Roses or rent: Only 24% of Australians plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day

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Taylor Blackburn
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Millions of Aussie couples won't be celebrating Valentine's Day this year, according to new research by Finder.

 

A Finder survey of 1,012 respondents revealed less than 1 in 4 (24%) Australians plan to splash out for cupid.

 

That's still 5 million people who plan to spoil their special someone on February 14.

 

Almost 4 in 5 Aussies (76%) won't be marking the holiday as they don't have a partner (34%) or just don't celebrate Valentine's Day (42%).

 

The research found Australians who do celebrate the day will splurge $1.53 billion this year.

 

That's $303 each on average – up by a whopping 50% from $201 in 2024.

 

Almost $679 million of the national total will be spent on dining out, while $374 million will be spent on presents.

 

Sarah Megginson, personal finance expert at Finder, said as Valentine's Day approaches, so does the mounting pressure to spend.

 

"It's surprising that Aussies are set to spend 50% more on Valentine's Day this year, even as many households feel the squeeze of rising living costs.

 

"For some, it highlights just how much pressure there is to go all out for love, even when budgets are tight."

 

Megginson said the cost of living had Aussies looking beyond traditional gifts.

 

"If you don't get a dozen long stem roses on Friday – you won't be alone.

 

"A homemade dinner is one of the most heartfelt ways to say 'I love you,' and it doesn't have to break the bank.

 

"Valentine's Day often comes with pressure to buy expensive gifts, but remember that romance doesn't have to come with a hefty price tag.

 

"Avoid the temptation to overspend, there's nothing romantic about going into debt."

 

Will you be celebrating Valentine's Day this year?

Yes24%
No, I don't have a partner34%
No, my partner and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day42%
Source: Finder survey of 1,012 respondents, 668 in a relationship, January 2025

 

How much do you plan to spend on Valentine's Day for your partner?

Dining out$199
Dining in$132
Presents$176
Flowers$66
Chocolates$69
Other$72
Source: Finder survey of 1,012 respondents, 668 in a relationship, January 2025

 

Methodology

  • Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
  • Figures in this release are based on 1,012 respondents from January 2025.
  • The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
  • The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.

 

Sources

 

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