Economy aside, not everyone has the ability to bring their loved one around the world whenever they want, or even during special occasions. Valentine’s Day is the mother of all special and romantic occasions. Unfortunately, some people have trouble expressing themselves due to their lack of funds. That doesn’t stop them from wanting to show their partner that they are loved.

Fortunately, money is just the most often preferred means to an end. There are so many ways to show them that they are important. Here are a few ways to make this special day and a significant other feel important.

• The Fancy Dinner: Restaurants can be hotspots of turmoil and chaos during Valentine’s Day. Emotions run high, and not everyone there is happy. This doesn’t even consider the fact that every single remotely romantic restaurant is packed to the brim. Lovers who find their wallets tight or reservations beyond them should simply throw a fancy dinner right in their own home. Those who cannot cook can purchase fancy take home meals from the grocery.
• Gift Customization: Those who cannot afford expensive adornments may instead elect to go for something a little more heart-warming. You can give your partner a pendant with a picture of both of you inside. This gift can last him for years, if not forever. If pendants are not his thing, you can always customize a watch or similar item.
• The Handmade Gift: This gift varies, depending on the talents of the person involved. If you are a skilled artist, you can paint or make a picture of the two of you. If you’re particularly good, a stunning portrait of him will do as well. If you can knit, you can give him a scarf. This scarf will keep him warm during cold nights and remind him of you. Even those who lack artistic flair can follow a simple cake recipe. It is truly the thought that counts, though it is always better to give something of good quality. Go with what you are good at and the ideas will come rushing.
• Thanks for the Memories: A memory box may seem cheesy, but it can be made into a memorable gift. This box is something that will mean more the longer the relationship has lasted, but is also something that is best introduced at the beginning of one. A memory box is where couples can keep mementos of moments they had shared, from ticket stubs, to petals from the first rose he ever gave her.

These gifts are nice, but time is the best gift a loved one can receive – time spent on gifts and time spent with each other. Those who are available on not just Valentine’s Day, but on days important to their significant others will make them feel like they matter.

It is also important to remember that these gestures are not limited to Valentine’s Day. They can be done any day of any year. There is no reason not to make every day Valentine’s Day.

Dating Essentials Date Ideas, First Dates, Valentine's Day

Every girl needs to have a few excuses ready to go in case she changes her mind about a date. Sure, you can just be a straight-shooter, but what if you don’t want to hurt his feelings? What do you do if you want to go out with him again, just not tonight? What if the real reason that you can’t go is too unbearable to leave your lips? A little white lie never hurt anyone, and a few of them can definitely help you cancel a date in only five minutes or less without ruining the future of your relationship potential.

1. Give no excuse. Just ask to reschedule nicely.
No guy likes to have an anticipated date canceled, especially not last minute. Sometimes, it is effective to remain mysterious and stingy on the details, leaving him curious about your reason for ditching him. Is there someone else? Did you change your mind about him? Do you have something more important that you’d rather be doing with your time?

2. Tell him you accidentally double-booked.
While men do not like women who play games, they are competitive by nature. If you tell him that you said yes to the date without checking your schedule, it will make you a hot commodity. Canceling your date will let him know that there is competition for your attention. It does not matter whether it is from a good friend or a love interest.

3. You don’t own a cell phone, your watch’s battery died, and you had no idea what time it was. Rain check!
Most people own cell phones, so when a woman claims to not have one, it will intrigue her prospective love interest and cause him to take a double take on the woman who he would like to date—in a good way. She will seem different, and he will start to wonder about her hobbies, likes and dislikes. For example, does she read hardcover books vs. kindle-formatted books? Also, how many women still wear watches?

4. One of your friends just went into labor!
There’s no way a guy can get mad about your friend going into labor. Babies trump dates. Just never tell him your friend’s name because he might bring it up later in conversation. For the best results, keep this excuse short and sweet. After all, you have a hospital to get to pronto!

5. Your grandma is sick, and you have to stay in with her for the night.
Blame it on your grandmother’s health. There’s not much he has say about your grandma without coming off as a total jerk. He can’t insist that you blow her off or try to bargain with you. Just make sure that your grandmother lives locally to cover all of your bases in the future.

6. You have a work deadline that you overlooked in your calendar, and it needs to get done as soon as possible!
Be the ambitious career woman who puts herself first before any man. This attitude may sound conceited and self-absorbed, but men really dig confident women who know what they want. This little setback will only make a man want you more.

7. You’re really sick and don’t look or feel your best for a date.
Avoid putting on your “work call-out” sick voice with the extra cough to seal the deal. A fake sick voice will only make the situation more dramatic than it needs to be. Keep your voice low and just tell him that you are feeling under the weather. Say that you were looking forward to getting to know him more, but hopefully you guys can still do that another night. If he asks you what is wrong, tell him that you have a touch of the flu and refrain from going into details.

Canceling a date can be tricky. There is no right way to cancel. The only guide that you have is your desired outcome. If you don’t care to speak to the person again, you obviously don’t have to pay too much attention to what you will say to him. If you would like reschedule the date, extra measures have to take place. Whatever you do, always say it with a smile. Put a smiley face via text messaging, and most men will be less reluctant to blow you off for the next woman.

Dating Essentials Excuses, First Dates

By now, most dating sites have added instant messaging (IM) features. They’re a fun way to flirt in real time with people you’re interested in. IM can also be an easy way to gauge chemistry. After all, if you can’t hold a conversation over IM, it’s doubtful that you’ll be able to do so in person. However, you should exercise care with the feature. Because of the on-the-spot nature of IMs, it becomes especially vital to stay on your toes to ensure that the interest level of the person you’re chatting with remains high. If you inadvertently bore or offend them, the IM session is not going to end with the flirtatious exchange of phone numbers. However, using IM the right way is a great way to impress someone with your confidence and your skills as a conversationalist. Here’s how:

1. Don’t Start With “Hi”

While “hi” is a perfectly nice thing to say, it’s not incredibly interesting. Almost anyone who receives their fair share of attention on a dating site with IM features routinely gets so many “hi”s that they become easy to ignore. Your opener should make it obvious that you read their profile and were so interested that you simply had to IM them. For example, asking someone their opinion of the book that they just read cries out for a response much more urgently than a generic greeting. Think of something memorable and unique to them. The effort you put forth will put a smile on their face.

2. Ditch the Small Talk

Chit-chat about the weather or what you both did last weekend won’t do much to increase their interest level. Flex your conversational muscle. Be funny, witty, and always interesting. They’ll love the way your IMs keep them on their toes. Don’t be afraid to be confident and respectfully flirtatious. It’s a much bigger risk to be boring and safe, especially during a conversation that can end immediately. Don’t have them close your window with a yawn — keep it lively.

3. Keep the Conversation Short

Don’t overstay your welcome. Once it’s clear that they’re interested, bring the conversation to a gentle close. Leaving them wanting more is infinitely preferable to a long IM session that exhausts all conversation and has them ending it with a bored “Anyway…” Unless the interest level is through the roof for both of you, you probably shouldn’t ask for a date immediately. But you should advance the idea of a face-to-face meeting in the near future. Tell them about a cafe you love or a new restaurant you’re dying to try. Make it obvious that you’re interested in their company and that you intend to raise the stakes sooner rather than later. A little forwardness can work in your favor. Even during a first conversation.

4. Be Interesting — But Be Interested, Too

In your conversation, make it very clear that you read their profile. Ask them questions about themselves, about their careers and extracurricular passions. A genuine interest will be much more attractive to them than any line. Listening skills can be apparent even over IM. And, yes, they’re very attractive.

5. Use IM to Quickly Move Past IM

Even the most fascinating IM sessions will soon lose their thrill. After two or three (at most), ask for a face-to-face meeting and a number. Too many IMs will make them wonder if you’re looking for a chat buddy instead of a romantic partner. Once you rapidly escalate the interest level via IM, you should strike while your text banter still makes them smile. If you wait too long, they’ll undoubtedly move on to someone with more initiative.

Dating Essentials Conversation Topics, Flirting, Instant Messaging