Don't Forget Your Sweetie

Sunday, February 14 is Valentine's Day, and this post will undoubtedly serve as a final reminder to many to procure a gift for that special someone.

Valentine's Day is more than a romantic holiday; it is big business. Consumers will spend an average of $77.43 on Valentine's Day gifts this year. E-commerce retailers expect to rack up about $650 million in sales of food, candy, flowers and other gifts. Of that amount, approximately $350 million will be spent on gifts and flowers, and another $45 million will be spent on food (including chocolate) and wine.

Valentine's Day was not always as expensive as it is today. In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. This custom gave rise to the saying "to wear your heart on your sleeve," meaning it is easy for other people to know how you feel.

If you don't want to break the bank or sew patches on your sleeves, you can just wish someone a Happy Valentine's Day with the phone call. After all, Alexander Graham Bell applied for his patent on the telephone, an "Improvement in Telegraphy," on Valentine's Day in 1876.