The price of love

When it comes to treating a loved one the average valentines shopper spends £41 on flowers and over £170 on jewellery, according to research by Halifax credit cards.

The research also found its not just gifts that are the key to romance, it's looking good. In the run up to Valentines Day last year the average Halifax credit card-holder spent £42 on clothing, £43 on cosmetic and beauty products and £38 on shoes.

Regional Romance

Last year Halifax credit cards reported uplift in credit card spending in the week of Valentines Day with people in the UK splashing out in a variety of ways. The average credit card-holder in the south spent £504 on city breaks/holidays to surprise their loved ones, people in the north spent £186 on jewellery, Scots spent £69 on wining and dining and people in the midlands spent £43 on flowers to woo their spouse.

Wedding bells, wallet blues

February 14th is one of the most popular days of the year for couples to get engaged and tradition has it, men spend at least the equivalent of one month's salary on the engagement ring.

Previous Halifax research shows that on average British men (69%) expect to spend between half a month and a month's salary on an engagement ring which equates to around £2,811. In addition, almost 1 in 10 (9%) men believe that it would be reasonable to spend even more than one month's salary on the ring.

Choose the perfect card when paying for your token of love

Whether you are a partner who has planned ahead or left it to the last minute, Halifax Credit Cards has the perfect match for you.

With an interest free honeymoon period, the All-In-One Credit Card offers 0% on balance transfers for 9 months for those who have organised their plans well in advance and 0% on purchases for 9 months for last minute lovers.

Alan Brindley, from Halifax Credit Cards, comments: "Our research shows that Brits do have big hearts when it comes to Valentine's Day, but this doesn't have to mean a broken wallet. By choosing a card with a substantial great 0% deal, valentine spends needn't attract any extra interest.

"The Halifax All-In-One credit card is ideal for customers who want to reduce the cost of their spending, reduce the cost of any outstanding debt through a balance transfer, or both."