Newsmax’s The Right Squad took to the streets to ask everyday Americans how they plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and what they found was a patriotically practical population trying to stretch tight budgets while still honoring family and tradition. From young couples trading expensive nights out for quiet evenings at home to single parents budgeting every dollar, the interviews made clear that love is real but the price tag has become ridiculous. The segment reflects the same grassroots pulse Newsmax has been cultivating as it expands its reach in conservative homes.
The hard numbers back up what people on camera were saying: analysts are warning this Valentine’s season could cost Americans roughly $30 billion as price increases bite into classic gifts and outings. Shoppers who once planned modest dinners or a dozen roses are now facing sticker shock, and many are rethinking whether a credit card swipe is worth the fleeting gesture. The financial squeeze is hitting at the heart of everyday American life, and voters should take note.
Part of the problem is concrete: staples like roses, chocolates, steaks, and restaurant meals have seen double-digit price hikes, with some favorites soaring more than 15 percent from last year. That math adds up fast—what used to be a thoughtful, affordable night on the town can now come with a mortgage-sized bill if you’re not careful. Honest reporting from the streets showed people shrugging and laughing about the “price of love,” but there was worry behind the jokes.
Conservative readers should be blunt: this isn’t romantic inflation, it’s policy-driven pain. Years of reckless federal spending, supply-chain mismanagement, and an out-of-touch culture that tolerates rising costs have left hardworking families choosing between essentials and ceremonies. Washington’s elites love to lecture about feelings and identity, but they’ve been remarkably quiet about the single thing that affects marriages and households more than anything else—economic stability.
Small businesses and local florists—true American entrepreneurs—are caught in the middle, trying to keep tradition alive without passing every cost onto loyal customers. Local reporting showed shop owners doing their best to absorb increases or keep prices steady out of loyalty to their neighborhoods, even while suppliers push higher bills. Conservatives who believe in Main Street over Manhattan should recognize that supporting these small merchants is a patriotic act that keeps communities intact.
So what should a sensible person do this February 14? Celebrate the thing politicians can’t buy: steady love, character, and commitment. Skip the performative spending binge pushed by corporate marketing and the woke elites; instead, support a local diner, buy from a hometown florist, write a sincere note, and build memories that don’t require inflationary endorsement from the big banks. Hardworking Americans know how to make love matter without going broke, and that common-sense resilience is exactly what will see this country through.
