What’s the best gift for Valentine?

Valentine is here again, and as usual, there's no getting out of gift giving to our loves ones on the special day, but that doesn’t mean it has to be hard.

According to Whitman’s Sampler of behavioral research, seemingly important things like the cost of a present and the ‘wow’ factor may not matter as much as simply making nice memories or explaining why you got the gift you did.

Here, are seven research-backed rules for making your gift-giving even more appreciated.

Buy experiences over things
You don’t need science to tell you that our most cherished memories come from time spent with loved ones. Experiences not only produce more immediate happiness than material gifts, but often ensure greater long-term happiness, too.

Spill the beans early
Once you’ve secured your chosen gift, consider giving your Valentine a little hint, something to drool about. “Delay can enhance the pleasure of consumption not only by providing an opportunity to develop positive expectations, but also by enhancing what we call the ‘drool factor,’” Norton and Dunn write.  

Give them something useful
One of the biggest sources of gift disappointment is when the giver goes off-script in an attempt to surprise the receiver. 

More to the point: Give them what they want
Has your Valentine been dropping hints? Abide them. There’s no shame in giving someone what they want.

It’s the thought that counts (but only if it’s obvious)
If you do decide to take a stab in the dark and buy someone a gift they didn’t explicitly ask for, be ready with your explanation.

Price does not predict enjoyment…
Despite the obvious differences in monetary value of gifts, receivers do appreciates cheaper gifts as much as expensive ones.

…But ribbons and bows might
Giving someone a wrapped present literally heightens their expectations—which can work in your favor if you’ve obeyed the other rules and bought your Valentine something they truly wanted. If not? Well, “Nice wrapping sets expectations that might make the disappointment of receiving a gift you don’t like worse.

 -But most important, just give something
Although grocery store flowers and chocolates aren’t the most original gifts, giving something is better than nothing at all. Non monetary gifts, such as a poem, show you remembered the holiday, too. 

Prices on gifts like candy, flowers and lingerie often rise on the holiday and drop later.