Cheap Cupid: The KISS Principle
BOSTON (CBS) - I thought it was time again to do a week on being a cheap cupid. Certainly more fun than tax preparation which is what I had originally planned for this week.
Valentine's Day is Sunday the 14th! And if you are thinking of taking your sweetie out to dinner it may already be too late to make a reservation. Try Friday, Saturday lunch or Sunday Brunch and make it Valentine week.
The Valentine candy, cards and decorations have been in the stores since Christmas Eve. I was in a grocery store in Williamsburg, VA on Christmas Eve getting Christmas morning breakfast ingredients when I spotted a clerk setting up the Valentine Displays. Soon they were everywhere.
There are ads everywhere, on the TV, radio and the Internet and many of them wanting you to splurge on big-ticket items like diamonds!
Many folks out there profusely proclaim a dislike for this holiday. And I do understand why. Valentine's Day once upon a time was a very simple holiday.
Crammed between Christmas and Easter all that was expected was a card and perhaps a small gift for the person you fell in love with. Not anymore. Retailers and the card industry have seen fit to create a major holiday with lots of spending.
And it is not just for your one true love; your kids, little sister, grandmother, your mom, dad, the dog, the cat, the next-door neighbor, the in-laws, your best friend and every kid in the third grade gets a card. I'm surprised the card industry hasn't found a way to include your ex and the UPS guy.
Last year 55% of us celebrated Valentine's Day and spent almost $19 billion. According to the National Retail Federation, the average consumer spent $142 on Valentine's Day.
Men spent more money on gifts than women by almost 2 to 1. Maybe they were just trying to make up for that flat screen TV they bought to watch the Super Bowl.
You can give your love freely but most Valentine gifts do cost money. I think Valentine's Day should be a fun day to celebrate love without a huge price tag, especially if you are still paying off Christmas gifts.
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You can hear Dee Lee's expert financial advice on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 each weekday at 1:55 p.m., 3:55 p.m., and 7:55 p.m.
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