Valentine from granny? No thanks, we’re British

Everyone wants a piece of Valentine’s Day action in the United States whereas the Brits still regard it as a day of romance. According to research from secure online payment provider PayPal, almost half (47%) of American singles plan to give gifts on Valentine’s Day and almost half of those (46%) will go to the ‘non-romantic’ people in their lives. While children, grandchildren, friends, siblings, nephews and nieces all get a look-in from singles in the US, only a third (34%) of British singles plan to give a gift at all on 14th February and just one in five (20%) intend to splash out on someone other than their love interest.

But while the US continues to ratchet up the commercial element of such ‘holidays’ by making it a day for love – not just lovers - people in the UK will spend a third more than their US counterparts on gifts for their partners. The average Brit will spend £70.20 on gifts like flowers, a romantic dinner, clothes or a trip to the theatre or cinema, whereas the average American will spend $92.70, the equivalent of £47. Both here and across the pond however, the PayPal research found that it’s men who are spending more, with British blokes spending an average of £83.60 and US guys spending $118.30. Women spend well below the average, at £51.70 in the UK and $63.40 in the US.

Cristina Hoole, PayPal UK spokesperson, “It’s fascinating looking at the differences between countries around Valentine’s Day. It’s a big occasion for millions of people, but our research shows that the British still prefer stick to the traditional romantic values.”

Both Brits and Americans are traditionalists at heart with almost half of people in both countries (40% in the UK and 44% in the US) saying that men should pay for the first date. While UK lovers are more likely to ‘go dutch’ on the first date, with a quarter of respondents saying that both people should pay (25% vs 12% in the US), no-one in either country thought that women should foot the bill!

The PayPal research also reveals a different approach to shopping habits across the Atlantic, with British buyers being twice as likely to shop for Valentine’s Day gifts online as shoppers in the US.

Hoole continues, “Keeping your presents a secret is half the challenge on Valentine’s Day, so shopping online and having gifts delivered to the office is a great way to truly surprise loved ones. As well as keeping romantic gifts under wraps, many of the best deals can be found online, so those gorgeous treats you might be planning on buying for someone special could end up costing less than buying them on the High Street.”

For romantics who want to show the love, without splashing the cash, discount offers or cashback opportunities will be very appealing. The PayPal Offers website features online retailers offering PayPal customers up to 17% cashback and 20% discount on purchases, enabling them to save whilst they spend. The site includes dozens of top retailers perfect for Valentine’s gifts including Ann Summers, Figleaves lingerie, Flowers Direct and Goldsmiths jewellery, some of which are offering as much as 10% cashback.

Customers register on the site for free, and receive their cashback directly into their PayPal accounts. Customers with a PayPal Credit Card are also eligible for an additional bonus cashback. For more information, visit PayPal Offers at paypal-offers.co.uk.