First: focus on your limitations. The Ivy is booked. Ditto all the other places she hopes you are going to take her. So, cross your fingers and call that nice little romantic bistro in your 'hood. If that fails, you're cooking. No. Seriously.

Flowers is another issue. Roses are going to be astronomical right now. Go for quantity instead. Call your local florist and get a quote for 100 tulips. That will be less than the roses and such a grander romantic gesture - especially if you get off your ass and hand-deliver them to her office (looking breathless and dishevelled).

Look, the sooner you figure out that Valentine's Day is simply a vehicle for your girlfriend to gloat to her friends/ office about how much you fancy her, the happier you both will be.

And, broke blokes, in case you think you can get out of this little commercial holiday of financial grounds, think again. Nothing makes a girl blubber like a handmade Valentine, except maybe a handwritten poem. Unless she is especially thick, don't go with Shakespeare. Instead, pilfer off the multitude of self-publishing poetry websites below. She will cry; you will get noggin. Everyone happy.

And if you still ruin the day, just remind her: love means never having to say you are sorry.

Love poetry can be pilfered from many a website
E.g., takemetobed.com

EC