It's that time of year again. Where you're either pining for a date for Valentine's Day, or are sorely disappointed that yours did not turn out romantic and exhilarating like in the movies. Fret not, you can have a banging Valentine's Day without a boyfriend. (I mean you can have a banging Valentine's Day with a boyfriend too, literally and figuratively, if you know what I mean,) Here are the top 8 reasons why "Galentine's" Day is better than Valentine's Day.

1. No shaving.

(If you don't want to. Perhaps you like feeling smooth as silk for no reason, perhaps you don't, whatever floats your boat.) Do you really think your girlfriends from high school or college are going to be offended that it looks like you have a wool blanket on your lap? No, probably not, and if they are offended, then you need some new friends.

2. It's not so messy.

If you're hanging out with your gal pals, you are going to be eating ice cream with a spoon, not you fingers. The whole strawberries and whipped cream and chocolate thing. Where they lick all that off your body. Like thanks, nothing turns me on more than being covered in slime and sticky enough to be glued to our bed sheets. Now I have to shower, AGAIN.

3. You don't have to share the shower.

This is where everybody's hearts get broken. The shower scenes in movies look so steamy (pun intended.) In the new 50 Shades of Grey movie "doing the do" looks like a grand ol' time in their shower. To be fair he's rich so his shower is roughly the size of a football field, but still. In your average bathtub, there's a lot of navigating and you have to practically map it out before you even get in. Not to mention I like the temperature of the water to be between "lava" and "fiery pits of Hell". The dude friend over here has to have it lukewarm.

4. No expectations.

If you're having a Galentine's Day, it's about having fun. Maybe you go out for dinner, maybe you order takeout. Maybe all you eat is the junk food you have stashed away in the cabinet. You watch some cheap RomComs. (or if you're me and my friends, you watch horror movies together to bond.) If you want to exchange hoe stories you do that, if you decide you want to complain about that one girl from work for an hour, that's what you do. You can sit and over analyze a text some boy sent you together. The possibilities are endless and there's no specific way that the night needs to end.

5. Did I mention wine?

Sure you can have some wine with your significant other on Valentine's day, but it's that expensive stuff you never buy and actually kind of tastes awful but you don't want to complain and spoil the evening so you only drink like half a glass. If you get that cheap, box whine that we all know and love for you Galentine's day, you don't even have to use a glass. Just take a swig straight out of the bottle and pass it. (Or keep it if you're feeling selfish.) What's the point of buying cheap wine if you can't be trashy with it?

6. Save yourself some money.

Whether your significant other is the type to pay for the date or you are, the fact of the matter is that you can now skip out on some 5 star overpriced restaurant with too small of portions and french words you can't pronounce. No gifts are involved in this girl's night extravaganza, no last minute cards, or roses. (If you're feeling extra grateful to your friends and you want to buy them presents, by all means though)

7. No uncomfortable lingerie.

After spending upwards fifty dollars on some skimpy, lacy thing that you only wear for 10 minutes, you get to watch it get ripped from your body, possibly ruining it, and go careening to the floor next to some dirty underwear. you're going to think to yourself how it definitely looked better on the mannequin.

8. You're spending it with people who love you.

Not that your significant other doesn't love you. I'm sure they do, you're an awesome person. But the thing is if you're not single, you probably spend a LOT of time with your significant other. Maybe you live together, maybe you don't. The point is, you're busy and you probably don't see your friends as much as you would like, and now is the perfect time to make plans to see them.

The only thing that matter's this Gal/Valentine's Day is that you surround yourself with the people you love and appreciate and who love and appreciate you back. I hope y'all have a banging time this week ;)