Six of the Top 20 Places for Valentine’s Day are in California

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and America’s sweethearts planning to spend $21.8 billion on the holiday even with COVID-19 limiting celebrations, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best Places for Valentine’s Day, along with its nationally representative 2021 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey.

To determine the most romantic yet affordable cities for celebrating the Day of Hearts, WalletHub compared 100 of the largest U.S. cities across 14 key metrics, ranging from florists per capita to COVID-19 cases to high-quality takeout food.

Top 20 Places for Valentine’s Day 2021

1. San Francisco, CA
2. Honolulu, HI
3. Portland, OR
4. Seattle, WA
5. San Jose, CA
6. San Diego, CA
7. Austin, TX
8. Oakland, CA
9. Orlando, FL
10. Sacramento, CA
11. Fremont, CA
12. Raleigh, NC
13. Virginia Beach, VA
14. Kansas City, MO
15. Atlanta, GA
16. Houston, TX
17. Durham, NC
18. Plano, TX
19. Cincinnati, OH
20. Denver, CO

Valentine’s Day Spending Survey – Key Stats

  • Some People Want Love More Than Health. 50% of people would rather get shot by Cupid’s arrow than the COVID-19 vaccine.
  • More Men Say V-Day Debt is Worth it: Men are nearly two times more likely than women to think a Valentine’s Day gift is worth going into credit card debt.
  • Bad Credit Might Keep You Single. 47% of people wouldn’t marry someone with bad credit.
  • Reckless Spending Ends Relationships: 47% of people would break up with their significant other if he or she spent irresponsibly.
  • Financial Irresponsibility Isn’t Attractive: 44% of people say irresponsible spending is a bigger turnoff than bad breath.
  • Love is Blooming for Some People. 48% of people say they got richer in love since last Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day Facts

  • $21.8 Billion: Total Valentine’s Day spending projected for 2021 ($164.76 per person celebrating).
  • $231 vs. $101: Men will spend more than twice as much as women, on average, for Valentine’s Day 2021.
  • $8.1 Billion: Amount Americans will spend on jewelry ($4.1B), flowers ($2B) and candy ($2B).
  • 1 in 6: Marriages begins online.
  • 33%: Overall online dating activity increase across the US between February 1 and February 14.

Q&A with WalletHub Analyst Jill Gonzalez

Q: Do you think people on the dating scene worry about things like credit scores and financial literacy?

A: “People want to find partners who are financially savvy, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when money can be tight. Around 44% of people now say that irresponsible spending is a bigger turn-off than bad breath, and nearly half say irresponsible spending would make them break up with their significant other,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “If you’re looking to settle down, it’s a good idea to get your credit in order, as 47% of people would not marry someone with bad credit. Considering the fact that bad credit can lead to hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial losses during a lifetime, that’s unsurprising. Luckily for people with bad credit, it’s very possible to improve one’s credit score with responsible credit use and budget-planning.”

Q: Why are men more likely to think that buying a Valentine’s Day gift is worth going into credit card debt?

A: “Men are nearly two times more likely than women to think that a Valentine’s Day gift is worth going into credit card debt, according to WalletHub’s new Valentine’s Day Spending Survey. Historical gender roles and societal expectations for dating likely contribute to that divide. However, even if the statistic makes sense, that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. Gifts are never worth going into debt, especially during the tough financial times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, 98 million Americans are already expecting their partners to spend less this year, so there’s not as much pressure to buy,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “People who are short on cash this Valentine’s Day should think outside the box for gift-giving. For example, giving a handmade gift can often be a lot more special than buying something expensive.”

Q: Do you have any tips for how can singles can get their finances relationship-ready?

A: “Some of the biggest turnoffs for potential partners are bad credit and irresponsible spending, since they can reflect negatively on how much money someone will make and how they may behave in other areas of life. Single people who struggle with bad credit and overspending may want to focus on those areas first before they enter the dating pool,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “Some of the best first steps to take include creating a budget and increasing the amount of money you save or use to pay off debts while making fewer non-essential purchases. It’s important to monitor your credit score and report, too, as well as to look for ways to increase your income. If you dedicate time to improving your financial status, you may see a boost in your romantic prospects as well.”

For the full report click here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Sources

  • Heart-shaped cloud: Pixaby