As today is February 1st, you now have just fourteen days to figure out how you are going to make Valentine’s Day special for that significant other! So, best you get your thinking cap on…

This year Valentines falls on a Sunday, which is both a blessing and a curse. Curse-wise, one wonders whether you are going to want to go out for a big boozey (sorry, romantic!) Valentine’s night out when you’ve to face Monday morning at work the next day with a stinking hangover?!

Blessing-wise, being a Sunday means you can enjoy the whole day together!

Curse-wise again, that does mean that if you do forget to buy the obligatory Valentines card (at the very least) you are going to be stuffed. They’ll be no dashing off to work early and claiming you "had it all along", but simply "forgot to leave it by her pillow"! Also, you’re going to have trouble buying one hastily on a Sunday. No, instead, February 14th will be a whole day of torture for you.

Blessing-wise again, it does mean that if you are strapped for cash you can avoid the whole rip-off of paying twice as much to eat at your usual restaurant because it’s Valentines Day. Instead, you can go for a romantic walk or eat somewhere for lunch instead.

Whatever your situation and whatever floats your boat, the key thing is that you don’t forget. So get it in your head: not this Sunday but next is Valentine’s Day.

One final piece of advice and this particular advice is aimed at the forgetful of the species (men): shop early for her Valentine’s Day gifts before you forget. You can do it online, like now! You know it makes sense….!

The French have long celebrated Saint Valentine’s Day. Indeed, the very first Valentine’s Day card in the world originated in France! So, it’s hardly surprising that some weird traditions have evolved there. Traditions like ‘drawing for‘.

In drawing for unmarried people enter the house across the street. They call out from one window to another, pairing off with someone across the way with whom to spend Valentines. A young man who latterly finds his chosen Valentine unappealing will then desert her. Fair enough, but then it turns nasty! Rejected girls group together, light a bonfire and burn images of the ‘callous’ young man (men) whilst shouting abuse! Err… how romantic. More about French Valentine’s Day customs

The Chinese celebrate their equivalent of Valentine’s Day in August (originally 7th day of 7th month according to the lunar calendar). On ‘Qixi‘ fruits are placed outside their windows to pay homage to the star Vega (symbolising the weaving maid) in the night sky. Even more bizzarely, young women compete with each other in a needle-threading competition, which is also held under moonlight! More about Chinese Valentine’s Day customs

In Japan, the whole Valentine’s thing is turned on it’s head compared with the West. There it is the women who give chocolates the men — all the men. It is the type of chocolate that reveals who she desires! ‘Giri-choco’ is ‘courtesy chocolate’ — cheap store-bought stuff, given out of courtesy. The lucky boys get yummy, homemade chocolates, the ‘honmei-choko’! More about Japanese Valentine’s Day customs

You can find out more about Valentine’s traditions around the world here.

Welcome to 4 Valentines Gifts – a website that aims to make your next Valentine’s Day easier AND less expensive.

Everyone know’s that the best romantic ideas needn’t necessarily cost the earth. Trouble is thinking them up! We take the hassle out of that bit by feeding your imagination with great Valentine’s day ideas – dozens of them!

It’s funny how the cost of flowers and romantic gifts seem to sky rocket in time for Valentine’s Day, isn’t it? Well, not so much funny as scandalous. We can help here too, by highlighting the best Valentines deals on the web and the most cost-effective gift ideas. We maximise the bang from your buck, so to speak!

It’s early days here – and Valentine’s Day is a long, long way off – but we’re already beavering away on producing the best ideas and advice in time for February 14th. So, why not bookmark us, ready for the big day. When Valentine’s comes ’round again, we think you’ll be glad you did.

Until then…. be romantic!