance. Parents, BFFs, siblings, and other loved ones would be enamored with a valentine. However, expressions of love shouldn’t be painful for the purse. Katherine Cullen, Vice President of The National Retail Federation, reports that spending is anticipated to reach 27.5 billion dollars this year (“Valentines Day Q&A 2025”). Eye of the Gale has some alternative ideas on how to celebrate the day of love and save some money on gifts and cards.
Do-it-yourself projects that show partners, friends, or family that they are loved, can be relatively inexpensive, especially if materials are left-overs from other projects. Gifts such as; hand painted cards, letters, paper flowers, beaded bracelets (it worked for Travis Kelce), or baking a heart shaped pizza, cookies, or cake. Check out some easy tutorials on how to make a DIY gift or card.
In an Eye of the Gale questionnaire, LHS sophomore Avree Bigham expressed she would be thrilled if someone were to give her a DIY gift.
“It means a lot to me when someone puts a bunch of effort into something that came from the heart. Makes me feel like I matter and that I’m important enough,” said Bigham.
LHS senior Donovin Searles said he would cherish any DIY gift given to him.
“I would feel appreciated for once and value the gift and probably put it somewhere where I can keep it safe and to be able to look at,” said Searles.
LHS sophomore Kinley Williams said she would be very excited someone would put that much thought into making something special for her.
“I would feel very happy because I think handmade gifts for any holiday is the best kind of gift that someone bought because they put their time and effort into making the gift and that shows you really care,” said Williams.
Valentine’s Day isn’t always about receiving bought gifts but mainly showing and spreading love to others. Some LHS students described memories of receiving heartfelt gifts.
“The chocolates my mother buys my brother and I. She doesn’t have to buy us anything but the fact that she does only strengthens my appreciation for her,” said Bigham.
LHS junior Liberty Peterson said the best gift she received was a DIY Valentine’s gift from a friend.
“The best gift I ever received was a handmade sketchbook,” said Peterson.
Another alternative way to celebrate Valentine’s day is getting together with your female friends to celebrate Galentine’s. In an article published in Cosmopolitan, authors Alex Brady and Kayla Kibbe explain the alternative holiday to national love day.
“Falling each year on February 13th—yes, the day before Valentine’s Day—Galentine’s Day is basically the friendship version of V-Day. It’s an unofficially-official holiday that’s all about celebrating platonic love between all your friends in your life. So nope, it’s not just for the girlies,” they wrote.
Some LHS students and staff members said that no matter how anyone celebrates, it should be all about sharing the love.
“I’m all for any holiday that celebrates love in a world so divided right now we need more love,” said staff member Michelle Finnefrock.
“It’s a Hallmark holiday, so humans have something to boost the economy between Christmas and Easter. Appreciating those you love should happen on a daily basis, not just specific dates,” said art teacher Shannon Fish.
“I’m all for any holiday that celebrates love in a world so divided right now we need more love,” said 10th grader Avree Bigham.
