How Much Are People Spending on Love? And More Revealing Valentine’s Day Data

Valentine’s Day is about love, but it’s also a little bit about budgets, taxes, and credit scores (in a meet-cute way). We ran polls to see how people are celebrating  — or stressing over — the holiday and where their focus is at this amorous time of year. The results are in, so let’s break them down.

First Shots at Love and Money: The $500 Question

Since we’ve been in our feelings about how much to spend on Valentine’s Day (it’s a hot topic around here), we wondered about those gearing up for a first date this Valentine’s Day. We decided to ask MoneyLions how much they would spend on a first date—and one random, lucky commenter won $500. We got over 700 responses, and they were definitely eye- (and wallet-) opening. The most common response was $100, 44% said that was the right amount. The highest amount spent was $500. That’s a big box of chocolates! If that person is still single, we’re available for dinner right now. And even a $50 budget got 17% of total comments, showing that when it comes to love, a little can go a long way.

Here’s how the rankings shook out:

We compiled a ranked list of the top five most common responses from the survey.

Rank	Amount	% of Total
1st	$100	44%
2nd	$200	21%
3rd	$50	17%
4th	$150	11%
5th	$500	6%

Love & Money: The Receipts Are In

That telling survey is just the beginning of our deep dive into love and money. We couldn’t stop there — so we took to the MoneyLion App to get even nosier. From financial red flags to tax season turn-ons (yup, really), here’s what you had to say about the way romance and money mix.

💰 Love on a budget (or not)

Cupid called, and he’s casually checking your wallet. 36% of you are playing it classy with a $100 dinner date, while 32% are keeping it chill with Netflix and snacks (popcorn is romantic, right?). 17% are rolling out the romantic getaway treatment, and 15%? They said, “Swipe the card. We ball.” However you celebrate, just make sure your love life isn’t on a payment plan, because that is not hot.

💔 Financial red flags: Love edition

Love is patient, love is kind… but maybe neither if your partner has secret money drama. 33% of you are willing to work through it (aww), while 32% are cool but believe honesty is key. Meanwhile, 7% are side-eyeing their partner, and 4% are ghosting for good. The takeaway? Financial transparency might just be the real love language.

🛍️ What’s your “no-approval” spend limit?

Let’s be real — at what dollar amount does your partner need to know? 44% say anything under $100 is fair game, while 20% stretch that to $500. A bold 5% are dropping over $500 like it’s nothing, and 13% live by the “my money, my rules” philosophy. But 19%? They think every dollar needs a discussion. The boil-down: Love is about compromise… or at least keeping the receipts in a vault hidden casually under floorboards in your closet. 

🤐 The real reasons we hide money moves

Secrets don’t make friends, but apparently, they do make relationships complicated. 25% of you think financial secrecy is all about avoiding judgment, while another 25% say it’s guilt. 22% just want to keep a little financial independence (understandable), and 24% are dodging a money argument at all costs. Whatever your reason — just hope it doesn’t come out in a financial audit.

🤑 The sexiest tax move? A bigger refund

Who says taxes can’t be a turn-on? (Wait, did we just say that?!?) 46% of you are turned on by max refunds, while 31% are all about 100% accuracy — because trust is hot. 15% prefer stress-free filing (because peace of mind is priceless), and 9% are already booking their refund-funded vacations. Whatever your vibe, make tax season work for you, not against you.

🔎 Financial honesty — Yay or no way?

Ever kept money secrets from your partner? 50% of you said, “Nope, I’m an open book,” while 26% admitted they like keeping things private. 18% fessed up to past money secrets but have reformed (growth!), and 7% are keeping their lips sealed. Just remember — honesty might not always be the best policy… but it does keep the arguments to a minimum.

🤫 What money secrets are you keeping?

Your partner doesn’t need to know everything, right? 29% of you are tucking away a secret savings account (smart), while 28% are hiding some of their shopping habits (retail therapy stays private). 22% have risky investments they’d rather not mention, and 14% are dodging debt disclosures. And 8%? They’d rather not reveal how much they actually make. No judgment — but maybe don’t get caught, K?

Love, Money & A Few Little Secrets: Our Takeaways 

When romance meets finance, things can get interesting. From budget-friendly date nights to hidden spending habits, here’s what the numbers reveal about love and money — no judgment, just the facts (and maybe a little tea).

Most people keep Valentine’s Day spending modest: Love is in the air… but so is financial responsibility: The majority are sticking to a $100 dinner date or a low-key night in, while only a small group is going all out on a luxury getaway. 

Financial transparency isn’t universal: Half of respondents claim they’re completely open about money with their partners, but the other half? Not so much. From hidden savings accounts to undisclosed debt, plenty of people are keeping a few financial secrets.

Small purchases fly under the radar, big ones get noticed: The majority agree that anything under $100 doesn’t require approval, but once spending creeps past $500, most people want a conversation (or at least a really good excuse).

Taxes might be the ultimate love language: When it comes to refunds, it’s not the size of the refund, it’s the … wait, no, actually it’s all about the size. Nearly half of respondents find a big tax refund attractive, proving that financial security (and a stress-free filing process) is way more appealing than last-minute chocolates.  For the record, we’ll take both.

If you really want to level up — your money and, hey,  maybe even your love life — get MoneyLion. Jump into real-talk polls, compare financial products without the fluff, and make moves that set you up for the kind of future that screams “power couple” (even if it’s just you and your bank account).