This year, eight in ten Aussies are ditching the flowers and chocolates and are craving for quality time. 

With the cost of living increasing, two in three Aussies have stated that it has made them less likely to expect expensive gifts for Valentine’s Day, with only a third of couples’ plan to give or receive gifts on February 14.

The research also indicated that the top tanked thing that partners would want on the annual day of love is for them to ‘fix something around the home’ (21 percent). With others stating they would like gifts (20 percent), handmade gifts (15 percent), chocolates (14 percent) and flowers (12 percent). 

But as 14 February looms, the topic of love languages has risen as a way to understand how couples best express and receive love. The Bunnings research outlined that ‘act of service’ was the most popular choice for Aussies (30 percent). This was followed by quality time (20 percent), words of affirmation (17 percent), physical touch (11 percent) and gifts (7 percent).

However, relationship psychologist Emma Cholakians says doing an act of service is more than doing household chores.

“An act of service can demonstrate that you have a deeper emotional understanding of your partner’s needs through doing something that will help them in a practical sense,” she says. 

“This can alleviate your significant other’s stress or worry about completing a task, as well as showing that you are thinking about them. For an act of service to truly land it requires thought, planning, time, effort, energy and also needs to be completed in a positive and willing way for it to demonstrate an expression of love.” 

But, Bunning’s Workshop D.I.Y expert Mitch Mclean stated that Aussies have on average a list of 10 tasks to tend to around home, explaining it is no surprise that Aussies want a fix-it service over flowers. 

“Your Valentine’s Day gift this year could be as simple as hanging a picture, weeding the garden or painting a door that’s in need of a refresh and the best part is it will be easy on the wallet whilst making for a meaningful gesture for your partner,” he explains.

Research by Moonpig has found Aussie’s attitudes towards dating and Valentine’s Day have changed. 

The research indicated that one in five Aussies said they would be spending less on their significant other this Valentine’s Day, with 48 percent of the participants blaming inflation and the rising cost of living as the major driving factor. 

Aussies will be looking at spending on average $62 this year on Valentine’s Day. But, a number of people are looking to not spend anything, with 39 percent calling time on the holiday of love in 2023. This is because 58 percent of Aussies say they do not need to prove love through expensive gifts. 

23 percent of Aussies have stated they’ve never received a gift or card on V-Day. 

Love is not dead yet

The 14th is still a prevalent day for many. As the annual day of love looms, more than a third of Aussies have admitted to having had ‘intimate relations’ on Valentine’s Day. The day of love is a big day for florists, with 58 percent of the population receiving a gift such as flowers or chocolate and 55 percent receiving a card.

Moonpig observed that Aussies are a nation of givers, whether that is quality time (38 percent) or gifts (18 percent). However, Aussies are not ones for sharing words of affirmation. Only 14 percent responded saying that this was their love language. 

The research also revealed that one in three Australians are planning to go on a date this V-Day with 70 percent highlighting that dinner dates are their favourite. 

Top pick-up lines for V-Day

Moonpig research revealed Aussies’ favourite pick-up lines, too. The winner? “I hope you know CPR because you just took my breath away.” 

Other cheesy lines like “I ought to complain to Spotify for you not being named this week’s hottest single” and “Are you a parking ticket? ‘Cause you’ve got ‘fine’ written all over you” were at the top of the leaderboard.