When Love Became a Haul

Written by: Cora Lee

Valentine’s Day wasn’t always about curated gift baskets and matching pajamas. It used to be about handwritten cards and small, thoughtful surprises. 

It has undergone a corporate makeover. We’ve moved past all of the genuine gestures and entered the age of performative romance.

Thanks to social media, February fourteenth has turned into an “aesthetic haul” competition. We begin to measure love through dollar signs instead of sincerity. We’ve grown used to seeing our favorite influencers show off Valentine’s hauls filled to the brim with Jellycats and themed items that will only be used once a year. The plastic trinkets bought for a significant other often end up sitting around the house until the next Valentine’s Day rolls around—by then, they’re usually forgotten. And the cycle repeats: more heart-shaped packaging, more trendy knickknacks, more waste.

Eventually, much of it ends up in landfills, where it will sit far longer than the excitement it once created.

Celebrate the holiday with a heartfelt note or a meaningful gesture. If you do decide to give a gift basket, choose items thoughtfully—things your loved one will genuinely use and appreciate, not just something an influencer told you to buy.