Gen Z is dropping megabucks on Valentine’s Day, even in this economy. Here’s how much they’re willing to spend

If you follow any Gen Zers on social media, you may know they seem to abide by one piece of sage wisdom: Go big or go home. That much is certainly true when it comes to their wild prom-posals and sometimes scary-extravagant gender-reveal parties. And apparently, it also holds true for their Valentine’s Day celebrations.

According to a new survey from CouponFollow, on average, Americans in relationships plan to spend around $155 on the day of love this year. But Gen Z? Gen Z wouldn’t be satisfied unless they were going above and beyond. The generation that seems to enjoy flashy celebrations will spend far more on cards, chocolates, and stuffed animals, budgeting $235 to make their special someone feel even more special. (We’re gonna go out on a limb here and guess that some of their epic Valentine’s Day antics will probably make it to TikTok, too.)

When it comes to the older generations, they’re seriously skimping on love’s biggest day, at least comparatively speaking. Millennials will shell out a solid $176, and Gen Xers will spend a respectable $95. But baby boomers? They’ll only cough up about $53 for L-O-V-E love.

There’s not just a generational gap when it comes to Valentine’s Day spending, but also a gender gap. According to the report, men are about twice as likely as women to feel financial pressure around the holiday. And that adds up, considering women expect their partners to spend 25% more on them.

Still, it’s not all about big spending. Sentimentality always goes a long way. The survey revealed that most people (38%) want a gift that speaks to their heart, such as something handmade or personal. That’s good news, because one budget-friendly trend is taking off this year on TikTok: User Fabiola Reyes demonstrated how she made an adorable gift basket for under $20 in a post that has 5.8 million views at present, and dozens of others have posted similar how-to’s since then.

Clearly, gifts that come from the heart matter the most on Valentine’s Day. But still, if you want to avoid a spat, you’d better not show up on February 14 empty-handed: The biggest red flags on the holiday, according to the survey, were giving your partner a re-gifted present or nothing at all. So, while you don’t have to go all in (like Gen Z), if you don’t want to be single by February 15, maybe don’t forget to throw a few dollars at romance!

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