Valentine’s Day is approaching, so it’s time to get ready for dinners, chocolates, and giant teddy bears. Valentine’s Day is the perfect moment to ask out that special someone, or spend the day with the one you care for, which is exactly why people can have a hard time deciding on the perfect thing to do. The truth is, it doesn’t always have to be expensive restaurants and an abundance of gifts; sometimes the little things from the heart are what make Valentine’s Day so extraordinary.

This February 14 falls on a Saturday, making it perfect for a whole day with your loved one. However, Valentine’s Day can be a little expensive for teenagers (A $200 meal just for two? Yeah Right!). Here are my do’s and don’ts about not breaking the bank or your relationship:

Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is on February 14; it seems silly having to put it as a reminder, but the truth is, people forget EVERY YEAR. Forgetting can cause you to get last minute arrangements, or none at all; it could also disappoint your partner, or even cause a lonely Valentine’s Day because you didn’t have time to ask anyone out.

Do try being creative with things. The idea of a flowers and chocolate is used thousands of times; your partner will appreciate you going the extra mile for something new. Even if you aren’t the artistic type, a partner always likes to see that you put some thought into things. A homemade card or an indoor picnic (considering this weather, an outdoor picnic is a big don’t) would be an amazing and romantic thing to make them swoon. Cards and picnics not for you? Search “creative Valentine’s Day gifts” and you will find many sites with tutorials helping you with all new ideas (thank you Google)!

Don’t spend hundreds of dollars just to impress your significant other; the idea of having to spend a large amount of money to impress someone is inaccurate. The little things can sometimes be better. Yes, having a Pandora bracelet or a new team jersey would be nice, but remember that the present won’t be the only thing you’ll be spending money on that day. Don’t spend your whole budget on just the present alone.

Do see what your partner likes; it can help a lot for gift ideas. Maybe they enjoy reading, why not try to find a novel that you think they could enjoy? If they’re someone who loves food, fun treats could really make them happy (like cake pops and chocolate covered strawberries). You can also stick to the roses and chocolate idea; just remember that roses do tend to get expensive closer to Valentine’s Day.

Don’t get too carried away. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a day where your partner and you matter; keep the day simple if you want, like a movie at home with pizza and snacks. Sometimes getting stressed out for one day can cause fights and your partner to get annoyed with the pressure. Now, that doesn’t mean don’t care about the day, it just means don’t stress it. Just relax and let the day pass freely.

Do make dinner reservations a week or two before: leaving it to the day before, or the day of, can lead to you not finding any tables. Restaurants are huge on Valentine’s Day, so that means that being a walk-in can cause a few hours of waiting. There are many good and inexpensive restaurants all around Stamford; try seeing what restaurants there are that will fit your budget.

Don’t compare your plans to others around you. Maybe your friends are also going on dates, don’t subject yourself to asking what they’re going to do, because most likely their plans will be different from yours. Sometimes seeing what others are going to do can stress you out because you feel that what you are doing is not good enough, but that is untrue, because everyone has different ideas.

Do try something new. Maybe your partner and you have gone on so many generic dates that Valentine’s Day can be the perfect time to try something new. Since it’s a Saturday, you could start your day by going to breakfast, or even make breakfast together at one of your houses. Then try spending the day with one another by doing fun activities that you both enjoy, like playing board games or video games. Even playing a sport against each other in places that allow you to play indoors could be a new and different type of date.