We can all blame the New Year and peoples' New Year resolutions. Forget "Get a better job" and everyone's favourite "lose weight", and "save". January is of course the month are ripped down and replaced with Sales banners for two weeks and then with seas of pink hearts and red ribbon. Retailers have their minds focused on the next biggest retail day on the year - Valentine's Day. Over 180 million Valentine's Day cards are sold annually and this did not count the kiddies packages of bulk Valentine's Day cards for the kids to give to everyone at school. Lets face the truth Valentine's Day is big business.

So when the New Year eve chimes have finished sounding, it is the time many people evaluate their relationships and ponder whether they are with the right partner. The cold hard statistics are that nearly 4 out of 10 people at this time of year reassess their dating life or marital status.

So beware Cupid is charting a tricky course for all of us over the next few weeks. With Valentine's Day less than a week away now, chances are you've got love, or something like it, on your mind. If you have not given the fact it is now National Break-up Season you should have.

Our suggestion for Valentine's Day is forget the dozen red roses this year that is of course unless you have money to burn, and if you do get long-stemmed and get the roses delivered to your love's place of employment. Valentine's day is referred to as "Extortion Day" by some for very good reason. . Buy a single rose, if your budget is limited, you can normally get these at Department stores cheaper than what you can get them at Florists.

Forget about the mass produced Valentine's Day cards and make your own. Remember it is not about what it looks like but the effort that you put into it.

Do not go out for dinner on Valentine's Day unless you like getting sized up by all the other diners as they sit their wondering who in the room has the most dysfunctional relationship.

Flowers do not last long, and lets face it fake flowers for Valentine's Day are incredibly tacky and candies cause cavities and more dentist bills. If you really do feel the pressure to buy something for Valentine's Day make it lingerie. Consider it an investment. It lasts a hell of a lot longer than flowers and candy.

Save your money and instead of spending it on all the extortionate merchandising go away for a long weekend somewhere intimate and romantic that is not crowded and spend some quality time together. If you have kids do a swop with some friends or arrange for the kiddies to be sat by the grandparents . Arrange the swop so you look after their kids for one weekend and they reciprocate another.