--- title: How to Buy the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift description: Stuck in a shopping rut? New research just made gift giving a lot easier canonical: https://time.com/3706010/buy-perfect-valentines-day-gift/ author: Real Simple article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-02-12T20:35:42.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:45:20.989Z og:title: How to Buy the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift og:description: Stuck in a shopping rut? New research just made gift giving a lot easier og:url: https://time.com/3706010/buy-perfect-valentines-day-gift/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e9a6724cf25547b/69877ed455a8595925a85c57/109339570-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 4096 og:image:height: 2304 og:image:alt: gift-box-red-bow og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: How to Buy the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift twitter:description: Stuck in a shopping rut? New research just made gift giving a lot easier twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5e9a6724cf25547b/69877ed455a8595925a85c57/109339570-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # How to Buy the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture recommendation newsletter, edited by culture editor Eliza Berman. Each week it surfaces the books, shows, films and ideas TIME's editors think are worth your attention, and explains why. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Does TIME have a culture newsletter? Yes. Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published weekly. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-worth-2026q3/newsletters?i=3c20acbb-050c-48db-82d1-d96485204410&cr=time-nl-worth-2026q3-v1) ## Video: First Grade Valentines [Watch (HLS stream): First Grade Valentines](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/dxn3NutC.m3u8) (2:35)  _Published 2010-02-10. Out of the mouths of babes, love is explained. Brooklyn first graders write and read their valentines and describe the meaning of Valentines Day_ by [Real Simple](https://time.com/author/real-simple/) ## Real Simple Feb 12, 2015 8:35 PM UTC  Present with big red both Present with big red both Getty Images by [Real Simple](https://time.com/author/real-simple/) ## Real Simple Feb 12, 2015 8:35 PM UTC If you’re still stressing over what to buy your Valentine, take this expert advice: Instead of trying to prove how well you know your partner with a highly-specific present, just shop for something you know he or she will like. [A study recently released](http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=21194) from the University of Cincinnati used gift cards, ranging from specific to versatile, to illustrate this concept. They found that gift givers opted for specific gift cards when the recipients would have actually preferred something more general and useful, and in fact, it took them longer to redeem the specific, personalized gift cards. Researcher Mary Steffel [conducted a similar study](http://www.uc.edu/news/nr.aspx?id=18864) around holiday gift giving, and discovered a related trend: Gift givers wanted unique gifts for everyone on their list, and prioritized that over choosing presents that recipients would definitely enjoy. So, if you’re struggling to think of the _perfect_ gift, you might be on the wrong track. Personalization is nice, but don’t feel pressured to go that route if you know that your Valentine would _love_ a gift that happens to be more generic. If you _still_ can’t decide what to buy for Valentine’s Day, get inspiration from our gift guides for [men](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-gifts-boyfriend), [women](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-gifts-her), and even [kids](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-kids). Or, opt for homemade gifts this year with [our easy DIY tutorials](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-crafts). _This_ [_article_](https://editor.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-shopping?xid=time-rs) _originally appeared on_ [_RealSimple.com_](http://www.realsimple.com/)_._ _More from Real Simple:_ * [No Reservations: Wine and Dine Your Valentine With a Date Night In](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/recipe-collections-favorites/wine-dine-date-night-in?xid=time-rs) * [6 Affordable Date Night Sparkling Drinks](http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/beverages/affordable-date-night-sparkling-wine?xid=time-rs) * [6 Valentine’s Day Crafts That Double as Thoughtful Gifts](http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/valentines-day/valentines-day-crafts?xid=time-rs) ## Transcript >> People give kisses and it's all wet. >> When like someone kiss you, you [ unk ]. >> Today, we're gonna be talking about Valentine's Day. It's a day where we get to celebrate all the important people in our lives and how much we care about them and love them and all the great things they do for us. You're gonna get to write a special Valentine for that special someone. Valentine's letters. Who are you gonna write to [ unk ]. I'm seeing lots of " I love you's" and " You're special to me ". All really nice things to write to a valentines. >> Told you. >> Dear Mom. >> Dear Mom. >> Dear Mom. >> Dear Michael Jackson, I know that you are a pop star. -[ unk ] >> Valentine's Day is a holiday about love. >> Mean you love someone? >> That means when they [ unk ] someone [ unk ]. >> Well, I've done it first. >> Nice, loud, clear voice. >> You keep me safe. You buy me anything I want. I am [ unk ] hug you. -[ unk ] you kiss me [ unk ] you will always love me in the heart. You are my best mother. >> Do I need to [ unk ]. >> Dad, you are special to me. From [ unk ]. >> Happy Valentine's Day! >> Good job everyone. [ unk ] a Valentine? >> Me. >> We all did. >> Better is with a computer. >> Computer. >> Computer. >> I'll send email. >> Paper is not digital. It's just paper. You can just do it on the computer. It doesn't make it sloppy. >> You can love whoever's in your family even your Auntie. Whoever's in your family you can love them. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3706010/buy-perfect-valentines-day-gift/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3706010/buy-perfect-valentines-day-gift/"},"headline":"How to Buy the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift","datePublished":"2015-02-12T20:35:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:45:20.989Z","description":"Stuck in a shopping rut? 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