It’s that time of the year again. The tug of war between collegiate consumers and Valentine’s… It’s that time of the year again. The tug of war between collegiate consumers and Valentine’s Day — with its mission to promote the quest for love and the socially acceptable status of two-ness — begins. People become conflicted as they try to maintain the legacy of love that dates back to the year 270 A.D., and withstand its consumerism, since it’s the third-largest retail holiday of the year.

Along with the disappointing idea of “marketable romance,” there’s the startling but believable statistic affirming that, indeed, money can buy you love. This year, $13.19 billion will be spent, averaging to about $100 per consumer out of the 61.8 percent of the population celebrating, according to the National Retail Federation. The proceeds will go to the traditional greeting cards, flowers, chocolates and fine dining, and for some of the more fortunate, jewelry.

Perhaps to our young and in-love college audience, this doesn’t present an immediate problem. Turn to any news station at 5 p.m. and you’ll see war, crime and the possibility of a draft — that in itself will give all a reason to take any and every advantage of a once-a-year opportunity to give and receive love.

But, more often than not, Valentine’s Day represents an opportunity to do once what should be an everyday occurrence. Or, in other words, Valentine’s Day equals a limited-time offer to love.

Putting the holiday into perspective, people in relationships and culprits of frivolous spending need to ask themselves these questions:

Are you truly doing the best in your capacity as a boyfriend/girlfriend? Or are you subsidizing these efforts with your disposable income? Furthermore, are the gifts you purchase a true reflection of the quirks and passions of your mate, or do they fall under the aforementioned traditional umbrella?

To all the singletons: Are you only celebrating yourself on designated days of the year? If so, why is Valentine’s Day cause to self-medicate for society’s ailments?

I am not supporting frugality by any means. There is nothing wrong with spending a little money here and there on someone you love. But when you become so uninventive that the only way you can show someone (or worse, yourself) that you care relies on materialism, something has gone terribly wrong.

When all the cards are read, all the flowers are dead and all the chocolate and food has been digested, Valentine’s lease hath all too short a date, and the spirit of a holiday that has been in business for centuries diminishes.

Thus, I encourage all to believe in quality of romance over the quantity of finance, whether it is Super Bowl Sunday or Valentine’s Monday.

Lucky for us, under most conventional methods, sex is an unbeatably free way to celebrate love and increase the quality of romance. Now, this is not at all to use the words sex and love interchangeably, but sex in relationships is a physical expression that demonstrates how we feel about our mates. Since sex and sexuality are my areas of interest, it is my duty to suggest a weekly itinerary to you and your lover to keep the Valentine’s Day spirit alive year-round.

Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day to be the change you want to see in romance.

Candy should be the only thing unwrapped this Valentine’s Day, so be safe. Questions? Tune in to Rose today at 4:40 p.m. on WPTS 92.1 FM, or e-mail her at [email protected].