Survey: Men spend more on Valentines

Arkansas - A survey conducted for Wal-Mart Stores found that men will spend 62 percent more on Valentine's Day gifts than women, but experts say that hardly means males are more romantic.

"I suspect it's an ego thing," said Roanoke, Virginia, College psychology professor Galdino Pranzarone. "Some just don't want to be seen as a cheapskate."

In the Wal-Mart survey, conducted January 17-19, respondents on average said they would spend $51 on Valentine's Day gifts. Men averaged $63, women $39. The random telephone survey of 1,010 people also found that women typically wrapped up their shopping earlier and men often waited until the last minute.

"These data suggest that women do spend more time anticipating the holiday and I suspect they place a greater value on the quality and thoughtfulness of the gift -- not just getting something at the last minute," said Dennis Murray, a professor of psychology at Mansfield, Pennsylvania, University.

Online columnist Laura Snyder, who dishes out advice for Compuserve and Netscape, believes nothing says "I'm too inconsiderate to give you something thoughtful" than a generic box of chocolates and a cheap stuffed animal.

"A bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine or champagne and a nice dinner are all she really expects," she said. "Valentine's Day is just about being together and remembering why you love each other."

That means leaving out the tickets to a basketball or hockey game, she said.

"Remember when Homer Simpson bought Marge a bowling ball for her birthday? It's only funny in the cartoons." -- Associated Press

Brudirect.com