经济又有创意的过个情人节

2月14日，情人节。这个特别的节日情人们会互赠礼物，也一直都是商家赚钱的大好时机。不过今年在美国的犹他州，好像情形不是这样。今年的情人节，依旧是情侣们甜蜜庆祝的时刻，只是迫于经济危机的影响，人们都想要把这个情人节过的简单，省钱而又特别。

The day for sweethearts may not be the day for spenders. National surveys reveal people will spend less this Valentine's Day than years past, but that's not holding true everywhere in Utah.

It's a tough year for Valentine's Day: should you splurge on the holiday or save money for a rainy day when you may need it more? It seems many couples are compromising, spending a little but still making it special.

At Mini's bakery at 14 E. 800 South, the shape of the Valentine season isn't a heart. It's a cupcake. This year Mini's is baking 500 tiny treats a day in anticipation of the holiday, and they're just warming up.

Leslie Fiet, owner of Mini's, said, "Over the Valentine's weekend, we'll probably do 1,000 to 1,500 a day." Fiet thinks sales this year will surpass last year's, and many customers are already buying.

Shopper Kyle Bennett said, "Obviously perfume, and I'm here to get some great cupcakes. Overall, I think it will be about the same as year's past."

But that's not true across the board. Consulting firm Brand Keys found consumers are going to spend about 15 percent less than last Valentine's Day.

Another survey by Men's Health and Women's Health finds the majority of people will spend $50 or less on gifts for their significant other. A smaller percentage will hand over more than $75.

Greg Corbitt said he planned a dinner and got a small present. He said, "Nothing too big, but enough so she knows it's there."

And that's part of the reason Fiet feels her sales are going strong. Bad economy or not, she figures a dozen cupcakes are cheaper than a dozen roses.

Fiet said, "People want something unique and different and something that's not standard."

1-800 Flowers reports it expects a 10 percent decline in revenue this year. Growers in Ecuador, one of the main suppliers of roses, say they're shipping 23 percent less.