holiday-budget

Valentine's Day Budget 2026: How Much to Spend Without Going Broke

Valentine's Day Budget 2026: How Much to Spend Without Going Broke Americans will spend a record $29.1 billion on Valentine's Day 2026 — $199.78 per person on average. The biggest categories: jewelry ($7B), dining out ($6.3B), clothing ($3.5B), and flowers ($3.1B). Whether you are planning a grand romantic gesture or a thoughtful evening on a budget, knowing these numbers helps you spend intentionally instead of emotionally. My first Valentine's Day with my partner cost me $380. I booked a prix fixe dinner at a steakhouse downtown ($165 for two), grabbed a premium bouquet of two dozen red roses on February 13 ($95 at a local florist — marked up 40% from the week before), and panic-bought a gold bracelet at the mall ($120) because I felt like the flowers and dinner were not "enough." My partner loved it, but when I saw the credit card statement, I felt sick. The...