How to celebrate Valentine's Day when you're single

If you're single on Valentine's Day this year, don't despair. Besides not having to worry about finding the perfect gift or possibly offending your partner with the wrong gift, you also have the benefit of more flexibility to do whatever you would most like to celebrate Valentine's Day. Read on for great ways to celebrate Valentine's Day when you're single:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Creativity

1. Give yourself a Valentine. It may sound silly, but only you know what you really want for Valentine's Day, so why not give it to yourself? Think about something small you enjoy (well, unless you are rich, then something big) and go out and get it for yourself. Whether it's chocolate-covered strawberries, roses, a new golf club or some jeans you've been wanting, indulge yourself. This is only once a year and you don't have to break the bank to find a gift you'd enjoy.

2. Celebrate Valentine's Day with your single friends. Host a party for potential romance to spark among your single friends or have an anti-Valentine's party and watch anything but romance movies and pick a theme color that is anything but pink or red. If you want to host a party with your girlfriends, enjoy watching sappy "chick flicks" that boyfriends never want to watch or if you're a man, have a "men's night" and watch sports, James Bond, action or adventure movies that a lot of women won't watch.

3. Set up a gift exchange with your single friends. Set a spending limit and have each person write three items they'd like, then draw names from a hat. Each person can buy one item from their friend's list, and everyone will get a nice surprise on Valentine's Day.

4. Do an activity you enjoy. Play your favorite sport, go for a hike, play video games, go on a weekend trip, pull out a book you have been wanting to read, go out with your best friend or cook yourself a gourmet meal. Have fun doing something you don't normally make time for.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel alone and sad on Valentine's Day, remember that you have good company: almost half of all Americans are single. So remember that everyone is not out buying flowers and diamonds like in the TV commercials.

Resources

• How to Get Over a Broken Heart
• How to Learn to Love Yourself

[1InternetSmarty]

on 3/18/2009 Super advice. Five stars.

[tikrit01]

on 2/8/2009 These are really great tips. I love the idea of the gift exchange and never would have thought of it. 5*s

[bossypants]

on 2/7/2009 As usual, your article offers innovative and out of the ordinary suggestions for dealing with a common circumstance. Following your advice will make Valentine's Day much more fun for anyone who plans to celebrate on their own! Thanks!