1.8 million to take lover’s leap this year

1.8 million Brits (eight per cent of singles) are planning to propose to their partners this year, according to new research from cahoot. 1.5 million of these leap year lovers will fork-out a total of £1.8 billion going down on one knee – an average of £1,218 each.

The cahoot study reveals that almost one million (942,000) British women have taken the bull-by-the-horns and proposed on 29 February in the past, compared with 269,000 men. This year, 703,000 women plan to pop the question themselves – having been with their partner for four and a half years on average.

Interestingly, the average amount spent on an engagement ring on February 29 pales in significance to that spent on getting the atmosphere right. Indeed cahoot’s research finds that by far the biggest cost of proposing is in whisking a loved one away to a special venue (£743) or treating them to a once in a lifetime experience (£573). On the other hand, the average cost of an engagement ring limps in it at a far less impressive £347. And 16 per cent of leap year lovers are clinging to the hope that money doesn’t buy love – since they plan to spend absolutely nothing on their proposal.

Matthew Timms Director of cahoot, commented: “A massive 1.8 million singles are planning to make the most of the leap year by proposing to their partners. But proposals can be expensive, especially if you’re splashing out on a special event to mark the occasion. Of course we can’t guarantee that everyone will say yes, but a bit of careful financial planning should ensure that the proposal runs as smoothly as possible!”