If you're single on Valentine's Day it's generally presumed that you've got the bum deal. The crushing weight of your lonely existence will finally overwhelm you because you didn't receive a bunch of droopy flowers hastily grabbed from a supermarket foyer on the way home from work.
However, we're pretty sure that's not the case because, let's face it, Valentine's Day isn't all it's cracked up to be, not for singles and certainly not for couples either. Here are 3 reasons we think it's great to be single on February the 14th, what do you think?
You'll save a few quid
Valentine's Day could be viewed as a sugar-coated occasion created by card and confectionery companies to earn a bit more cash - but then that would be cynical wouldn't it? The British Retail Consortium predicts that shoppers will spend about £2.4 billion on presents for their lovers today. That's a heck of a lot of teddy bears and dodgy lingerie.
Single? Buy yourself a present - you know that you're going to like it and you won't have to perform a strip tease in it later in the evening. Or don't spend anything - saving is cool!
It's ethical
About £50 million is spent on flowers every Valentine's Day in the UK. They probably will look nice, they might even smell nice, but where have they come from? There are concerns over issues such as air miles, use of chemicals and worker's rights. Who wants to be involved in that?
You're free and easy
If you're a couple the pressure of Valentine's Day can be pretty intense. Men and women flail about in a frenzy buying red things and planning grand romantic gestures, isn't that maybe a bit forced? After all, a big gesture isn't what demonstrates true love - true love is about getting up a bit earlier to make someone you like a cup of tea. If you're single you can avoid the whole sorry circus: no cards, no flowers, no interminable dinners in crowded restaurants full of couples trying to out-romance each other - no worries!
We're not total cynics here at MSF - those of you who view our blog regularly will know that we love hearing about couples, weddings and all that happy stuff but we thought we'd say 'poo' to Val Day today. We shared a jar of special Marmite here at MSF...just like this one pictured (the Bovril fans kept their cool). 
Why not ignore the whole thing and go out on the weekend instead?
You'll be able to book a table for one thing. Change your MSF mood so everyone knows you feel 'like a night out' and get dating, you lucky single thing, you.
P.S. If you're going to buy flowers, please make them Fairtrade http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/pr140208.htm.
