The love bug bites men harder than women, according to statistics from the National Retail Federation.
Men will spend significantly more on Valentine’s Day than women this year, with men shelling out, on average, roughly $175.61 on jewelry, flowers, a romantic evening out and more while their significant others will spend approximately $88.78.
For some, the holiday is not so much about romance as it is about an obligation — an expensive one at that — with total Valentine’s Day spending expected to reach $18.6 billion in 2013 in the U.S.
Santiago Patino, finance senior, said Valentine’s Day is “mandatory.”
“It’s a girls thing,” Patino said. “It’s for the girls, not so much for the guys, and that’s why guys don’t like it as much.”
Valentine’s Day, a holiday notorious for stirring up a whirlwind of high expectations, leads to elation for some and disappointment for others.
Adrienne Wood, history sophomore, is single and thinks Valentine’s Day is a special holiday.
“I think it is bad whenever people hate on it. That’s just single people being jealous,” Wood said.
Wood said she does, however, think men should spend more on Valentine’s Day than women.
“I mean, jewelry is expensive,” Wood said.
Wood said she’d be happy celebrating with flowers and a nice dinner if she were in a relationship.
“We’re in college,” Wood said. “None of us have fat pockets. It is really about appreciating love in all its forms.”
However, the NRF’s 2013 Valentine’s Day statistics also show that men are not the only ones putting out for the holiday.
A typical Valentine’s Day spender, averaging men and women, pulls $73.75 out of those fat pockets to specifically flatter their significant other, according to the NRF.
On the other hand, the average person is planning to spend about $130.97 on candy, cards, gifts and more on just family, friends, co-workers and pets — up from $126.03 in 2012.
Mary Jeremiah, a mass communication sophomore, called Valentine’s Day a Hallmark holiday and said people spending that much on Valentine’s Day makes her happy to be single.
“If there is going to be a holiday like that, it should be about getting them a sentimental gift, not something of material value,” Jeremiah said.
As for men spending more than women, Jeremiah said, “Men feel like they have to spend more because they have to make women happy, or else women will get upset about it.”
Caleb Bates, computer engineering sophomore, said to him, Valentine’s Day is just there.
“To be honest, a lot of people get upset about it, but there are people who don’t have moms on mother’s day or dads on father’s day,” Bates said.
Bates said he’d be willing to spend a lot of money on someone only if he was married or in a committed relationship.
“You should really honor whoever you are married to or dating just about everyday,” Bates said.
But when it comes to Valentine’s Day, in some relationships, there are those who are ready to give and those waiting to receive.
Anne Pizzini, early childhood education freshman, said she doesn’t know what her boyfriend of one-and-a-half years is doing for her on Valentine’s Day, but she is traveling 700 miles to surprise him in St. Louis, Miss. She said she feels like she is living in a movie.
“I had never felt so happy to be doing something for someone else. I have never made this big of a romantic gesture before,” Pizzini said.
Pizzini said that in the end, she thinks what people do for Valentine’s Day depends on the couple.
“Some couples may be a statistic, but others are unique and may only need to spend a little to show how much they care for the one they love on Valentine’s Day,” Pizzini said.
