At its core, Valentine’s Day is a day dedicated to celebrating all kinds of love. But like with many celebrations, money is usually involved. And on this particular day, with pressure from constant marketing, not to mention friends and family sharing about their own extravagant gifts and evening plans, that spending can add up.
So, it’s important to know what others outside of your immediate circle are spending on the day, too, so you can better decide how much cash you will splash. Fortunately, we have some data. A new report from consumer review site Trustpilot found that Americans are planning to spend USD $157.52 (AUD $242.96) this year on Valentine’s Day gifts.
Research from Canstar Blue in 2022 found that the average Australian was planning on shelling out $126 on a Valentine’s Day gift that year. The survey, which asked 1,151 Australians, also found that almost a third (32%) of Australians who typically bought Valentine’s Day gifts said what their partner needed determined how much they spent on a present.
The other deciding factors in how much cash people splashed were how much disposable income they had (24%) and how long they’d been dating or married to the person (18%).
The remaining noted that their Valentine’s Day spending was based on how badly they behaved in their relationship during the year (10%) and how badly their partner had behaved (8%).
Canstar Blue’s Home and Lifestyle Expert Megan Birot noted that while the survey showed a third of Australians were basing their budget on what their partner needed, a practical gift wasn’t actually what their partner wanted.
“Canstar Blue’s survey showed that gift recipients predominantly wanted something romantic like flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day,” says Megan Birot. “A simple card or homemade vouchers were also popular with gift recipients.”
Sophie Geisser, Founder and Creative Director at floral design and styling company Eden + Bell, credits the popularity of roses on Valentine’s Day with our love for traditions.
“Roses remind us of things our parents did, or things we once looked forward to,” she says. “It’s also lovely that Valentine’s Day has in recent years become not just about celebrating your partner, but also your family and friends. It’s so sweet to see dads come in and buy their five-year-old daughter’s flowers.”
This year, Geiesser says we should expect to see the cost of roses go up as many Australian rose farms have been impacted by lack of sun and higher-than-usual rainfalls, leading to roses growing more slowly and not flushing at the time growers expect.
As for any advice on how to get the best deal on flowers for Valentine’s Day this year, Geisser says she has none. “The flowers we sell on Saturday will be the same price as the ones we sell on Monday,” she says. “But honestly, with flowers, you really do get what you pay for. We all pay the same price at the markets so those who are selling the cheaper ones usually buy cheaper roses.”
“When you think that flowers are a perishable product and how many hands they have passed through (from the grower to the person who waters and cuts them, to the Sydney Flower Markets, the florist who makes the arrangement and the driver who delivers them), it’s pretty amazing.”
Related: The Weird, Mysterious History of Valentine’s Day
Related: Just 7 Dreamy Experiences to Gift a Special Someone on Valentine’s Day
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