Breaking the bank isn't crucial to a happy Valentine's Day

It’s getting closer. That day where simply telling your partner you love him or her just doesn’t cut it.

Forget about the nights you agreed to cook, the football games you’ve endured or even that evening you agreed to watch the kids while she had a “girls’ night.”

On Valentine’s Day, you must display your affections in over-the-top fashion. Whether it’s in the form of long-stemmed roses that will, forgive me, wind up in next week’s trash collection or dinner at a restaurant where menu items are not only hard to pronounce, but also hard to digest, you must spend large sums of money on a feeling that gets plenty of recognition throughout the other 364 days.

I am a common-sense kind of girl. When it’s cold, I wear a heavy jacket. If I’m sleepy during the day, I aim to make zzz’s a priority. When the holidays approach, I give gifts that will actually be used.

This Sunday, readers, I am asking you to apply that same amount of common sense to your Valentine’s Day plans.

I tell Matt, my boyfriend of nearly two years, love is about appreciating each other’s interests and enjoying quality time together. It doesn’t have to be flashy, snobby, or the latest trend. It just has to be genuine.

This Valentine’s Day, show your love in simple, less extravagant ways.

Now obviously, these are just ideas. Reflect on the activities that brought you together when you first started dating. Before the career, the in-laws, the kids, the house and the bills came along, what types of simple activities did you enjoy together?