--- title: 5 Research-Based Tips on How to Pick the Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ever description: Research says that the most romantic gifts are expensive yet worthless. In fact, science knows a number of things about what makes a good gift.... canonical: https://time.com/3709531/how-pick-best-valentines-day-gift/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-02-13T17:51:10.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-31T08:12:01.274Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 5 Research-Based Tips on How to Pick the Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ever og:description: Research says that the most romantic gifts are expensive yet worthless. In fact, science knows a number of things about what makes a good gift.... og:url: https://time.com/3709531/how-pick-best-valentines-day-gift/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbcc410289736d480/69877f442dce01325e9dd8ca/gift.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: gift og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 5 Research-Based Tips on How to Pick the Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ever twitter:description: Research says that the most romantic gifts are expensive yet worthless. In fact, science knows a number of things about what makes a good gift.... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbcc410289736d480/69877f442dce01325e9dd8ca/gift.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 5 Research-Based Tips on How to Pick the Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ever by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Feb 13, 2015 5:51 PM CUT  Card with heart graphic atop gift with pink bow, elevated view Card with heart graphic atop gift with pink bow, elevated viewGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Feb 13, 2015 5:51 PM CUT * Research says that the most romantic gifts are [expensive yet worthless.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/are-the-most-romantic-gifts-expensive-and-wor "undefined") In fact, science knows a number of things about [what makes a good gift](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-makes-a-good-gift "undefined"). * Afraid of how much Valentine’s Day is going to cost you? Relax. Giving really is better than receiving and studies show [money CAN buy happiness](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/8-ways-that-money-can-buy-happiness "undefined"). * There’s an easy trick for getting that special someone a gift they’ll really like: [stop being so damn creative](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/special-holiday-post-how-can-you-increase-the "undefined") and think about [what makes people feel guilty](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/behavioral-economist-dan-arielys-advice-on-pi "undefined"). Wanna go even further and be doubly sure they’ll like that present? [Wrap it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/special-holiday-post-how-can-you-increase-the "undefined"). * Here are [5 easy, scientifically proven tips for making shopping easier.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/5-easy-scientifically-proven-tips-to-make-you "undefined") * Did you receive a lousy gift for Valentine’s Day? [Here are pro tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/how-can-you-fool-people-into-thinking-you-lik "undefined") on how to act like you’re not horribly disappointed. And frankly, getting women lousy gifts on V Day _might_ [be a smart idea](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/should-we-buy-good-gifts-for-men-and-lousy-gi "undefined"). **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/02/5-research-based-tips-on-how-to-pick-the-best/ "undefined")**_._** **Join over 165,000 readers and get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** Related posts: [How To Be A Good Kisser – 10 Tips From Scientific Research](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/how-to-be-a-good-kisser/ "undefined") [Recipe For A Happy Marriage: The 7 Scientific Secrets](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/recipe-for-a-happy-marriage-2/ "undefined") [10 ways science explains why James Bond is so irresistible to women](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/10-ways-science-explains-why-james-bond-is-so "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3709531/how-pick-best-valentines-day-gift/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3709531/how-pick-best-valentines-day-gift/"},"headline":"5 Research-Based Tips on How to Pick the Best Valentine’s Day Gift Ever","datePublished":"2015-02-13T17:51:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:12:01.274Z","description":"Research says that the most romantic gifts are expensive yet worthless. 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