Yes, we mentioned this just now, and we’re talking loads and oodles of people walking in and out of shopping centers, restaurants, clothings stores, novelty gift shops, parks, and any major gathering place people can either buy gifts, eat or take selfies in. If you need to get to any of these, consider commuting instead of driving, and if you need to drive, go earlier than you usually would. With the coronavirus also still pretty hot, try to shy away from crowded places or at least bring a face mask to protect yourself.

Eating Out

Generally, you can expect restaurants to be packed. You may want to opt for deliveries, or pickups if you’re expecting to bring the food to a party. If you need to eat somewhere special, consider booking the place ahead, or going in earlier if reservations aren’t an option. And have a Plan B, C and D in case some of your initial choices don’t work out.

Gift Buying

In-season gifts will be priced really high due to the demand. These include flowers, chocolates, candies, jewelry, and couple-themed items. Unless they need to be fresh, try getting them ahead of time. If you’re thinking of flowers, best get in touch with your local florist and have yours set aside ahead of time to save the heartache of not getting a good one ready for the day.

Money

If you plan on spending the day out with friends, your special someone or family, maybe have an envelope with a budget set aside just for your activities. With so much love in the air, you’re bound to spend more than you usually would, especially with impulse spending on gifts, food and entertainment. This way, you won’t break the bank by accident at the very least.

Work

This year’s Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, which means you’re likely to be working in the office unless you go on leave or work remotely. If you do need to work outside the house, try looking for seats a good while before or after mealtimes as your favorite cafe or working space might be packed.

As with any major celebration, the best thing to do may just as well be staying at home unless you have plans or really need to. Streaming services, YouTube, a good book, and home cooking might be the date you need on a good Friday night.