According to recent polls, 53% of women declared they would dump their current squeeze if he didn’t get the right gift. I do hope these women weren’t married. Still, what is the right gift?
Flowers are always a
standby. Proflowers, a flower delivery, conducted a recent poll, which showed
only 18% of women wanted red roses from their significant other. Ironically,
they did find out 14% of the women who receive flowers on Valentine’s Day send
them to themselves. No reason not to if you want to guarantee a nice bouquet on
Valentine’s Day.
Flowers can be dicey because
they actually have meaning behind them, and not the pretty-and-smell-good
meaning. Red
roses equal love, while lavender means you’re falling in love. Yellow indicates friendship, while the exotic black rose is sometimes a
sign of the end of a relationship. Most men are unaware of the connotations of
getting the wrong color. The wrong color might be your only choice too.
Even
the numbers are significant. A single rose is supposed to indicate love at
first sight. Unfortunately, your gal or guy might just think you’re cheap. The
grouping of 108 roses is equivalent to a marriage proposal.
A dozen roses usually runs
$75-90 in the United States on Valentine’s Day. Keep in mind; this is the
biggest florist delivery day. Your order might not be delivered, or not be the
quality you want, and then you have the women who don’t want flowers. What’s a guy to do?
Many men resort to jewelry.
Women like jewelry, right? Seems like a safe bet. Most single women in a relationship
expect a ring on Valentine’s Day. You’ve just entered another gift giving minefield.
Most women prefer to pick out their own ring, but they still want the proposal
on bended knee with a ring. Most jewelers understand, and will let you return
the ring for a different one. The jewelers believe that once the woman is in
the store they can sell up. The woman places more significance on the ring than
the man does.
Caution to the men and women
too: just because your partner wants to be engaged on Valentine’s Day doesn’t
mean you should, if you’re not feeling it. Been dating for over two years, and
you haven’t proposed? There’s a reason for it. Often people who feel pushed
into a proposal are resentful. It certainly doesn’t make for a good marriage.
Think out this decision carefully. Your sweetheart can keep the ring, leaving
you out a couple thousand. If she gives it back, the jeweler will offer you
store credit of a tiny percentage of what you paid to buy it back. Guys never
think you can give it to another woman, major bad Karma. If you are thinking jewelry and aren’t ready
for a major commitment, go with earrings, diamonds or pearls. Those are always
nice.
Often men think lingerie is
a great gift. How well do you know the woman? If you aren’t intimate, this is a
quick way to end the relationship. Even if you are intimate, so many things
could go wrong. The wrong size can indicate either she’s too heavy or you’re
thinking of a previous girlfriend. Wrong style or selection can be perceived as
skanky or even too sedate. If you’re sweetie doesn’t already wear something
similar, it means she probably won’t. A gift certificate to Victoria Secret
would work better. Not
all women like lingerie because they see it as manipulation. They see the
man providing a tiny scrap of lace and satin in hopes of getting amazing sex.
What the woman wants is validation of your love.
Whoa!. What does that look
like? It depends on your mate or girlfriend. What does she like or need? Some
women would be appreciative of a card with a dinner out. Others might
appreciate help around the house and a romantic stroll. Most women aren’t
exactly secret in their desires. In fact, they may have been hinting for a
while that they wanted to see a particular play, go dancing, or get away to
some place exotic.
Money is often the issue.
Let your sweetie know how you feel by writing her a love letter, a poem, or
even a song. You might want to bypass the song if this isn’t your talent. Think
of ways to show your love. It might be cooking dinner. What
does a married woman want for this holiday? According to Huffington Post,
little things can show your love, such as restaurant reservations, help around
the house and sleep.
Ask before you assume
anything. Don’t worry about surprises. It isn’t better to do the right thing
than be surprised when she doesn’t like your gift. Women often equate your
failure to do the right thing as to not caring. Yes, this is true. From her
viewpoint, she has told you several times in your relationship her favorite
things. Where you listening? You didn’t realize then that you were supposed to
be putting that information into your phone? Too much stress on the gift may be
one reason so many couples break up before Valentine’s Day.
Ladies, keep in mind that
your boyfriend, partner, or companion is trying. I know plenty of women who
continually scorned their husbands’ gifts. Know what they’re getting this year?
Nothing--the same as they did last year. It saves the husband time and money
and facing contempt for his efforts. Appreciate the effort.
I know it seems
overwhelming, but please don’t blow off the day. The candy, card, and floral
industry has inflated the importance of Valentine’s Day to a pinnacle event.
This is the reason so many women want to be married, or at least proposed to,
on Valentine’s Day. It doesn’t make the marriage any sweeter, but it does make
for a romantic retelling.
Another caution: consider
where your relationship is currently when gifting. If you’ve only had a few
dates, showing up with two dozen roses, and a diamond necklace is not
appropriate. Someone you’re casually dating might merit something like a funny
card (not insulting) and a night out.
All she really wants to know
is how important she is in your life. If she isn’t, why are you two together in
the first place?
