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Don't be a Valentine's
Day loser
By Leah
Gliniewicz • Bankrate.com
Valentine's Day may be the only holiday that has a
prerequisite: Must have date.
Yeah, right! Listen up you single, footloose and fancy-free
types! Instead of whining about what you don't have, get over it
and be selfish. Make Valentine's Day your own holiday. Think of
the savings -- you'll be buying one glass of wine instead of two,
you get to eat the whole pound of pricey chocolates yourself, and
you won't be suckered into those expensive restaurant combo meals.
Here are 10 ways to live it up stag on Valentine's
Day:
1. Hear sweet nothings.
Do you long to hear feel-good endearments? Fear not. Pick up a Dancin'
Shoutin James Brown -- it's just the thing at $24.99. (When
you've reached your limit on all that funk, simply yank out the
batteries.)
2. Scoop it up. Drown
your sorrows in a pint of Ben
and Jerry's ice cream, frozen yogurt or sorbet. Better yet,
you don't even have to get up off the couch to buy it. Just go online.
Choose any six flavors and they will be shipped overnight for $64.95
with the Ice Cream By Mail service. If you can't decide from the
30-plus flavors, there's the Scooper's Choice six-pack of the current
top flavors also for $64.95.
3. Do your laundry.
Find one of those full-service bar and coin laundry places that
serves food. Not only will you get the mundane task of washing your
clothes out of the way, but you can eat, drink and be merry. You've
got lots of time to get to know people. And what better place to
pick up or be hit on?
4. Splurge on yourself.
Buy something that you've been eyeing for a while but never mustered
the gumption to get. That money would be gone anyway if you had
a valentine to buy for, so why not spend it on yourself? Indulge
in that more expensive wine, or get a high-priced ticket to a basketball
or ice hockey game.
5. Make it a chick flick night.
Rent "When
Harry Met Sally" or "Bridget
Jones's Diary" and live vicariously through the cast
of characters and their lives rife with romantic innuendo. You can
feel all the love without the commitment.
6. Love the one you're with.
If you have a dog, cat or a fine-feathered friend, celebrate Valentine's
Day with your pet. They like gifts, too. How about a $6.99 catnip
tea cat toy or a Wiggly
Giggly bone for $10.95?
7. Figure your odds.
Can't get that certain someone out of your head? Can't afford a
psychic or a tarot card reading? Use the free love
calculator to see what your chances are of getting together.
8. Send 'em a virtual
cocktail. We guarantee: It's less filling. Your distant
love won't be able to taste it, but then there's no hangover and
no driving drunk. And it's free. Ha! You thought happy hour was
a good deal.
9. A pat on the back.
Get a massage to release the tension of the daily grind. Or pamper
your skin with a facial.
10. Volunteer. Spread
the happiness to others by pitching in with a volunteer group geared
to your interests. Or if you're already there, plan a special event
for Valentine's Day. Giving your time to others is free and very
rewarding.
Whether you're single or not, plan to celebrate. You
may think of Cupid as a very creative advertising executive who
commercializes on people's feelings but would you rather frown on
the holiday or have fun in your own way?
-- Updated: Jan. 28, 2003
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