Heartfelt gifts mean most, surveys reveal
Tomorrow is V-Day and just as there are those who wonder what all the fuss is about, others will worry just how their love measures up, and still others will second-guess what their soul mate really wants.
Any number of surveys purport to tell us what men and women expect from a relationship and Valentine's Day. Let us count the ways:
Hallmark magazine conducted a survey of what women want versus what they actually get.
Women actually don't have great expectations, said Lisa Benenson, the magazine's editor in chief. "When asked their idea of the perfect Valentine's Day gift, an overwhelming majority of women said, 'Anything, as long as it's his idea.' So our advice for the guys is to give from the heart."
Other findings from the survey, based on replies from 380 women and 190 of their spouses/significant others:
It's just a day: When men and women were each asked how important it was to celebrate on Feb. 14, the majority of men (71 percent) and women (76 percent) said the actual date is not as important as spending quality time and exchanging sentiments of love.
Pack your bags: A romantic weekend getaway is the No. 1 Valentine's Day gift preferred by men (23 percent) and the second choice of women (24 percent). Men ranked time with their sweetheart as a better gift than a flat-screen TV. I
A perfect date: When asked their idea of a perfect date, 30 percent of women said they would love to be taken to their favorite restaurant and to a movie of their choice. Ordering take-out food and snuggling at home placed a close second, getting 27 percent of the votes.
Don't be misled by Cupid's arrow: Men are advised to avoid purchasing lingerie and gift cards, while women should stay away from plants and stuffed animals.
For more survey results visit www.HallmarkMagazine.com.
More novel facts
Harlequin, a leading publisher of women's fiction, has carried out its own research over the past 18 years, compiled in an annual Romance Report, a survey involving more than 2,250 men and women. Some of those findings:
Beware e-mail: About a quarter of U.S. adults said they have flirted with somebody other than their partner via e-mail, text or instant message. While nearly half of all men said they would forgive their partner for having cybersex, only one quarter of women said the same.
Love over money: 71 percent rated finding true love as an important achievement in life, over having the money to buy whatever they want (68 percent).
Soul satisfaction: Three quarters of men (75 percent) and women (73 percent) believe that everyone has a soul mate.
Agreeing to disagree: The vast majority of men and women (87 percent each) believe the genders have different expectations for romance.
After all, it's better to give
HARRIS INTERACTIVE surveyed 2,214 adults on behalf of Google, revealing:
Giving, getting: 55 percent of men said that they plan to buy a gift for a spouse, compared with 44 percent of women. On average, U.S. adults spend about $70 on Valentine's Day gifts.
Love to Fido: Those who typically buy a Valentine's Day gift for other family members are more likely to buy something for their pets (6 percent) than their fathers (5 percent) or grandfathers (1 percent).