With Valentine’s Day here, I thought I would discuss some cliche details that most people never bring up. The most important detail to mention is that chocolate is half-off the day after Valentine’s Day. I repeat:  CHOCOLATE IS HALF-OFF. Why more people do not advertise this or talk about it is astounding. Forget getting me some cute bear with a mundane”I love you” heart attached to it on Valentine’s Day itself. Give me the deluxe box of assorted chocolates or truffles (I am not picky) the day after and save yourself some money. I’m going to celebrate the day after by buying myself even more candy (and, yes,  maybe a plush animal).

Another detail that often gets left behind is that Valentine’s Day does not have to be extravagant. I get it — with love in the air, people can get a little crazy — but between buying roses and dinner (and lets not forget dessert), it can get a bit pricey. The whole day is about spending time with your loved ones, whether they are friends or a significant other; you shouldn’t have to spend a mass amount of money  on them for just one day. Planning a quiet evening is just as great as a night out. Snuggling on a couch and watching a movie you can both laugh at (Fifty Shades, anyone?) is a wonderful alternative to getting all dressed up to sit in a crowded restaurant.

This leads us to our next detail: flowers. Perhaps I am biased, but the idea of a flower as a symbol of eternal love is a bit of a stretch. Flowers die; they are temporary. Like I said, I could be biased as I am allergic to most flowers, but I feel they are vastly overrated. I will say, they are beautiful to look at (at least for a day or so), so perhaps I should not be so harsh on  them. The final detail that most people might consider taboo is the idea that not everyone loves Valentine’s Day. I think it is safe to say that I am not a fan of the holiday and I love the idea of love.

Whether you are spending Valentine’s Day with a significant other (I know I am; my cat and I have a nice Netflix binge planned) or with friends, keep a few of these small details in mind. And if you are one of those people who absolutely hates Valentine’s Day, I would suggest turning off all social media and locking yourself in your room until the holiday is over and people return to their semi-normal selves. Happy Valentine’s Day from my cat, Pepper, and I!