My boyfriend Curtis and I have been going out for six months now. Just last Tuesday we celebrated our six month anniversary. So I asked a friend what I should get him. This is my first real relationship ever lasting 6 months. She said get him a card, so I found one that pretty much described how I feel about him. But he didn’t get me a card or anything. We went out to dinner at a pizza restaurant, and when we were leaving he asked “Do you have tip money”? Am I going crazy? Cause this sounds wrong to me. So we get in the car to leave and he’s like “What’s wrong”? He doesn’t know!!! Could he be this dense, seriously? I said, “I took the time to find a card on how I feel about you, and you don’t get me anything.” You know what his reply was to that?! He said: “I said ‘Happy Anniversary’! He just “didn’t realize,” he says. I was so angry. I need to know If I was over-reacting or not. I just felt I needed a card at least. Please tell me what you think. —Cardless

Yesterday, I received a letter from a reader who’s frustrated by how long it’s taking her boyfriend to say the “L” word. After the jump, her letter and my advice.

How many people have you said “I love you” to? If someone asked me that question, I wouldn’t know how to respond. I have managed to block out some of the love I may have spread over the years, just as some people shrink the number of people they’ve slept with. We’re not callous people here at The Frisky, but some of us have said that phrase when it shouldn’t have been said. Here’s when “I love you” doesn’t necessarily count.

Saying “I love you” can be just as confusing as figuring out whether you’re in love or lust. Do you say it first? Do you wait for him to say it first? And when you’re ready, how exactly do you say it? See, I told you it’s confusing. Anyway, we’ve obviously got your back. Here are the moments when saying “I love you” to your significant other is inappropriate:

On Monday night’s “Gossip Girl” season finale, Chuck told Blair he loves her. While the gesture was nice, the words missed the mark. He didn’t say, “I love you.” He said, “I love you, too.”

Adding the “too” is fine every once in a while, but it’s definitely not cool the first time someone says it. The “too” takes the emphasis off how they feel about you, and it reinforces how you feel about them. Keep reading for other no-nos when you’re saying those three words.

It’s never easy — or emotionally healthy — to try to make a guy fall in love with you, but that’s not what this article is about. This is about the guy who already loves you, and how you can encourage him to finally say it already. I’ve expressed my feelings about women saying “I love you” first. In my opinion, it’s important for men take the lead in uttering those words, but the truth is that most of them could use our help. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to encourage a man to say “I love you” without making the mistake of saying it first yourself.