What do you plan to talk about when you and your sweetheart get together to celebrate Valentine's Day?
Better not be money, according to a recent survey by Quicken which found that the biggest strain on a relationship is managing finances (40 percent), followed by compatibility issues (27 percent).
Now when it comes to money, much of it flows right out of couples' wallets on Valentine's Day. The average consumer will spend just under $100 for Valentine's Day this year, according to the National Retail Federation. In all, 2005 Valentine's Day spending is expected to reach $13.19 billion (that's a lot of chocolate and teddy bears!).
We all know it's true that money can't buy you love, so why, for heaven's sake, do we rush out and spend like crazy to show our love? This is especially true for men, who plan to spend on average $80.63 on Valentine's Day, compared with the $38.66 on average that women said they would spend.
I feel sorry for guys. Advertisements featuring red hearts and cupids strike fear in their hearts this time of year. Buy the wrong thing or -- worse -- buy nothing at all and they risk the wrath of their wives or girlfriends. What a shame that our demands on our husbands and boyfriends to show their love with material things allow retailers to manipulate them. It's not true that diamonds are a girl's best friend. Spend time with the girl, man, not money.
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