Associate Article

13 May 2008 13:17 BST

Wallets tighter for Valentine’s Day

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Valentine’s Day, much like Christmas, is a very lucrative time of year for many retailers. It is thought that the sale of flowers alone brings in £50 million in revenue as Britons looked to woo their loved ones. Various results on surveys attempting to find out how much we spend on our partners on Valentine’s Day have appeared on the internet, but it’s not altogether clear how much an average figure is.

Paypal claimed that Britain’s will spend £71 on their partners – 15 per cent of their weekly incomings, while a survey for uSwitch claimed that one in three could not afford Valentine’s Day, and the average amount spent on a partner would be £22.69. Anne Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said, ‘Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time to splash the cash, but with consumers tightening their belts this year romance may be in for a rocky road.’

Valentine’s Day falls on a Thursday this year, making it a good day to go away for a romantic city break or more lavish holiday. However, 69 per cent of respondents in the uSwitch survey said they were intending to stay in Britain this year. So the traditionally romantic destinations of Paris, Venice or New York may be shunned this year, but if you’re still looking for cheap flights for a romantic surprise for your Valentine, you could have a look at Travelzoo, which provides a range of last minute bargains.

It seems that the youngest couples in Britain are the most extravagant spenders, with 15 per cent of adults aged between 18 and 24 planning to spend over £100 on their partners. It might be that the younger ones are most eager to woo their loved ones, or possibly that they are more likely spend lavishly on credit cards. The survey does, however, also suggest that money doesn’t buy you love, with 52 per cent of those over 55 (generally the group who have been in a relationship the longest) saying that they are going to spend nothing on their partners this year.

If you’re thinking of simplicity this year, then flowers are always a great way to say you care without needing to break the bank. Take a look at Interflora for flowers and other Valentine’s gifts – they can even arrange a delivery from the 13th February! End of story

Associate Article

Wallets tighter for Valentine’s Day

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