Whoever wrote the phrase “Love don’t cost a thing” was not referring to Valentine’s Day. Whether it is time, money, or effort…or all three…you will most likely be spending something on Valentine’s Day if you want to continue in a happy relationship. According to a recent study, more than half of Americans plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day 2022, and when it’s all said and done, those Americans are estimated to spend over $27 billion for the holiday, including $2.4 billion on candy alone. According to Hallmark, Americans send 145 million Valentine’s Day cards per year, and 2022 will most likely prove a similar statistic. Celebrating love can be expensive, but it is quite possible that most times Valentine’s Day is expensive because of lack of planning and lack of creative effort. A survey taken in 2021 verified that 78% of women would be just as satisfied with their significant other putting in time and effort in creating a special experience for them, over spending large sums of money on gifts. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that women simply want to feel special on Cupid’s holiday, and although lavishing her with expensive gifts may make her feel valuable, spending time creatively planning a special moment for her that shows her she is valued can have a similar, if not the exact same effect. Shifting our mindsets on spending this Valentine’s Day, can not only help benefit our relationships because of the added effort, but also benefit our finances.
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND THIS V-DAY:
1. Going further into debt is not sexy! Charging a $250 dinner to your credit card, when you are already drowning in debt is unwise. Using credit cards to overspend is a horrible habit, and while your date may appreciate the gesture at the moment, having a spouse with bad spending habits is incredibly unattractive.
2. You don’t have to break the bank! Spending money on roses, candy, and elaborate gifts become the default for most men and take little to no thought at all. Spending the time to get to know what makes your special loved one feel appreciated and loved, and putting in the extra effort to create a special moment to celebrate her can be much more effective and a lot less expensive.
3. Love still trumps money. In a world where material things are deeply coveted due to overexposure of the finer things via social media, one may think that money would be chosen over love if given the option. However, the survey shows that love still wins as 86% of the respondents believe that love is more valued than money in their eyes. Keep this in mind when struggling with your next purchase decision for the holidays.
4. Having poor credit is a turnoff! Having bad credit shows irresponsibility, and it can often kill a relationship before it has even begun. A recent survey shows that 37% of the respondents would not be willing to date a person with bad credit, and 60% refused to marry a person with a credit risk. Maintaining positive credit may require some creativity during holidays like Valentine’s Day, but it is worth it! Most women would prefer a financially educated and disciplined man over one present gifted to them on a holiday.
5. “Because of COVID…” We have heard COVID be blamed for almost every issue from delays in packages to financial setbacks. Remember we are in the middle of a pandemic. Take advantage of the current circumstances. While everyone has a different tolerance level in regards to COVID-19, and different cities have various restrictions, you can very easily pull off a fun night at home instead of a full-fledged traditional Valentine’s Day date night. Why not take advantage of the opportunity to exercise your creativity by using the pandemic as an excuse. You can plan a fun night together and save a ton of money in the process.
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