February means Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I know both men and women tend to stress out about finding their significant other the perfect gift. Don't worry, that's why I am here to help. I'm studying to be an Economics major, so I will offer you help with the intention to save you money. Here are some helpful tips to make this Valentine's Day a great one:

1. Buy your roses early. In all my Econ textbooks, I have to read about the simple law of Supply and Demand for roses around Valentine's Day. Put simply, prices skyrocket this time of the year. I know what you're thinking: "Allan, if I buy them early, they're going to be all old and ugly by the time I give them to my wife/girlfriend/ho." Not a problem. That's why you vacuum seal your roses. If you can vacuum seal your meats and eat them two years later (though highly not recommended), I'm sure you can vacuum seal your roses for two weeks.

2. Get the gift inside a gift: Chocolate covered roses. Now she can't complain that you didn't get her chocolates or roses, because with this gift, you can give her both. Have her eat the outer chocolate to uncover a surprise inside. And if you're really looking to cheapen this gift up, dip the chocolates yourself using vacuum sealed two week old roses (refer to Tip #1 above).

3. Dinner and a movie: Typically, you would go out to a fancy restaurant and then follow it up with a romantic movie. That could run you anywhere from $60-$100. Totally not worth it. Instead, make her a nice romantic dinner using the finest ingredients Swanson has to offer. Then, rent a Blockbuster movie, which will easily save you $20. If you're lucky, CBC's Movie Day will coincide with Valentine's Day, where you can watch a movie for free about Christians running away from persecution.

4. The e-Card that says "I Love You": Why spend $3.00 on a cheesy Hallmark card when you can send your loved one a free e-card? Plus, checking new email can be very exciting, especially when you have Princes from Nigeria emailing you in need of your help. If you do not have access to a computer, text messaging via the cell phone is also a cheap alternative.

5. A Long Walk on the Beach: This one is actually for the ladies. Deep down, I secretly think all guys like long walks on the beach. So girls, take them to the beach and just walk together. It's cheap, and I know the guys will appreciate it. Guys don't like talking about sunsets and all that stuff, but we secretly like them. If you do not have access to a beach because of geographical circumstances, rivers, ponds, and gorges will also work.

And remember to say those three magic words at the end of the day: "Let's Watch ESPN."