• LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US

8WomenDream

Dream Big Stories

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONNECT
You Are Here Home » WRITE WITH US » Dollars, Cents, and Valentines

02/04/2012 By Contributor Dream Stories

Dollars, Cents, and Valentines

Last updated on February 7th, 2013 at 04:34 pm

Dollars, Cents, and Valentines

It’s a little early to be talking about Valentines Day – still about ten days away. But I can’t help it, Dreamers. I’ve been inundated with hearts and flowers in every retail outlet since the day after New Year’s. Okay, I give! Let’s talk about dollars, cents, and valentines.

The folks at Ziplist sent us an e-mail with some at-home dining tips, figuring that what with the sluggy economy, people will spend less this year. You ought to go over there and look at the Toasted Marshmallow Hot Fudge Cake recipe. It’s a little pre-fab for my taste, but love the idea. Maybe I’ll try it from scratch.

Anyway, in the same e-mail, Ziplist included some fun Valentines Day facts from the National Retail Federation. To wit:

The average man will spend $158, and the average woman will spend $75.

This does not seem right to me. I’m trying to remember ever getting anything for Valentines Day, from any guy, ever. Well, Virgo Man bought me some tulips for our first Valentines Day, and gave me a very sweet card. But honestly, that’s the only Valentines Day gift I ever remember getting. To be fair, I’m not big on spending money for Valentines Day myself, so I guess I get as good as I give. But if these averages are to be believed, each couple will spend about $230 on each other – assuming they’re monogamous. If they’re not monogamous, we’re talking serious money here.

What would a gal buy for $75 as a gift for her man? I have heard of some girls sending flowers or chocolates, but I bet that’s pretty rare. Over on Yahoo Answers, one guy said he would love to get a Playstation console for Valentine’s Day. How romantic, and how wistfully wishful.

I bet lots of women buy themselves silky underthings, as a gift for their lovers. And I bet lots of lovers buy additional silky underthings for their women, too. In 2009, $4.5 billion was spent on clothing, including lingerie. It’s supposed to be a bad idea to buy someone else lingerie as a gift. Too much pressure, too much expectation. Plus you might get the wrong size, and no good can ever come of that.

Total Valentines Day spending is projected to be $15.7 billion this year.

This is a big number, don’t you agree? That is a whole lot of $230 gift exchanges. There are too many zeroes involved, so I’m not going to even try to calculate precisely how many gift exchanges.

I was under the impression that Valentines Day, like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and Secretary’s Day, was invented by Hallmark; and if that were true, $15.7 billion in revenue would have been quite an accomplishment for a recently fabricated holiday. But actually I was misguided. Wikipedia set me to rights. Valentines Day was popular in Chaucer’s era, back in the Middle Ages, when troubadours wandered the land singing songs of love. And actually, the holiday (“holy day”) was invented by Pope Gelasius the First in 496 AD. For some reason, in 1969, Pope Paul VI took it off the calendar of saints. That does not appear to have had a chilling effect on the gift angle, however.

Of that $15.7 billion, $3.4 billion is for dining out.

I ask you, who can get a dinner reservation for Valentines Day? Anyone who can did it weeks or maybe even months ago. But I’ve never been one for dining out on any holiday anyway – it’s too crowded, and there’s too much pressure to Have a Good Time, Or Else. I’d rather stay in, and I’ll probably spend more cooking a special meal than I would going out. Aphrodisiacal food tends to be expensive.

My ideal would be oysters – the little kumamotos with their sweet, briny pop. I like them on the half shell with a good mignonette sauce. But I’d take Hog Island sweetwaters, too,  lightly fried (VERY lightly) and served with quarters of meyer lemon. I think artichokes would be a perfect side dish: just a little vegetal bitterness to contrast with the sweet luxury of the oysters. And then that Toasted Marshmallow Hot Fudge Cake. Champagne with everything!

But get this – the American Culinary Institute says the most romantic foods are:

  1. Chocolate
  2. Coffee
  3. Hummus
  4. Ice Cream
  5. Nuts
  6. Prunes
  7. Seafood

Did a couple of those things catch you up like they did me?

For instance, I am addicted to coffee, but I don’t see it as romantic. It’s too utilitarian. Anything that I must have in order to face another day is, by definition, not romantic.

Also, hummus. All the hummus I like has garlic in it. I guess if you both eat it, that’s not so much a problem. Even so, it doesn’t seem very romantic to me.

But really, nuts and prunes?  I ask you – is that supposed to be symbolic or something?

I think I’d better leave this post at that. Dreamers, you have a few more days to plan your dollars, cents, and valentines. But no resting on your laurels – because as of February 15, get ready for shillelaghs and four leaf clovers, with the Easter Bunny not far behind.

 

Contributor Dream Stories

Enjoy this special 8WomenDream Guest Contributor story submitted by new and experienced big dreamers throughout the world, edited and published to capture a dream perspective from different points-of-view. Do you have a personal dream story to share with 8WomenDream readers? Click here to learn how to submit dream big articles for consideration.

Note: Articles by Guest Post Contributors may contain affiliate links and 8WD will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.

Related Stories:

  • Dollars and Cents Tomatoes and Preserves
    Dollars and Cents Tomatoes and Preserves
  • Dollars and Cents: Is There A Hole In My Pocket?
    Dollars and Cents: Is There A Hole In My Pocket?
  • Dollars and Cents: Why Price is an Imperfect Indicator
    Dollars and Cents: Why Price is an Imperfect Indicator
  • Mixing eCommerce Dreams, A Teenager and Valentines Day
    Mixing eCommerce Dreams, A Teenager and Valentines Day
Tell your friends!

Filed Under: WRITE WITH US

Some of the posts on 8WD contain affiliate links or links to purchase products or programs from 8WD contributors. This means 8WD or the contributor may make a small commission if you make a purchase. The 8WD affiliate links help offset the cost of hosting this website and the contributor links help support the dreams of the contributor. Please check out the 8WD Legal Page for more details.

Thank you for your continued support!

« How To Launch Romance: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide
Moving Our American Dream Forward Meant Going Back To Where It All Began »

Check it out

  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • WRITE WITH US


The 8WomenDream Dream Tote Bag

About the 8WomenDream Tote Bag
US – 10oz Cotton
Dimensions (External Dimensions)
• Height – 18″ (45.72cm or 457.2mm)
• Width – 15″ (38.1cm or 381mm)
Handle Dimensions (Internal Dimensions)
• Length – 29″ (73.7cm or 736.6mm)

Recent Dream Stories

  • Starting Over as a Single Mom Wasn’t My Big Dream
  • Warning: Big Dream to Be a Motivational Speaker Won’t Always Obey Your Plans
  • Dance to Relieve Stress to Focus on Your Big Dream
  • 6 Tips to Avoid Get Rich Quick Scams as a Public Speaker
  • A Dream to Spread MLK’s Message of Love
  • Best Goal Setting Advice that Actually Works
  • 8 Solstice Traditions for Focusing on Your Big Dream this Year
  • It’s Never Too Late to Dust Off Your Dreams
Catherine Hughes on Dealspotr
Catherine Hughes
@8WomenDream
Let’s collaborate
Powered by Dealspotr

Looking for more?

8 Women Dream Products8WD Founder Catherine HughesActivist Lisa Powell GrahamArtist Iman WoodsArtist Sue Faith LevyAuthor Karen AlanizAuthor Rayne WolfeBig Dream InterviewsDream Big Guest ContributorsFind Your DreamFind Your Passion and PurposeHealth Coach Heather MontgomeryInspirational QuotesMotivational Speaker Kelly SwansonSuccessful Goal SettingWorld Traveler Natasha von GeldernWrite A Book

Inspiration

More About 8WD

WE BELIEVE EVERYONE HAS THE POWER TO ACHIEVE BIG DREAMS.
 
IT IS OUR SINCEREST WISH THROUGH THE SHARING OF PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT WHAT IT’S LIKE TO TRY TO ACHIEVE A BIG DREAM THAT WE WILL INSPIRE YOU GO AFTER A BIG DREAM TOO.
 
YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 8WOMENDREAM, HERE.

Categories

  • BE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
  • BRAVE LIVING
  • BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE
  • GET HEALTHY & FIT
  • HAPPINESS THROUGH ACTIVISM
  • LAUNCH YOUR DREAM
  • STARTING OVER MIDLIFE
  • TRAVEL THE WORLD
  • WRITE WITH US

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright 8 Women Dream All Rights Reserved © 2021 • ADVERTISE ON 8WD • LEGAL/TERMS/PRIVACY • SITE DEVELOPMENT BY CATHERINE HUGHES

Welcome to 8WomenDream Where Big Dreams Are Shared
The 8WomenDream website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're OK with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. ACCEPT REJECT READ MORE
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT