Now don’t get me wrong — I love Love as much as the next romantic. There’s not a morning when I wake up that I don’t realize how incredibly lucky I am to be this much in love. I am, like most people, a serious sap at heart. So I do think it’s kind of nice that there’s this one specific day of the year that’s been set aside for the express purpose of encouraging us to let our loved ones know just how much they mean to us. But there’s something about the sight of endless aisles of pre-printed Valentine’s cards, red-foil-wrapped chocolate boxes, Hershey’s kisses, and conversation hearts proclaiming "Fax me" and "Hot stuff" that really rather repels me. Does anyone actually buy those misshapen little teddy bears with the "I love you" sweaters, except as a joke?

It’s not just the cheap trinkets, either, that bring out my Valentine Scrooge instincts this time of year. All the magazine articles tout tips on "10 Extravagant Valentine’s Day Getaways" and "15 Splurges He’ll Really Appreciate," and there’s no avoiding those ubiquitous "Diamonds are forever" ads. Maybe I’m a freak because I don’t want diamond earrings, a mountain of long-stemmed red roses, or a spa weekend, but my poor-but-devoted heart can’t help but be offended by the implication that the classy way to prove your love it to spend more money than you can really afford. Some of the best gifts I’ve ever given or received didn’t cost any money at all – neither cheap nor expensive, they were unique, thoughtful and completely priceless.

So skip the mall this Valentine’s Day. When it comes to giving your love the perfect gift, all you need to do is put in a little effort, set aside a good chunk of time, and tap your creativity reserves …