Only 7% of Romanians allocate a significantly higher budget for Valentine's Day and Dragobete, while the majority perceive these occasions more symbolically than as moments of intense consumption, according to a specialized study published on Tuesday.
"Valentine's Day does not lead to excesses. Only 7% of Romanians spend significantly more compared to other special occasions. Valentine's Day and Dragobete are perceived by Romanians more as symbolic occasions than as moments of intense consumption," shows the data of the Financial Seasons Barometer, conducted by the CFA Romania Association with the support of UniCredit Bank.
Unlike other periods of the year with high pressure on the budget, such as winter holidays (63%) or Black Friday (39%), less than 10% of Romanians say they spent more than usual on Valentine's Day or Dragobete. For those who want to pay extra attention to their budget in February, the CFA Romania Association launches the Abracashdabra Valentine's Day Guide, a practical tool that offers simple benchmarks for evaluating consumption decisions related to this period, the press release also states.
According to the cited source, men are almost twice as likely as women to allocate an additional budget for Valentine's Day or Dragobete. Thus, 8.1% of men say they spent more than during the rest of the year or on other holidays, compared to 4.3% of women. For most Romanians, this period remains rather symbolic, without generating considerable expenses.
However, the likelihood of spending more on Valentine's Day increases with income level. Thus, only 4.1% of those with incomes under 3,000 RON allocated more than usual for special occasions, while the proportion rises to 8% among those with incomes between 5,000 and 7,000 RON.
"Even among those who consider Valentine's Day an occasion for higher spending, generations adopt different styles of managing their budget. Generation Z is more weighted during the holidays analyzed in the Financial Seasons Barometer (Black Friday, winter holidays, Valentine's Day and Dragobete, Children's Day), with 63% of young people spending under 1,000 RON, while Generation X is more willing to give more money, so that 65% of them spend above this threshold. Millennials tend to be balanced in managing their budget: half declare expenses under 1,000 RON, while a quarter allocate between 1,000 and 1,999 RON," note the study's authors.
Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) recommend that couples start by clearly establishing how much they are willing to spend in February, so that the budget remains under control. In this regard, the Abracashdabra Guide offers practical suggestions for analyzing offers, avoiding impulses and transforming gestures into memorable experiences, not just expensive gifts. Also, open discussions about expectations and shared plans, including financial ones, can strengthen the relationship and maintain budgetary balance.
"Consumption habits during Valentine's Day or Dragobete are a new topic of study for us and the figures we discovered in the Financial Seasons Barometer confirm that they deserve to be explored closely, for better financial education. These holidays can be an excellent opportunity to practice smart financial choices such as establishing a clear budget, carefully evaluating offers and focusing on gifts or experiences that have real relevance for the couple. Managed in this way, money supports personal decisions and contributes to a healthy financial balance, without diminishing the significance of the moment," said Florentina Almăjanu, general director of the CFA Romania Association, quoted in the press release.
The Financial Seasons Barometer is a study conducted between November 3-6, 2025, using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing methodology, on a sample of 1,130 respondents from Generations Z, Millennials and X, predominantly from urban areas.
The CFA Romania Association is the organization of investment professionals in Romania, holders of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, a qualification administered by the CFA Institute (USA). The organization has over 250 members and approximately 140 candidates at one of the examination levels.
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