The average American spends hundreds of dollars on Valentine’s Day each year, mostly on flowers, candy, dinner, cards and jewelry. This mass consumerism is not just bad for the environment. It is bad for the budget. How are college students supposed to enjoy a holiday so focused on spending money when many do not have the money to spend?
It is common knowledge that many students already live on 30-cent ramen noodles. Even with grants and scholarships, many students still pay out of pocket for food and housing. To offset these costs, students often work part-time jobs, which can be difficult to balance with being a full-time student and making the most of the college experience.
Beyond the financial burden, Gen Z students are also the most likely to care about environmental impacts. Teddy bears may be cute gifts, but they are often made from synthetic fibers that eventually end up in landfills. They do not biodegrade. Instead, they sit for years, contaminating soil and water supplies. Even flowers, which may seem like an environmentally conscious gift, come with significant consequences. Roses alone produce roughly 360,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide on Valentine’s Day in the United States.
Considering these factors, Valentine’s Day celebrations need to be adjusted for broke and environmentally conscious young people. A holiday centered more on DIY gifts and low-cost activities may better suit college students’ needs.
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Scrapbooks are meaningful, easy and relatively inexpensive. Binders can be found at thrift stores or Dollar Tree for less than $2. After designing pages full of photos and memories on free graphic design websites such as Canva, color pages can be printed for about 30 cents each. Pages can also be hole-punched for free at the library.
More artistically inclined gift-givers might consider painting something for their loved one, whether it is a portrait or a particularly meaningful landscape.
A fun combination of gift and activity is a handmade scavenger hunt, perhaps featuring inside jokes and shared memories. While it requires creativity and planning, the payoff can be memorable for both people. The hunt could end with a picnic or one of the previously mentioned gifts.
Local budget-friendly date ideas include Naples Botanical Garden, which offers free entry for FGCU students, Lovers Key Beach, which costs $8 per car and U-pick outings at Farmer Mike’s, where strawberries or flowers cost less than $20.
Valentine’s Day is not about the perfect date or gift. It is about showing appreciation for the people you love. No matter how you choose to celebrate, it is the people, not the price tag, that make the day meaningful.