With Valentine’s Day fast-approaching, we’ve received a bunch of questions about what to do on the most date-intensive night of the year. But we’ve also had some requests for advice on card-writing and gift-buying. Here’s our Do’s and Don’t’s for all three queries:

Do make the effort. This should go for all your dates, but let’s face it: in New York City, everyone thinks those overpriced prix fixe menus at restaurants is the way to go. We’re here to tell you that there are cheaper options that will look like more of an effort and a more romantic setting. Guys: do you rarely cook dinner for her? Go on epicurious.com and find a dish that she’ll be amazed to see you made. Make it a surprise when she arrives home from work. This is just one of the old-fashioned ideas that we love, but remember to make it specific to your date. This also includes gifts and cards, people! Remember the mix tapes you used to make? Take her iPod (or buy her a new one) and put all her favorite music on there, including one playlist with songs for that evening. Making a craft-y gift like a scrapbook is perfect and surprisingly simple (use pics from your dates, print out logos and pics from the places you’ve been from the net and paste it in a blank book with a beautiful cover. Easy!). Speaking of cards…

Don’t skimp on the cards! A lot of cynics will tell you that Valentine’s Day was invented by Hallmark to sell more cards. Guess what? They’re probably right. If you’re not into the idea of an arts-and-crafts masterpiece, spend your time shopping for a couple of good cards. It makes more of a statement if you don’t give a card to your significant other. And don’t pick out the syrupy, poem-ridden card. Stay away from those with Snoopy on them (unless he or she loves Peanuts). Block out a 45-minute chunk of time and go searching stationary stores (we love Kate’s Paperie ) and, yes, Duane Reade pharmacies. Your mission: find the card that best fits your relationship. There’s 542,378,991 cards made for V-Day, which means there’s at least one that speaks to where you are with the person you’re dating. We also suggest one serious and one humorous.

Do make your message the right one. Now we get to the written component. For those of you in the early stages, go with the KISS method: Keep It Simple, Stupid. For some people, Valentine’s Day feels like too much, too soon. So try, “I’m glad we’re spending tonight together, and I’ve really enjoyed the dates we’ve been on. I hope we’ll get to do this again soon.” Then sign it without a “love” or a “best” or a “cheers.” That’s it. It keeps it for the past and present and implies gently about the near future. For those of you in the later stages, try writing a bit about a favorite memory of something you shared or a moment you knew you felt a certain way about your partner. Trust us…it works!

Theromantic.com has a user-submitted list of special date ideas. Ladies: here’s a great article on gifts for men. Guys: here’s a video for you, with a couple of Ford models giving some creative suggestions.

What are some of your best ideas? Post them below.