Courtesy of Unsplash/Becca Tapert
Now that the holiday season has wrapped up, companies are eagerly advertising their limited collection items for another profit-generating holiday: Valentine’s Day. This year, the National Retail Federation projects that Americans will set a record in Valentine’s Day spending at a total of $27.5 billion. While Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity for significant others to show their appreciation and love for one another, it is disturbing to see the crowds’ reckless spending that limited edition items bring, such as the swarms of Target shoppers hoping to get their hands on limited edition Valentine’s Day Stanley cups in January of 2024. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we should all be wary of the detrimental effects of our spending.
Stores like Marshalls, Hallmark and Homegoods exemplify the capitalistic traits that are intertwined with a holiday celebrating love. If you have never been to one of these stores during Valentine’s Day, do consider yourself lucky. Aisles upon aisles are stacked with a variety of goods: chocolates, candies, cards and more. Still, even when these products are not in front of us, the value of Valentine’s Day heavily revolves around pressures to buy just about anything. A survey of around 1,000 Americans showed that 1 in 4 felt pressured to spend more than they want for Valentine’s Day. Not only does this pressure make individuals feel guilty for not spending enough, but for those who do make these over-the-top purchases, it can put a financial strain on relationships. When this becomes the focus, relationships can feel overwhelmingly materialistic. As the cost of living continues to rise in the U.S., the commercialization of love will become a greater burden on relationships.
Another worrying facet of this overconsumption is the impact it has on the environment. Materials such as paper, cardboard, food, and plastic make up an overwhelming portion of the waste that ends up in landfills across the country. Landfills produce a multitude of negative impacts on both the environment and ourselves, as they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, health hazards and more. The pressure to spend during Valentine’s Day is also a pressure to contribute to the harmful cycle of waste, but it does not have to be that way. We can enjoy sustainable gifts, such as recycled crafts, special outings, and fair-trade items. However you want to spend time with your partner, it can be done in a way that is more friendly for our planet and its people.
While these are only two issues that Valentine’s Day brings up, I believe that they are the most important and will only become a greater issue in the future. Now, gift-giving is not the issue here. Rather, it is that when we fail to recognize the consumerism and waste caused by our holidays, we become uneducated and careless spenders. We should do our part to combat harmful attitudes and actions that surge during holidays by sharing what we know and practicing mindful spending and gift-giving habits.
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