You asked:

Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away, and I’m confused because I just started hooking up with this guy. Should I give him a gift, or will that come off as too much too soon?

New relationships can present potentially awkward situations around any major holiday, especially Valentine’s Day. The biggest key to relationships is communication. If you can’t bring up issues early on, then making progress later could be even more difficult. Why not just ask him? Just lightheartedly say, “Hey, are we exchanging gifts on February 14 or what?” Regardless of what you both decide, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to involve anything extravagant.

What’s nice about being a new couple is that dates are still super-adventurous. You could offer the idea of going out for a nice dinner instead of a gift exchange. That way, you get to spend more time with him and less time worrying about the gift.

If a fancy dinner isn’t your thing, you could rent a movie and stay in. Sometimes, a cozy, cuddly night is more romantic and enjoyable than a night out. You could even spend quality time cooking a meal together.

If you do decide to exchange gifts, no need to spend a ton of dough. Something little -- like two tickets to a movie, or a small gift card to his favorite store -- will show that you have been paying attention to his interests.

Name: Sarah Arsenoff
School: UNC Wilmington
Year: Senior
Major: Marine Biology
Her Deal: This is Sarah's third year as an R.A. for freshmen and international students. She writes for Periplus, a university newsletter for students who, like her, are in the honors scholars program.

TALK IT UP

Have a better answer? Share it here.