My boyfriend lives far away from me too, so we never see each other on Valentine's Day. We've only been able to spend Valentine's Day together in real life one time, and even then it wasn't really Valentine's Day, it was the week after, but we celebrated it then and gave each other chocolate. It's as close as we've gotten to being together on that day. But that doesn't really matter to me, I don't think V Day is super important. I was actually happier to spend Christmas with him last year. I was sad I couldn't this year. And I consider our anniversary to be more important than V Day as well, because it's our special day, not just a generic day created for anyone in a relationship. So I usually just send him a card or something for V Day. I wonder if I should try to send him a gift or something this time. He has no money and I haven't gotten a birthday or Christmas gift from him so I know he's not going to send me a V Day gift either. :roll: But that's not his fault and I don't really mind.

To be honest, I personally would not be happy if my boyfriend showed up with 200$ worth of stuff on Valentine's day. >.> I don't even like Valentine's, it's like stores want you to buy cheesy expensive crap for your beloved or else you're a bad person.

If my boyfriend lived so far away from me, I would be much happier if he showed up at my door that day with a rented movie to watch together (and maybe a self-made card with a nice text on it), than if I found three post parcels in the mail from him. But then I'm not really a material person, I value personal gifts over expensive ones.

I'm not exactly aiming for expensive gifts. I supplied a collection of shoes and necklaces ranging from $10 to $50, showing only the images and keeping the prices to myself, and those just happened to be the ones Nick liked. I am adding a handmade stuffed owl, a handwritten love letter (One of my love letters to give you some idea of what I mean. ), and a framed photo, along with some chocolates that I will pick out specifically that I know Nico will enjoy.

It's not a completely impersonal or expensive gift. The most expensive part is going to be shipping it across the country. Those of you who keeps saying to rent a movie and watch it together (more than one person has said it), seem to not notice all the times I've said that we live too far apart. It's not a matter of taking a bus across town or a train to the next state, not a couple hours drive by car... We are literally on opposite ends of the country. I'm in Portland, MAINE and Nick is in Hermiston, OREGON.

I don't necessarily want to spend a ton of money on Valentine's day, but I do want to be able to give a nice gift of things that I know will be enjoyed since I can't be there to give myself. All the suggestions of cards, perfumes, candies, all that is good. I took a few cues from that. But getting a movie to watch together, spending time together, things like that aren't in any way possible, though I do plan to be on the phone with my betrothed for a good deal of time that day.

Me and my boyfriend never give each other presents on Valentine's day. Why should we? We surprise each other presents on other, regular days. It doesn't need to be Valentine to show each other some love. You should show that every day.
I wouldn't want to get a present on Valentine... because it's so... expected, and a lil' forced. Just like all the other 'obliged' present days.