Look, we all know it’s a “Hallmark Holiday,” but the reality is that dismissing Valentine’s Day altogether can send the wrong message to your partner, whether that’s your intention or not.

You don’t have to break the bank to show your love. Simply writing a personal note expressing your love and appreciation can be much more meaningful than anything you can buy.

But writing a well-crafted love note can also feel like a daunting task, so a good way to approach this is to break it up into these three sections:

1) Remind your partner why you fell in love in the first place.
2) Tell your partner what you love most about him or her now.
3) Then express something specific that you appreciate about your relationship today.

Don’t worry, this isn’t about creating a masterpiece. Your partner will appreciate your heartfelt effort, and it will be clear that you truly value your relationship. And if you want to buy a gift or a store-bought card, that’s totally fine too, as long as you don’t skip the part that really matters. ~Philip Lingle