Now that we’ve recovered from the crazy holidays, the stores are already bombarding us with red and pink for Valentine’s Day. For Postconsumers who have sweeties, Valentine’s Day is a way to break away from the usual bombardment of advertising and do something loving that doesn’t involve “stuff,” while the single Postconsumers (like me) have a day to treat ourselves, give to charity, or treat someone we love (like a fellow single friend) to a fun activity or a home-cooked meal.
Go Digital
Instead of buying cards or printing out pictures that can eventually be thrown away, consider purchasing a digital photo album to transfer pictures of your adventures (and maybe some pictures of friends and family as well). It’s a great way to make a little slideshow of your relationship, and when you take new pictures, you can switch them out whenever you like.
Go Local
Instead of just stopping by any old store for flowers, do a little research to see if you can locally source your flowers. Many cities have nurseries that have locally-grown flowers that you can get fresher and pesticide-free. Buy from your local independent merchants for little gifts – I had a former sweetie get me vegan cupcakes from a local baker a few years ago, and they were yummy while contributing to the local economy!
If You’re Single, Treat Yourself (Or Someone You Love)
For those of us without sweeties this year, treat yourself! If you have a little money in your budget, treat yourself to a little indulgence (for me, it’s organic ice cream)! Or buy yourself some locally-sourced flowers to freshen up your house – when they wilt you can use them in compost. Invite one of your single friends or family members over to a home-cooked meal, and swap single stories. And finally of course, there are always those who haven’t found the satisfaction of enough Valentines!
What are your ideas for a Postconsumer Valentine’s Day? Like us on Facebook and tell us about it!
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