You've seen it while standing in line at the grocery story, sitting in the doctor's office, or waiting for your hair appointment. It's the endless parade of suggestions on how to make your Valentine's Day a "hot" one.

As Valentine's Day draws near, we are bombarded with magazines bearing headlines like "Make him crave you!", "Make it SIZZLE!: Ignite her desire with these sexy strategies" or "Get Intimate: Nine Ways to do IT."

All of them compete to give the best advice about the same thing: physical ways to express your affection, love or lust for your significant other.

What they don't talk about while attempting to make you that sensual guru is the potential cost both out of pocket and to the rest your life. For example, a suggested Personal Body Massager, $65; rose petals to lie on while receiving this massage $50 to $150; and the possible risk of transmitting sexually transmitted infections or unintended pregnancy? Priceless!

Possible monetary expense and risk to your physical and mental health — is this all that showing your love or affection for someone is about? Of course not!

These are costs that students can simply not afford. Fortunately, there are lots of low cost and low risk ways to share your feelings with that person that you care about. Just use your common sense. You will be amazed at the many creative things that you can do. Here a just a few suggestions:

Use your sense of taste. Cook your sweetheart his or her favorite dish. Put the Ramen noodles away and try something different.

Set a date for an early morning rendezvous in the HUB over coffee and a muffin (or a delicious treat of your choice) to start the day with the one you care about.

Use your sense of touch. After a long day of walking all over campus, how about giving a foot massage (socks optional)?

Give an unexpected hug and kiss, just because!

Use your sense of smell. Write her or him a short sweet note carrying the light fragrance of your favorite cologne or perfume.

Use your sense of sound. Make a tape or burn a CD with your favorite songs or songs that remind you of your sweetheart as a gift to show you care.

Use your sense of sight. Send a Bluemountain card (www.bluemountain.com) via e-mail just to let them know that you were thinking of them.

These things, or variations of them, can be done individually or in combination, 365 days a year, at little or no cost to you. They could have an even greater and more positive impact than those high-priced/high-risk suggestions given in those magazines!

But, if all of this is not enough (or does lead to "other" things), and you decide to "shag," do the "horizontal mambo" or engage in a little "pillow talk," please be safe!

Condoms, as well as literature on a variety of sexual health topics, like information about preventing sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy, are available in the HealthWorks office and the Hazen Library, rooms 19 and 20 in the Ritenour building all year long.

Happy Valentine's Day!