Ah, February—the month of love, roses, and empty wallets is here again! You know what I’m talking about: Valentine’s Day. In a few days, buzz of status updates will fill the air, text messages will set phones ablaze, ringing tunes will deafen ears, and like hot potatoes, guys and ladies will exchanges gifts. Teenagers and young adults will morph into spending machines, splurging on gifts and gestures in the name of love. But let’s get real for a moment, is there a need to empty one’s pockets on Valentine’s Day?
Sure, Valentines elicit hues of love and romance, but in this Tinubu economy where even a simple wristwatch or a heartfelt card costs an arm and a leg, do you want to blow your hard-earned cash on overpriced trinkets? I mean, have you seen the prices of those heart-shaped chocolates lately? They’re enough to give you heart palpitations, and not the good kind! Besides, how much of your pocket money are you willing to sacrifice before “sapa” replaces your babe, and becomes your new best friend?
Let’s be real here: Valentine’s Day is just another day in the grand scheme of things. Just 24 hours—no more, no less. It’s not a marathon of spending; it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of deal. So, why break the bank for a single day? If you hope to shower her with expensive gifts to gain her affection, or prove yours, then you’re barking up the wrong tree. Most likely, your hope won’t be renewed oh. Love isn’t a transaction, and it can’t, or shouldn’t be measured in dollar signs or extravagant gifts.
What about the aftermath of your overspending; the unrealistic expectations you’re setting up for yourself? You buy your sweetheart a lavish meal today, only to realize that your bank account is crying for mercy the next day, or to find yourself surviving on ‘garri’ and ‘kuli’ the next week. Seriously, is it worth it? I think not. By the time your crush demands for more, which you don’t have, and you can’t give, she wouldn’t mind giving you the ‘breakfast’ that you skipped just to get her those gifts on Valentine’s day.
I know that little voice in your head is whispering, “Don’t do it, bro,” and guess what? It’s right! Listen up, boys: you’re not walking ATMs, nor are you from DJ Cuppy’s family. I know you will make it, and you will ‘blow’, but guy, you’re still in the world of pocket money and side hustle. So, stop receiving receipts for love sake. If your crush can’t appreciate your love without expensive gifts, maybe it’s time to rethink your relationship status.
Besides, Valentine’s Day is a commercial circus and a pressure cooker of emotions. Suddenly, you’re scrambling to find the perfect gift, and plan the perfect date, all to avoid the dreaded label of being “unromantic.” If it’s not that, you stand a chance of being ripped off buying heart-shaped chocolates and wilting flowers. And surely, you don’t want to be a pawn in that game?
Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be the only occasion to express your love. Love doesn’t operate on a deadline. The pressure to shower someone with gifts on a specific day is just plain silly. So, let’s put an end to this madness. Love should be about authenticity, not extravagance; about cherishing each other every day, and not just when Valentine comes calling; an about the little things you do every day—the meaningful gestures that don’t require a hefty price tag.
So, boys, save your money, ditch the overpriced chocolates, and let’s celebrate love the right way—every single day. Live and let live, and remember, it’s the thought that counts, not the Rolls Royce price tag.
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