Love can be costly

 

J.Lo might say “love don’t cost a thing”… but to others, love can be costly.

While cynics tend to refer to Valentine’s Day as a ‘Hallmark holiday,’ many Canadians enjoy expressing their love with greeting cards, chocolate, roses and other assorted gifts. According to a recent survey done by Walmart Canada, 60 per cent of Canadians were celebrating their Valentine’s Day by shopping for their significant other and planned on spending an average of nearly $200.

“Honestly, I do not spend a lot of money on Valentine’s Day. I would say $100 to $150 at most,” said Jordan Morrish, 21, an employee at Veltri Canada. “We go out for dinner. Dairy Queen is the place we go as a fun tradition that we have started. Neither of us cares about spending money, we just appreciate spending the time together.”

According to WindsorEats.com some of the most popular restaurants on Valentine’s Day include The City Grill, The Willistead and Sweet Revenge Bake Shop.

“It’s important to celebrate this day, not only because it’s a day of love but it’s a day to show someone how much you care for them. I usually invest in getting as many presents as I can for my significant other. I buy flowers, jewellery and chocolate, of course. I spend about $200,” said Kyle Arangio, 28, an employee at Veltri Canada.

But nothing can replace love letters. Couples will exchange 190 million greeting cards during Valentine’s Day, according to the National Retail Federation.

“My significant other and I went on a nice date in Detroit.  He paid for our toll back and forth which was $20. We do not spend much, under $100. We value each other’s time and that’s the most important to us,” said Odette Brown, 24 a graduate student from York University.

Whether or not you are one of the Canadians that celebrate Valentine’s Day, there is no denying that J.Lo’s beliefs could be up for debate.