Most Britons planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day but with tight budget

Most Britons are planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year but with a tight budget amid rising cost of living and ongoing economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic, states a new report.

According to a report by Attest over British public plans to spend Valentine’s Day, 54 percent of Britons are planning something special. By contrast, 31 percent will ignore the day. With the very recent lifting of all COVID restrictions in the UK, over three-quarters (77 percent) plan to celebrate the day like they “usually would” (versus 23 percent) despite lingering safety concerns regarding the Omicron variant.

The report further mentions that Britons this year appear to be on a tight budget, potentially due to the rising cost of living and ongoing economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Consumers are most likely to spend £25 or less on a gift this year (at 36 percent), followed by £25-50 (at 32 percent). However, one-fifth (21 percent) do plan to push the boat out and spend between £50-100 on their partner.  

While giving a Valentine’s Day card (57 percent) is on the minds of those planning to celebrate the day,  one third enthusiasts are planning to cook a special meal at home.

For those (28 percent) who plan to celebrate by giving flowers to their special someone, the clichéd red rose is still the pick of the bunch. Just under half (46 percent) of these respondents will purchase this type of flower, followed closely by mixed bouquets (45 percent). The reliance by some consumers on the old reliable red rose as a gift could be a risky one, however. 

Jeremy King, CEO and Founder of Attest, said of the research, “Despite some Brits being sceptical about Valentine’s Day’s real purpose, the Attest research finds that the majority will not only celebrate it this year but also view it in a very positive way. This public enthusiasm presents a real opportunity for retailers and brands to be a central part of how people will enjoy the day this year.” 

The report comes amid Central England’s recently released expected trends which states that eggs may be the most sought after product on Valentine’s Day in the country owing to the growing popularity of treating loved ones to a special Valentine’s breakfast.