8 Things All Couples Dread About Valentine's Day

Spending a holiday with a significant other comes with a lot of wonderful advantages.

Christmas and New Year's Eve are swell and dandy, but Valentine's Day is a whole other beast.

For many couples, the cons of Valentine's Day can make a special day into something of a nightmare.

1. Everyone asks what you're doing.

Maybe you have great plans. Maybe you don't. Either way, while your coworkers and friends' intentions are good, it can get a little repetitive.

And, there's always at least one person who then complains about their relationship or lack thereof, one person who compares their plans to yours (especially if he or she thinks his or hers are better) and one person who takes it upon him or herself to judge what your plans are and make suggestions.

People invite themselves into the intimate space between you and your significant other, and that isn't healthy.

Valentine's Day is supposed to be a celebration of love, and the way a couple chooses to celebrate -- or not -- is not meant to be open for others' opinions.

2. Your wallet cries a little.

You love to please your significant other. He or she loves doing the same for you, but your wallet doesn't.

The average consumer spends $116.21 on Valentine's Day and $2.1 billion on flowers, altogether.

What do people (including singles) buy the most of? Not surprisingly, candy.

It doesn't help that there is a lot of weird, subliminal advertising that goes into it. You know she doesn't particularly like chocolate, but the giant stand of heart-shaped boxes in your local supermarket pressures you to think otherwise.

3. Valentine's Day Dinner

You had to make a reservation kind of last minute, which was stressful.

The "prix fixe menu" is overpriced for no reason; the service sucks, and the restaurant is crowded. The tight dress you're wearing doesn't hide the pasta bloat.

Sure, it's a nice dinner together (an expensive one), but you both would rather be on the couch eating pizza.

4. There's a weird pressure to outperform yourself.

Valentine's Day pressures even the stablest of couples to feel like they have to rise the bar, somehow.

This can be in any area: sexually, gifts, shows of affection and the like.

You start thinking this might be the time to try some highlights, or that weird lingerie that looks more like an indiscernible contraption than underwear.

5. You're afraid your single friends will hate you for a day.

You have to tiptoe around the subject for about a week.

You vaguely reference some sort of “plans” when they ask you about what you're doing, but you know better than to go into detail about what you have planned for the day.

Then, there's awkwardly sitting there while they launch into their third manifesto of why men suck.

Valentine's Day is about love, but not just romantic love. It's important to love on your friends -- do it with sassy cards and craftier gifts if you're the hands-on type.

6. That one gift that's just a little... off.

It's like Christmas sweaters from Grandma, but with more feelings at stake.

Maybe your boyfriend thought getting you a giant teddy bear was cute, but why does it creep you out so much? Here are some cool gifts: this, that and that.

7. Not wanting to get him a bad gift.

Whoops. There are a few days left -- not enough time to get something shipped, and not enough time to think of something cool. Here are some things you can get him.

8. But, with the right person, every day is Valentine's Day.

For many couples, Valentine's Day is a day you are supposed to do wonderful things for your significant other and remind him or her that he or she is special to you.

The most special days together are the ones that are normal for everyone else except you two.

Learn to speak one another's "love language." Surprise him or her on perfectly ordinary occasions, bring him or her lunch or send a sweet "I love you" text out of the blue. Having a pre-set day of love lessens the satisfaction for some couples.

Valentine's Day is stressful for everyone.

A holiday that is meant to be about love and cherishing those close to you becomes a frantic arms race to meet the standards of what we think Valentine's Day should be about.

Whether you're single or taken, make this Valentine's Day an occasion to celebrate love in the way you choose, unapologetically.