Ah, Valentine’s Day: a day dedicated to sharing love with a significant other. But whether it’s a new relationship or a more comfortable one, the right Valentine’s Day gift is crucial for lovers at every stage of their relationship. Instead of winging it this Valentine’s Day, choose a gift that can accurately reflect your current relationship standing.

With emotions running high for this February 14 holiday, lovebirds are saying that finding the perfect gift is their biggest concern.

According to Business Wire, nearly four out of 10 people reassess their romantic relationships between the end of December and Valentine’s Day. It’s a period that’s been called “National Break-up Season.”

To help with this stressful task of gift buying, here’s a guide to choosing a Valentine’s gift for every relationship stage.

One to two months: Butterflies and starry-eyed

Everything is fun and fresh going into Valentine’s Day at this stage. Expectations are not high, so no diamonds to buy or vacations to plan. Traditional gifts are welcomed, such as chocolates, picture frames and flowers. Go get dinner or just get dessert. The key is to show you appreciate the other person.

Katie Loyd, 2008 graduate from Lawrence, met her boyfriend, Alex Rock, three and a half years ago. For their first Valentine’s Day, she says, they went to dinner at The Eldridge, 701 Massachusetts Street, and gave each other picture frames.

“It was really laid back and there was no pressure,” Loyd says. “It shouldn’t be for your first Valentine’s Day together.”

Going out to dinner is an easy way to generate conversation, allowing you to get to know the other person better, and in turn, feel more comfortable with him or her.

The Eldridge restaurant, The Jayhawker, features a Valentine’s Day menu, and flower bouquets are offered so you can kill two birds with one stone. If dinner is not in your plans, but flowers are, Prairie Patches, 821 Massachusetts Street, offers flowers and chocolates at a college student-friendly price.

Cinda Garrison, owner of Prairie Patches, says college students tend to be quite conservative and unsure about Valentine’s Day gifts.

“Guys come in saying they just met a girl and have no idea,” Garrison says. “They tend to be safe and just get flowers.”

Going the traditional route at this stage is a timeless way to let the other person know you’re into them.

Three to six months: Goin’ steady

The heat is turned up in this stage. Valentine’s Day gifts at this level should reflect what you and your partner know about each other. Show you have been listening and buy gifts that spark personal interest in the other person, such as cooking items, music, movies or outdoor wear.

Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Massachusetts Street, has gifts from $10 water bottles to $165 North Face jackets for you or your outdoor-loving partner. Store employee Andrew Stark says the store has received a lot of special orders for Valentine’s Day.

“College kids come in before Valentine’s Day and say to their boyfriend or girlfriend, ‘What do you want?’” Stark says.

For those who do know what they want, hinting before Valentine’s Day only makes the gift-buying process that much easier for your partner.

Loyd and Rock, for their second Valentine’s Day, say they made the mistake of not getting personal gifts for each other and instead stayed at a bed and breakfaStreet

“I do not recommend it,” Loyd says. “I would have rather done something we knew we would both like.”

Six months to one year: Hip huggers

At this point, you’re a definite item. You probably do everything together, so now it’ s time to give gifts that come from the heart. Personalized jewelry, or mini get-away trips are gifts that help show your commitment to the relationship.

Getting your love high quality jewelry is good for this stage in your relationship, but make sure the cost and type of jewelry is appropriate to where you both think you are in your relationship.

Prairie Patches sells Silpada jewelry on an individual basis in the price range of $17 to just more than $100, says Garrison, Prairie Patches owner.

“It’s a great quality, and the pieces are beautiful,” Garrison says. “Very reasonable, but some of the bigger pieces are more expensive.”

For the non-jewelry-type lovers, a mini-vacation is always fun for Valentine’s Day if you’re lucky enough to have a few extra bucks. Head to a concert or go stay on the Plaza in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

For Loyd and Rock’s third Valentine’s Day, they made the trip up to Minnesota to see Katie’s favorite band, The Fray, play.

“It’s so much fun to get away for Valentine’s Day,” Loyd says. “The concert was a little cheesy, but so fun.”

One to two years: Devoted

Even though you’ve made it to this stage in your relationship and the expectations are higher, there is no need to forget the fun in it. So relax, no one is expecting a ring … yet.

For this level of commitment, you want to give a gift that truly captures the love in your relationship. You have done everything else, so how about relaxing together with a couples’ massage? Or maybe a night with just the two of you in a fancy hotel?

Loyds fourth Valentine’s Day with Rock is following the same theme this year. “We moved to NYC, so dinner is not an option. Valentine’s Day in NYC is a circus,” Loyd says.

Instead, Loyd and Rock have decided to spend the day together getting couples’ massages, then ordering sushi and having wine at their apartment.