Happy Valentine’s Day

It is reported that people in the US will spend more than $17 billion on Valentine’s this year, with men spending on average $160 (approx £80 each) and women spending half that amount. In the UK we are a little bit more frugal with Alliance & Leicester predicting that we will spend on average £35 each this year celebrating Valentine’s day.

However this doesn’t tell the full picture as the US continues to ratchet up the commercial element of Valentine’s day by encouraging people to buy for everyone they love rather than just their romantic partner.

And if you have ever thought you are being ripped off as you shell out a fortune for those roses then Trading Standards can confirm your suspicions as they found that 37% of traders increased the price of flowers for Valentine’s Day.

But before you get caught up in the rush to spend money on your loved one, it’s worth noting that a recent report from Cahoot suggests that money is the cause of more than 2.2m relationship breakdowns each year in the UK!

*** Top money saving advice ***

For romantics who want to show the love, without splashing the cash, discount offers or cashback opportunities will be very appealing. The PayPal Offers website features online retailers offering PayPal customers up to 17% cashback and 20% discount on purchases, enabling them to save whilst they spend. The site includes dozens of top retailers perfect for Valentine’s gifts including Ann Summers, Figleaves lingerie, Flowers Direct and Goldsmiths jewellery, some of which are offering as much as 10% cashback.