Cheap Flowers Are the Last Thing Women Want on Valentine's Day

on February 13, 2012 at 1:33 PM

carnations I've always suspected that most of us ladies will readily admit to ourselves and one another that we think Valentine's Day is a ridiculous holiday, one that really doesn't deserve much attention at all. Yet, at the same time, we're telling our guys not to screw it up. We want to be gifted. Not with anything huge, extravagant, pricey, or fancy necessarily. We just want something more than cheesy chocolates or cheap flowers ... which, believe it or not, is what some 73 percent of men are thinking about doing as a last resort for their loved one at this very moment. Ugh!

Waiting until the last minute is bad enough. Sure, we're all guilty of it at one time or the other, and for a holiday that triggers as many (or sometimes more) eye rolls as it does warm-fuzzy emotions, I can certainly understand being a procrastinator. But that just means giving a woman what she desires is going to be even more difficult ...

Because all we actually want is a gift that has some thought behind it. Cheap-o flowers -- especially carnations (cringe) -- are the ultimate "I don't give a crap" solution. A guy may think he's just saying he doesn't care about Valentine's by doing the bare minimum, but hello, any woman receiving said crap flowers is going to read it as him not giving a flying foil-wrapped, heart-shaped chocolate about her. And all we women really want on Valentine's Day is a sweet reminder that yes, even though it's a silly holiday devoted to love, our guy cares enough to do a little something to go out of his way to acknowledge it.

That said, I'm a huge proponent of Valentine's Day being a completely reciprocal silly holiday. Ad campaigns that make it all about women being on the receiving end are totally ridic. Every year, I personally attempt to do something cute, simple, funny, and memorable for my boyfriend ... while admittedly, and unabashedly, expecting the same in return.

More from The Stir:

Discount Codes on Flowers Will Help You Save Big on Valentine's Day

15 Worst Valentine's Day Gifts Received By Real Women

How 'bout you -- how do you feel about getting cheap flowers or chocolates for Valentine's? What do you expect/enjoy instead?

Image via Bill McChesney/Flickr

About the author Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

Filed Under: love

Comments (12)

PRIMA487

on Feb 13, 2012 at 1:59 PM

Years ago I worked in toiletry store in Beverly Hills and a very happy man came in a bought some stuff and asked me to put a note inside the box and said his wife was going to pick it up later.He seemed a little gidddy so I asked whats up what are you doing ?Well he had gone to several stores in the mall and left notes in every box .They were scavenger hunt clues that would lead her to the other stores and eventually lead her to the very gorgeous Bel Aire hotel.I thought what a nice sweet guy he was.And when his wife came in she was just as giddy she "didn't know he had that in him".

Report this comment

Facebook comment from Jade Alexander

on Feb 13, 2012 at 2:07 PM

im not into the flower thing, but ill take chocolates any day. a little thought into the gift means alot. and we should show our loves one we adore them everyday not just on vday

Joey_01

on Feb 13, 2012 at 2:20 PM

I'm not into flowers - cheap or expensive, so my boyfriend and I split the cost of our new kitten's spay for our Valentine's Day presents! >^..^<

the4mutts

on Feb 13, 2012 at 2:46 PM

As long as he gives me something that I don't have to cook for or clean up after, we're good!
Even a simple walk alone with no kids.
I'm giving him a game of pool on the pool table I got him last fall, that still has yet to be used.
I was being inconsderate, and using it as my laundry folding central, because its in the garage. So today, I cleaned it off, vaccumed, polished, and cleaned the floors and surrounding area. So we can have a drink, and a game of pool without leaving home :)

gen791

on Feb 13, 2012 at 3:21 PM

I LOVE fresh flowers, even cheap ones, they look so pretty when its icky out... As far as Vday goes, its just another day, but it gives me a great excuse to break out the sexy and have fun... not we dont any way, lol....

memekisses

on Feb 13, 2012 at 4:04 PM

I love the flowers and chocolates! Its old school and romantic :)

Nonmember comment from MelMcl

on Feb 13, 2012 at 4:07 PM

I have received flowers 3 times in the last 15 years - so yes, cheap flowers would do it for me. So would a single Whachmacallit candy bar. We're just not that romantic so anything is good.

Char_gal4

on Feb 13, 2012 at 9:14 PM

I think Carnations get a bad rap since so many of us did those $1 Valentines at school that came with one. You'd see a popular jock with 10 of them, while you sat with none.

To me, flowers say, "Have some dying reproductive organs!"

Marjchaos

on Feb 13, 2012 at 9:16 PM

I really don't think it is about the things. It's just a gesture. I like small gestures, and flowers or chocolates are small gestures. I might like big gestures but I wouldn't know. I certainly wouldn't like public gestures.

Nonmember comment from Anna

on Feb 14, 2012 at 1:11 AM

I would rather he spend $10 on flowers from the supermarket than the $200+ arrangements I have seen offered at florists. Whether we like to admit it or not, women are romantics. No one wants to say "Oh, we don't celebrate Valentine's Day" while our coworkers all receive their flowers, etc. I think an inexpensive arrangement is perfect---enough to say "thinking of you" but not a big waste of money on flowers that will be dead in a week. True, there may be better alternatives than the Valentine's standard 'flowers and chocolates' but I think we get really harsh on the guys over a single day. Really, if he's a genuinely nice, good guy, be happy to have him on Valentine's Day regardless of the gift.