HOW TO... spend smartly on Valentine’s Day

MORE than half (56%) of adults spent an average of £27 on Valentine’s gifts, American Express research reveals – 19% of the 2000 people surveyed even showered gifts on their pets. American Express offers these top tips for avoiding Valentine’s Day overspend:

CHOOSE BRUNCH OR LUNCH IF you plan to dine out, the time of day you eat out can influence the bill, so why not go for brunch or lunch instead of the traditional evening meal? Often restaurants have lunch specials and avoiding peak times guarantees a more intimate setting.

MEANINGFUL GIFTS IS your loved one notoriously tricky to buy for? Consider a personalised present – from jewellery engraved with their initials, to a bottle of wine from your anniversary year – a meaningful gift has endless possibilities.

SHARE THE LOVE VALENTINE’S Day doesn’t always have to be just for two – so why not organise a group dinner or trip with friends and family? Holding a group get-together also means you can split the cost between more people – although perhaps check whether your partner is OK with this first.

LAST-MINUTE TICKETS FOR a spontaneous date, a lastminute theatre visit could be just the ticket. Often you can get discounted seats on the morning of the performance.

POINTS MAKE PRESENTS CHECK how many points you’ve accrued on your credit, charge or loyalty card, as you might be able to redeem them for some gifts.