2019 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey
Whether you love it or loath it, there’s no denying that Valentine’s Day is a big deal. We spend billions of dollars on the occasion each year. And there’s a lot riding on what we do (or don’t do) in Cupid’s name on February 14, to the extent that it could affect whether some people wind up filing joint or individual tax returns come April.
To learn more about exactly how consumers are approaching Valentine’s Day 2019, WalletHub conducted a nationally representative online survey. We asked about everything from what people plan to buy and how much they plan to spend to financial turnoffs and how money problems affect relationships. You can check out the complete results in the infographic below.
Ask the Experts
We posed the following questions to a panel of leading consumer studies scholars. You can find their bios and responses below.
- Why do you think nearly 6 in 10 people say the are more attracted to educational/financial success than physical traits?
- Why do you think men are 2X more likely than women to spend over $100 on a Valentine’s Day gift and 3X more likely to say a V-Day gift is worth credit card debt?
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Abigail B. Schneider
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor of Marketing, Anderson College of Business, Regis University
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Constance Elise Porter
Ph.D. – Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing, JGSB, Rice University
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Karen Becker-Olsen
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, The College of New Jersey
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Omar Shehryar
Ph.D. – Associate Professor, Jake Jabs College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Montana State University
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Rita W. Green
Ed.D. – Instructor, School of Accountancy, University of Memphis
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Steve Sherman
Instructional Specialist, Montclair State University
Abigail B. Schneider
Constance Elise Porter
Karen Becker-Olsen
Omar Shehryar
Rita W. Green
Steve Sherman
Full Details Overall
| What is the BEST type of Valentine’s Day gift you'd want most this year? | |
|---|---|
| Gift card | 29% |
| Jewelry | 17% |
| Flowers | 16% |
| Electronics | 15% |
| Chocolate | 13% |
| Clothing | 11% |
| How much do you expect your Valentine to spend on a gift? (Bracket) | |
| $50 -$100 | 36% |
| $1 - $49 | 31% |
| Nothing | 25% |
| $101+ | 8% |
| Would you date someone with bad credit? | |
| Yes | 62% |
| No | 38% |
| Would you marry someone with bad credit? | |
| No | 53% |
| Yes | 47% |
| Should a potential partner's bad credit score be a cause for concern? | |
| Yes | 80% |
| No | 20% |
| Would you break up with your significant other if he/she spent money irresponsibly? | |
| No | 54% |
| Yes | 46% |
| Which of the following money problems are worst for a relationship? | |
| Financial secrets | 35% |
| Irresponsible spending | 27% |
| High debt level | 15% |
| Not saving for the future | 12% |
| Ruining your credit score | 8% |
| Losing money on bad investment decisions | 3% |
| What is the WORST type of Valentine’s Day gift someone could give you this year? | |
| Gift card | 19% |
| Chocolate | 19% |
| Flowers | 19% |
| Clothing | 15% |
| Jewelry | 15% |
| Electronics | 13% |
| Is heavy credit card debt a turnoff? | |
| Yes | 78% |
| No | 22% |
| What's the best way to avoid money problems in a relationship? | |
| Separate accounts | 40% |
| Asking permission before buying | 30% |
| Joint account | 21% |
| Prenuptial agreement | 9% |
| What's a bigger turnoff: | |
| Bad breath | 60% |
| Irresponsible spending | 40% |
| How much do you plan on spending on the gift you get your Valentine? (bracket) | |
| $1 - $49 | 44% |
| $50 -$100 | 32% |
| Nothing | 15% |
| $101+ | 10% |
| Which are you more attracted to? | |
| Physical appearance | 37% |
| Educational success | 36% |
| Financial success | 22% |
| Athleticism | 5% |
| Is a Valentine’s Day gift worth going into credit card debt for? | |
| No | 87% |
| Yes | 13% |
Note: Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
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