Chocolates, roses, huge teddy bears, sparkly jewelry and lingerie, cheesy cards, and all things pink and red: Valentine’s Day is chock full of overpriced presents we all feel obligated to buy for our significant other. I’m here to break the cycle. You shouldn’t be showing your love only one day out of the year, and you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to do so.

Consumers spend $13,290,000,000 on Valentine’s Day-related purchases each year, according to the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association’s Valentine’s Day Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey from January 2016.

I see countless couples give each other gifts only on special occasions. Apparently couples only show each other affection on birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. But what about the other days? Presents are used as a way to show someone you care about that you are thinking about them. I know you’re not only thinking about them those four days of the year.

Valentine’s Day is known to be the time to show your dearly beloved just how much they mean to you. But what many of us forget is that just because there is a day set aside to make couples feel special, that doesn’t mean you can’t surprise your lady friend or your man with a gift any other day of the year.

A major misconception a lot of couples get is they think that presents have to be something big or expensive. But that is just not true. Granted, some of us have expensive tastes and just love to get a Michael Kors watch for every occasion. And they might be a little more difficult to deal with, but for most of us out there, it might be time to get a little more mushy.

A present can be as simple as a hand-written note attached to your honey’s favorite candy bar. I know some people are not into the whole sappy notes thing, but if you are one who likes to give or receive those cute hand-written letters, then take a stab at it. Recount your first date, or the first time you met, or the first time you shared a sandwich.

In all honesty, all you need is “I love you,” some affection and, if you’re extra sweet, some chocolate.

The key to these presents is their unexpected element. They must be gifted with the mindset of “I still love you and I want to tell you.” Only getting presents from your significant other, although it may seem like a small thing, can be frustrating, especially if one partner gives lots of gifts, but the other does not.

In one of my past relationships, my birthday, our anniversary and Valentine’s Day happened in quick succession. Buying so many presents at once wasn’t really reasonable, and I actually liked getting small thoughtful presents more than pricey ones. We never gave each other very expensive presents, just small things. I made him a lot of presents too, since I like to be sappy with my gifts. So we did small gifts for the major holidays, and then we would randomly buy things for each other when we were out and about and saw something that made us think of each other.

It worked out great, because it made each other happy that we thought of each other, and each present was purchased from the idea that it was perfect for the other, not out of an “oh shoot, I need a present, and I need it fast.”

This idea can translate to friends too. I have learned that it is better to buy a present that screams to you that it is perfect for the receiver, instead of buying something because it is simply “good enough.” Granted, this means you might not have a present for your bestie on their actual birthday, but it does mean instead of giving them a present they just re-gift or never use because they don’t really like it, you can give them something that is a perfect fit.

All in all, no matter who you are buying presents for, spread the love. Buy that outrageous shot glass because it’s a perfect fit for your best friend. Just because it’s the middle of June when nothing ever happens, that doesn’t mean you can’t show your people you love them.

This Valentine’s day, don’t go broke for your significant other. Buy them something thoughtful, but save some of that love for a time when maybe they’re having a bad day, so you can surprise them with something to cheer them up. It’ll make you both happier.