Regina Autman says occasionally showering her man with expensive gifts such as the $800 gold watch and $300 earring she bought him Valentine’s Day two years ago usually is not a problem.

But this year, the gifts she will give will be more thoughtful than expensive. Although the gifts she has received in the past have not been as considerate as those she gave, she hopes they will be this year.

I don’t feel I can get out of it what I put into it, money wise, Autman, a junior in criminal justice from Chicago, said. A lot of men are shady. They’ll just go out and buy a card. They don’t get anything from the heart.

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Adding more thought into her Valentine’s Day gifts, Autman now spends more time on her gifts than money by making a gift for her boyfriend. She also tries to express her sincerity throughout the year.

Everyday should be Valentine’s Day, Autman said. I’ll make little baskets and put different things in them like cologne, candles, candy everything you name is in the basket.

Over the years, Valentine’s Day has been celebrated as a lovers’ holiday with the giving of candy, flowers and sometimes other very expensive gifts.

In fifth century Rome, Valentine’s Day was a pagan celebration in mid-February. This event allowed men to draw a teenage girl’s name from a lottery, assigning her as his sexual companion for the remainder of the year.

Now the holiday is co-existent with the addition of price tags on gifts to show fondness for a lover.

But Jannie Kirby, a junior in advertising from Chicago, disagrees with buying gifts for someone for just one day. If she did have a Valentine she would show her love at all times.

Flowers just because mean so much, she said. Gifts should be given from the heart, not just on Valentine’s Day. That makes it seem more like an obligation.

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Any gifts for Valentines’ Day will not be given by Sam GaDee, a senior in psychology from Chicago, because he does not celebrate the holiday. Even if he had a girlfriend on Valentine’s Day he would not spoil her with gifts.

I don’t feel anyone should dictate a day when people should spend with a significant other, GaDee said. I’m a man of principles. If I had a girlfriend, her Valentine’s will be every other day. But I don’t celebrate it because most Valentine’s Days I’m broke.

Michael Ruta, a senior in automotive technology from Downer’s Grove, said no matter what the price, he will buy as much as it takes to please his Valentine. One year he spent more than $100 and will not hesitate to splurge again this year.

I like any reason to celebrate, he said. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend. That just shows a token of how much you appreciate them. Besides, you have to spend your money sometime. So why not spend it on Valentine’s Day and have a good time?

GaDee said the only reason people celebrate Valentine’s Day is because it has been consistently embedded into society. Although he does not like the holiday, it does no harm to anyone.

It’s cool, he said. It promotes love and everything, and that’s good. Anything positive is always good.