The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Tips on how to have a great Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day!

It’s a day for lovers, partners, and spouses to honor and acknowledge the one they love and their relationship.

I hope you’re able to enjoy a terrific celebration together and you receive much joy.

People will be spending less this Valentine's Day on each other, an estimated $20 less. That’s $103 each, down about 16 percent from last year.

For 2009, it’s estimated that $14.7 billion will be spent, according to the article “Valentine’s Day Shoppers Expected to Spend Less in 2009” on USA Today.

If you’re still debating about what to buy for a gift or need ideas for reducing your costs but still buying something nice, see the articles below.

If you’re marriage or your relationship isn’t going like you want right now, you may want to try using Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to call a truce, put some romance back into the relationship, work together on a project, or think about ways you can reconnect. See the article “How to Avoid Divorce and Save Your Marriage” on eHow for ideas.

If you’re single and don’t like seeing all the red decorations in stores and people making plans to celebrate Valentine’s Day, see my article “A Challenge for Singles on Valentine’s Day: Getting and Keeping a Cheerful Attitude.”

One of the suggestions in the article is to plan a fun activity for yourself.

When I typed “baby boomer” and “Valentine’s Day 2009” into Google, I received dozens of hits about boomer get togethers for singles on Valentine’s Day. Sounds like fun to me.

See these articles for tips for your Valentine’s Day shopping:

“Valentine’s Day Gifts for the Book Lover” – The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

“How to Buy Last Minute Valentine Gifts” – eHow

"Valentine’s Day Gifts: Green Love for Everyone" – Treehuger

“Valentine’s Day Gifts That Don’t Put You in the Red” – 50 Plus.com

“10 Tips for a Fun – But Frugal – Valentine’s Day" – msnbc.com

“10 Gifts That Don’t Cost a Thing” – Shine From Yahoo

"Don't Expect to Find Bargains on Valentine's Day Chocolate" – Consumer Reports.org Blog

Copyright 2009, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Valentine’s Day -- A day to experience joy

Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, and the pressure is on to get the 
right gift, wear the right clothes, and go out to just the right place.

Americans are expected to spend $17.02 billion this year on Valentine's Day, according to the 
National Retail Federation.

Along with the fun and love that you’ll be able to experience, remember to celebrate your 
relationship, and if you’re single, you.
 
A book that has helped me get joy out of each day is “Finding Joy: 101 Ways to Free Your 
Spirit and Dance With Life” by Charlotte Davis Kasl. It’s a terrific reminder not to continually
agonize over the past and fret about the future.

Her section on What Is Is, sticks in my mind and often gets me out of a dark spot. When
I’m lashing myself about something I did or something that happened to me or a loved one, I 
remember Kasl’s advice. Don’t dwell on things that happen to you until they begin to  
overwhelm you. Deal with them, let them go, and move on.

So happy Valentine's Day, dear readers, on this day of hearts and flowers. May it be a day of 
great joy for you and your loved ones.

Copyright 2008, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

A challenge for singles on Valentine’s Day: Finding and keeping a cheerful attitude

It’s often difficult to be single on Valentine’s Day. It may be challenging, but it's usually helpful if you can think positively.

Plan a nice, fun treat for yourself. Go to a movie or find a good book. Visit with your single friends or family members. Buy yourself some beautiful flowers, even a bottle of champagne.

Valentine's Day Dos and Don'ts on MSN’s Lifestyle: Boomers Web page has some good tips for singles on Valentine's Day.

And remember you’re not alone. There are 20 million single baby boomers in the U.S., according to an AARP study. 

Valentine’s Day gifts for the book lover

If your partner loves books like I do, a book would likely make a great Valentine’s Day present.

Books related to a person’s interests -- traveling, gardening, cooking, wine, sports, or history -- often are a hit.

Or, if your partner has a favorite genre -- action, adventure, dramas, science fiction, humor, historical, romance, or mysteries -- you can ask friends, family members, and co-workers for recommendations. Checking best-seller lists available at libraries, on the Internet, or at local book stores also will give you ideas.

For ratings and reviews of books, see Amazon.com.

If you can’t seem to find the right thing, here are some books about love and romance that I saw at a local bookstore that might do the trick.

• “Love” by Ferdinard Portzman, $30. Photos of how love is expressed throughout the world in many cultures, published by National Geographic.

• “Heart Stones” by Josie Iselin, $9.95. Photos, with captions, of interesting images of heart-shaped stones, created by the author using a flatbed scanner and computer.

• “The Best Places to Kiss in the Pacific Northwest, $21. Suggestions for places to eat, bed and breakfasts, beaches, shops, and trails, if you’re planning a get away. Books on the best places to kiss in Southern California and Northern California also are available.

• “The Simple Truth About Love” by Bradley Trevor Grieve, $9.95. A small picture book with cute photos of animals, and captions about love, that might appeal to an animal lover.

• “Valentines Poems” by Ted Kosser, $14.95. Twenty two poems that Kossler sent on postcards to women friends throughout the years.

• “500 Great Dates: Creative, Fun, and Sexy Ways to Spend Time Together” by Lisa Sussman, $7.95. Fun advice on dates for couples from moonlit canoe rides to romantic poetry readings to last-minute activities that don’t cost money.   

Giving one of these books to your sweetheart, along with traditional Valentine’s Day favorites such as flowers and chocolate, could get your romantic evening off to a great start.