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SELF-LOVE
I’m a single mum-of-3 & spend £2k on myself on Valentine’s Day with trips to Australia, Dubai & a Louis Vuitton handbag
A SINGLE mum-of-three has revealed how she spends £2,000 on herself on Valentine's Day - to show her daughters they don't need a man to treat them.
Francesca Amber, 35, from Islington, North London, has previously splashed out on trips to Dubai and Australia, designer shoes and a Louis Vuitton handbag for herself on February 14.
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The former beautician turned podcast host, who's mum to Bohemia, four, and four-month-old twins Riva and Laveau, says she doesn't understand why people get upset about being single on the most romantic day of the year.
Francesca tells Fabulous: "Every year if I'm single on Valentine's Day, I try to do something special, I think it's important.
"Especially now I have three daughters, I want to show them you don’t have to sit around and wait for a man to make your life great.
"You can be your own knight in shining armour and treat yourself. I normally spend between £1,500 and £2,000.
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"One year, before I had kids, a friend and I went on holiday together to Dubai.
"She’s been single for years and gets a bit down about Valentine’s Day, so I was like ‘let’s just go’.
"In 2017, I travelled to Australia and Thailand with my daughter Bohemia.
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"Another friend and I went up the Shard once, for dinner at Aqua. We thought ‘what’s the most Valentine-y thing you can do?’
"You shouldn’t have to miss out on going somewhere fancy just because you haven’t got some guy taking you, you can still do nice things.
"Back in my twenties, I bought myself a Louis Vuitton handbag costing £900.
You shouldn’t have to miss out on going somewhere fancy just because you haven’t got some guy taking you, you can still do nice things
Francesca Amber
"And in 2008, I splashed out on a pair of Gina shoes, everyone was obsessed with them at the time and they cost £350.
"It's quite varied, it's not like I have a tradition where I always do the same thing.
"As a single parent, on my birthday and Mother’s Day I don’t get presents, because my kids are too young and I don’t have a partner. But if something's important to you, you can always buy it yourself."
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Francesca was previously married but split from Bohemia's dad when she was one-and-a-half.
She says she's been single since then, apart from a brief relationship with the twins' dad, who she split from before they were born.
She says: "I’ve had quite a few Valentine’s Days on my own, both before and since my marriage.
";It’s absolutely fine, I don’t understand why people get depressed about it.
I’ve had quite a few Valentine’s Days on my own. It’s absolutely fine, I don’t understand why people get depressed about it
Francesca Amber
"I cannot stand couples who brag about their presents, Valentine's Day is not for couples, it’s a day for single people to say ‘hi I like you’.
"I want to show my girls you don't need a man to take you on a weekend away or buy you designer shoes.
"It’s so much better just to follow your own dreams, earn your own money and do your own s***.
"Then when you do meet someone, you can just love them with no expectations.
Francesca's single Valentine's Day treats
Holiday to Dubai - £1,500
Holiday to Australia - £2,000
Louis Vuitton handbag - £900
Gina designer shoes - £350
Dinner at Aqua Shard - £100
"Just because you don’t have a partner, you’re not missing out on anything - you can provide it all for yourself.
"Honestly, men are more trouble than they’re worth. That’s not to say ‘love’s s***’ or anything, it’s definitely an amazing thing to have, but Valentine’s Day is just about materialistic things.
"I hate how it's become couples bragging about their gifts on Instagram and Facebook.
"You can provide that stuff for yourself and if you can’t, think about why you need someone else to do it for you and what example that's setting for your children.
"You can still have a good day on Sunday, do a Zoom with your single friends instead."
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Francesca owns The N7 Collective salon and has spent lockdown working on her podcast, Law of Attraction Changed My Life.
Although she loves treating herself on February 14, lockdown 3.0 has spoilt Francesca's plans to splash out this year.
She says: "My aim is always to show my daughters they can earn their own money.
I hate how it's become couples bragging about their gifts on Instagram and Facebook. You can provide that stuff for yourself and if you can’t, think about why you need someone else to do it for you and what example that's setting for your children
Francesca Amber
"The podcast has been doing well, it's top in the UK for self-improvement, so I wanted to treat myself.
"But I don't know what to get, given we can't go out or go on holiday.
"I've got another friend who's a single mum and we're a support bubble, so I'm hoping we can have a nice Valentine's night together.
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"We could have dinner together and a scroll on Tinder, who knows.
"Bo doesn’t really know what Valentine’s Day is yet but in future years I will definitely get my daughters something.
"And I won’t let them see me depressed because I’m on my own for Valentine’s Day.
"I’m really happy single. With two breastfeeding babies, I don’t have time for a man at the moment.
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"Business is good, the babies are good, dating is a luxury I don’t have time for.
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"In the future when they’re one or two, I’ll be open to meeting someone. Until then, I won't stop splashing out on myself."
Francesca is selling a ‘this smells like my future husband’ candle, for people who want to manifest the love of their life. You can and .
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