Love is in the air, so let me share how to care. Valentine’s day is coming up fast, and if you’re still wondering what to buy for friends, family, and lovers, you’re in the right place. Consider me Cupid for the day! But before you buy anything, think about them: what’s their favorite color? Candy? Hobby? Movie? Show? Places to shop? Little details like this can solve 99% of the gift looking.

For the family, keep it meaningful and affordable. Things like cozy PJs,gift cards to their favorite places and their favorite candy. Also, cooking their favorite meal and writing a short note goes a long way. If you want to be creative, make a short film on how much you love them. It can mean more than any store bought gift.

For friends, simplicity is key. Give them all the candy in the world and a card explaining how much they’re appreciated. It shows them that they don’t have to have a lover to enjoy Valentine’s Day , it’s sweet and kind without spending a huge coin. If you want to do more you could get matching bracelets, create a board game and buy beauty products they love. You could also give them heart-shape nuggets or cookies from Chick-fil-a to make it even more enjoyable.

For lovers, this is where you can be the most romantic. You could make a playlist with songs that remind you of them, not only sweet, but free. Photo gifts are very versatile. You could get blankets, phone cases, shirts etc.., and of course a basket filled with all their favorite things. I found that hand crafted gifts are almost always treasures the most: handwritten letters, cards you have to pull to the floor, lyric books and “open when” letters.

After finishing my interviews, it became clear that Valentine’s means something different to everyone. Many boys shared that they never received anything before, which shows how often they are overlooked on a day of love. Valentine’s Day isn’t just for ladies, love is meant to be shared equally, and boys deserve to feel appreciated too. What stood out the most was that the gifts people remembered were not expensive, but thoughtful like handwritten letters, or simply just being remembered. Across all preservatives, the worst gift was not getting a “cheap gift” but not getting anything at all. These viewpoints remind us that Valentine’s Day is about making people feel seen, included and appreciated.