You can’t put a price on love, but it’s certainly nice to celebrate the person — or people — that you love the most with a token of your affection on Feb. 14. For Valentine’s Day 2022, however, it looks like more and more Canadians will be dedicating fewer dollars to expensive Valentine’s gifts, focusing instead on sharing romantic experiences and exchanging more cost-conscious presents.
Related: Friends to lovers is the best way to start a relationship, study finds.
According to a survey by HelloSafe, the average Canadian budget for Valentine’s Day in 2022 will be $64, which marks a 13 per cent decrease from 2021, and a 31 per cent drop from 2020.
This drop in monetary output, however, does not necessarily spell the end of love as we know it — it more likely suggests that many Canadians are rethinking how they celebrate Valentine’s Day amid factors like rising food costs and the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic. While the survey indicated that people will spend less overall on Valentine’s Day in 2022 than they might have in previous years, it also showed a strong preference for celebrating with experiences this year. Specifically, on the topic of what people had planned for Valentine’s Day, the most popular answer (at 39 per cent) was a romantic dinner at home.
See also: Sign up for the Slice newsletter.
So, if a lavish gift isn’t in your budget this year — or if you’d just prefer to dedicate your resources to spending time with your loved one — you’re not alone. Put on a sultry playlist (here’s our fave), and show your love in your own special way.
Related: 10 signs you’ve found the one.
