It’s February, and love is in the air. Everyone is coupled up with their prospective "baes and boos," and then there’s you. Valentine’s Day is coming up, and you don’t have a Valentine.

I’ll admit, even for someone like me who’s been single all year, it gets kind of hard to deal with not having a valentine. Everybody else is paired up, and you don’t want to feel left out. Yes, it may seem better to have a Valentine, but there are some perks to not having one as well.

One of the things I’ve noticed about relationships in, general, is there’s lots of money involved. Of course, any decent couple doesn’t mind "Netflix and chill," but most of the time people, especially girls want to feel appreciated. Hanging out with someone takes money, and it’s not just guys that have to deal with all the expenses. Girls often want to go half on a dinner date, or sometimes you want to buy a new outfit just to show off for your man. That’s fine, but it's still expensive. Valentine’s Day is no different. If anything, there’s extra pressure to spend money, and do something special for your Valentine. Everyone always says, “You don’t have to do anything,” but that’s a lie. It’s definitely expected.

Have you ever noticed how restaurants are always super crowded on Valentine’s Day weekend? How can you truly enjoy a special evening if you have to wait over an hour just to be seated? Of course, if you’re really trying to flex you’ll choose a restaurant that actually makes reservations. But the reality is that we’re in college, who can really afford all of that?

Which brings me right back to money and buying things. Every store pretty much sells the same things when Valentine’s Day comes around. The bears with the hearts on them, heart-shaped boxes of chocolate (that no one ever finishes), and the cards that say, “I heart you.” The struggle to be original on Valentine’s Day is all too real.

Besides not having to worry about trivial things, it’s honestly okay to not have a Valentine. You shouldn’t feel left out. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about love. Why not celebrate by just loving yourself? Many people, especially in our generation, long for relationships and companionship but nobody is ever really just happy with themselves. Do something special for yourself this Valentine’s Day. Make yourself dinner or treat yourself to something you normally wouldn’t. Enjoy time to yourself and don’t worry about not having a Valentine. There’s always next year.