With the economy in it’s less than perfect state, what’s a couple to do for the most romantic and potentially expensive day of the year? This Valentine’s Day, most couples thought it wise to acknowledge the recession and the recent tragedy in Haiti by agreeing to limit the amount spent on the holiday.

Woody Parramore, a senior in Mechanical Engineering at Auburn University, made some changes this year.

“My girlfriend and I still went out to Hamilton’s for dinner, “said Parramore. “But we decided to put a spending cap on gifts.”

Lavish may not be the word to describe gifts this year, especially for college students on a budget. Creative and intimate? More like it.

Christina Rosser, a senior in Nursing at Auburn University, has noticed a change in the gift-trend this year.

“People are talking more about fund raisers for Haiti victims and supporting friends without jobs this year than all the Valentine’s hype,” said Rosser. “Me and my valentine curled up on the couch with cookie dough and watched the Olympics.”

Cameron Pappas, an Accounting major at Auburn University, sees Valentine’s Day through business eyes. His family owns Norton’s Florist in Birmingham.

“Valentine’s day is always one of busiest times of the year,” said Pappas. “There isn’t really a substitute for flowers on this day.”

However, it wasn’t the recession that may have affected Norton’s traffic before February 14th as most businesses in and between Birmingham and Auburn closed early due to the blanket of snow on Friday the 12th. Many students still made their Valentine’s dinner reservations, some on Saturday evening and others true to the 14th even as a Sunday.