(WXYZ) — He might not say it, but he's expecting you to go all out ladies.
According to a new study by Bankrate.com, the average man plans to spend $339 on their partner, while women say they will only spend $64. In fact, while American woman expect to spend about $154 on their sweetheart, American men expect their spouse or partner to spend an average of $211.
But research found the desire to impress a loved one with Valentine's Day gifts starts to fade the longer the couple has been together.
Americans who have been together for less than two years are most likely to spend money on their significant other (85%) and to expect their partner to spend money on them (72%). Just 61% of those who have been in their relationship at least 20 years plan to spend money on their partner and 57% expect something in return.
By region, the Midwest had the lowest spending expectation of $144.40. The South had the highest expectations of their partner’s spending, ringing in at $228.
“With age comes more financial responsibilities,” said Bankrate.com analyst Kelly Anne Smith. “You don’t have to break the bank to show your love for someone. A home cooked meal, small memento or inexpensive romantic outing can go a long way.”
Waiting until the day after Valentine's usually means the prices for chocolates, flowers and other gifts go down a bit. Home-cooked meals, movie nights and smaller mementos can also save couples' some cash.
Click here for the full study.
