Valentine’s Day is rapidly approaching, and for college kids this can mean an array of options. The day may be spent with a recent romantic interest, a long-time partner, being away from a long-distance relationship or even by yourself.

All of these scenarios are fine, except for the fact that standards of Valentine’s Day have become steep for college kids on a budget. It is often difficult to not expect too much out of your Valentine’s Day companion.

Taking time to recognize the degree of one’s relationship and being on the same page about what is realistic for your Feb. 14 plans can make for a much more enjoyable Valentine’s Day.

Throughout college, you meet new people daily. Occasionally, one person may hold your interest and if you’re lucky, you may hold theirs. This is just one perk gained from venturing to a large, diverse university.

Also, periodically, you might meet this person just days or weeks before Valentine’s Day. Though it may be exciting to have someone to spend the romanticized day with, it’s not realistic to think that the short time of knowing one another will merit a huge Valentine’s Day celebration, or anything that requires a lot of planning.

It is quite possible and easygoing to simply order a pizza and watch a movie while enjoying time together. The less expensive price allows both to easily contribute and be in a comfortable environment while further getting to know one another.

Another situation some college students are put in is a second or third Valentine’s Day with a long-term partner. This makes things slightly more difficult for the person expected to plan, as there is more pressure. The expectations are higher and more money is expected to be spent.

It’s important to remember that Valentine’s Day isn’t necessarily about the material objects. It’s about the time spent together.

Dylan Dale, junior in history, said he and his girlfriend plan to go to Flix Brewhouse in Des Moines on Valentine’s Day. Dale describes Flix Brewhouse as “a movie theater that also serves you food”.

Although he will spend the day with his long-term girlfriend, he hasn’t prepared much more than just a nice night together.

A third scenario, probably the toughest of the three, is the long-distance Valentine’s Day. Being away from each other on the day you are supposed to melt in love and happiness can be excruciating for any couple, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of it.

Jordan Schnowske, freshman in pre-business, said to compensate for the distance on Valentine’s Day he will “hand write an actual letter and mail it to her because that means more.”

He also included that he will send flowers and will FaceTime for some face-to-face conversation. Although this way of spending the day isn’t ideal, many opportunities exist to make Valentine’s Day great despite living miles away from a significant other. 

A key tip for Valentine’s Day is to keep your expectations realistic. Most likely, you will either be satisfied or, if your partner goes above and beyond, pleasantly surprised. And to all the singles out there, in all reality, Feb. 14 is just another day. Don’t let the pink hearts and dozens of roses change your mood for the worse. The day will end as quickly as it begins.