? Despite the sagging economy, some true romantics in Westchester loosened their purse strings Saturday and purchased tokens of affection for their valentines.

?I'm not going to let the economy hold me back, take the glory out of the Valentine's,? says Dominick Azzaro, of Hartsdale. ?It's once a year, so go for it.?

Consumers still bought traditional gifts like flowers, but they spent less. Managers at Cho?s Flower Shop in Hartsdale say they tried to accommodate their strapped-for-cash customers by keeping costs down.

Maria Valente, the owner of Chocolations in Mamaroneck, says she saw a spike in sales of $3 chocolate roses because chocolate remains fairly affordable.

"The average is $25 a box, pretty reasonable, and it's delicious," she says. "It's something high on everyone's wish list on Valentine's Day."