On Valentine’s Day, love is a many-splendored — and expensive — thing.
February 14 is one day where millions of people spend billions of dollars to show loved ones how they feel — more than $17 billion in 2014, say spending experts.
Coupon website Tada.com surveyed more than 4,500 shoppers on Valentine’s Day secret wishes and desires.
The results show a significant gap between what men and women give each other and the things that actually turn them on.
Nearly one-third (29 percent) of men protest that the holiday is too commercial, but that hasn’t stopped them from significantly outspending women.
Dinner and jewelry are the preferred gifts from men while women prefer to give counterparts a card, candy or a stuffed animal. The reason is probably that 33 percent of women say Valentine’s Day is fun, and 32 percent call it “romantic” — not surprising, since women make out extremely well during the emotional frenzy honoring St. Valentine.
Not only do women not give men the gifts they want (stuffed animals? C’mon girls, really?), but men also outspend women in every category over $75, with 16 percent of men spending more than $150.
Women, on the other hand, are likely to spend less; 28 percent of them spending between $1 to $24. The surveys found only 7 percent of women spend more than $150.
But isn’t it the thought that counts? Not quite.
Unfortunately, women rarely give gifts that men actually want.
Gifts men give women are usually the four out of five items that they want most — jewelry, flowers, dinners and cards.
Women, in contrast, send loved ones things like stuffed animals and candy, when the Tada.com study shows that men genuinely want a trip and accessories.
Of course, everyone wants a holiday. When asked about “most wanted” gifts, trips or getaways top the lists for both sexes— 19 percent of women and 10 percent of men are hoping for that vacation, instead of a stuffed bear.
More fun information on the most romantic day of the year:
- Almost half of men (49 percent) will spend more than $75, while nearly three-quarters of women (72 percent) will spend less than $50.
- Nearly one-third of shoppers (32 percent) find Valentine’s Day romantic, while 29 percent say Valentine’s Day is too commercial.
- Men find Valentine’s Day “cheesy, stressful, and annoying,” while most women call Valentine’s Day “fun.”
- Most wanted: For women, it’s a trip, jewelry, flowers, dinner and a card. Men want a trip, dinner, clothing, a card, and accessories
Here is a handy infographic, courtesy of Tada.com:
