That was a bad idea – Valentine’s Day gifts gone wrong

Is Valentine’s romance fizzling?

Looking at the typical Canadian’s budget for Feb. 14… maybe.

A super romantic insurance company survey has found an average $64 will be spent on Valentine’s Day items this year, down 13 per cent from last year and about a third for the year before.

The pandemic and its related economic troubles are part of that, but a list of some of the worst gifts ever also offers some insight into some lazy lovers’ ideas of what makes for a sweet, romantic, or sexy present.

Unsurprisingly, discount flowers with the tag still attached don’t make for a happy night. Neither do dental hygiene products like a tongue scraper.

And how about this submission: “My husband (then boyfriend) once gave me a picture frame filled with his hair … he thought it would be romantic, but I didn’t agree!” Somehow, they still ended up married.

Another person says their father gave their mom a hair-trimmer.

The list includes the usual bad ideas: any type of cleaning tool, supply, or appliance. You should probably also avoid cards referencing bodily functions, at least for Valentine’s Day.

Cleaning products are picture in this stock image. (iStock Photo)

On a related note, one submission reads, “My dad gave my stepmom a toilet seat once for Valentine’s Day. He genuinely thought he had the best gift ever.”

But that’s not all. “It was the most generic toilet seat ever. Not even one of the ones that go down slowly.”

And then there’s the practical person who got their lover jumper cables. Definitely a memorable gift, but probably not for the right reasons. Probably.

The survey suggests the most popular Valentine’s Day activity for Canadians this year is a romantic dinner at home.

Among physical presents, the most popular are flowers or greeting cards.