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This is what Americans have to say about giving gift cards as Valentine’s Day gifts

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For starters, not everyone is celebrating Valentine’s Day. In fact, only 45 percent of people will, and this is up 6 percent from 2008. For those celebrating, the average person will spend $143.56. Not surprisingly, the bulk of that, about $89, will be spent on significant others. But people also drop a little bit of Valentine’s cash on other family members, classmates and teachers, friends, pets and co-workers.

While you don’t want to overwhelm your date with lavish gifts if the romantic vibes aren’t right, the survey shows that most people (32 percent) think it’s appropriate to spend over $100 once you’ve been together for over a year.  When comes to what people are buying, items range from candy, which is the most purchased item (55 percent) and greeting cards (46 percent) to an evening out (35 percent) and jewelry (19 percent).

One interesting takeaway from the WalletHub survey? People have very strong opinions on whether or not gift cards are an appropriate gift for Valentine’s Day. In fact, 2 in 10 people said that a gift card is the worst present, while 3 in 10 say it’s the best gift. Talk about a polarizing opinion!

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People also have mixed feelings about popular gifts like chocolate, flowers and jewelry. So, if you’re feeling unsure about what to buy for your Valentine, it’s probably for good reason!

Here’s a handy chart with all of WalletHub’s findings from this survey. Take a look to see how you stack up when it comes to Valentine’s Day and money.

WalletHub

For those in serious relationships, WalletHub came to some interesting conclusions about what makes or breaks a couple (at least financially!). According to the survey, 52 percent of people wouldn’t marry someone with bad credit, while 36 percent wouldn’t even date someone with bad credit. Over 8 in 10 people said heavy credit card debt is a turn-off. And the worst type of money problem for a couple? Keeping financial secrets (36 percent).

So, what will you give to your special someone this Feb. 14?

About the Author

Chelsea Davis

Chelsea is a freelance journalist based in New York City whose passion revolves around exploring the world, immersing herself in foreign cultures, and of course, eating and drinking everything delicious. She covers all things food, drink and travel and is always up for an adventure, whether that means an adrenaline-pumping excursion or trying a new cuisine. Follow her on Instagram at @cheycheyfromthebay and keep up with her latest work at www.chelseadavis.com and at her blog www.cheycheyfromthebay.com. More.

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