Cutting down on gifts or going into debt for Valentine’s Day – Europeans' attitudes differ

Millennials are more likely to take on debt to buy presents to their partner than their Boomer parents, but how does it differ between countries? Ahead of Valentine’s Day, European credit management company Intrum asked more than 24,000 people across Europe about their finances and how it interacts with their love lives. While many cut back on costly romantic gestures to make ends meet, others are prepared to go into debt in order to secure affection.

“In a few countries, as many as 1 in 4 say they would choose debt before coming home empty handed to their spouse. It’s unfortunate that pressure to spend money on romance is so high for some, as we see first-hand the effects problem debt can have on relationships and mental health,” says Anna Fall, Chief Brand & Communications Officer at Intrum. “We believe talking openly about debt and financial stress with your partner is the best way to tackle the problem and reduce worry.”

Estonians least likely to cut back on spending for the sake of love
Almost a third of all questioned (31 per cent) said romantic surprises or date nights are one of the first things to go when they need to cut back on spending. However, the attitudes alter when deep diving into the countries.

• In Portugal, almost half (48 per cent) agreed that romantic surprises or date nights are one of the first things to go when they need to save money. Consumers in Greece, Romania, Spain, and Ireland are also among those who are quick to limit their romantic spending.
• In Estonia, only 13 per cent agreed, making them the least likely to cut back on gifts and surprises for their spouses, followed by consumers in Denmark, Norway and Austria.

1 in 4 British consumers are ready to go into debt for romance
When asked if buying presents or treats for their partner is the most common reason why they go into credit card debt, 15 per cent of all respondents agreed.

• Consumers in the UK and Ireland are most likely to take on debts for buying presents, where 1 in 4 (24 per cent) said that presents are the most common reason why they go into credit card debt.
• In fact, 1 in 5 British and Irish consumers even said they believed their partner would leave them within a year if they didn’t spend as much money on treats and presents.
• Estonians are least likely to go into debt for romantic treats, only five per cent agreed, followed by consumers in Austria, Hungary, and Latvia (9 per cent).​​​​​​​

Big difference between generations and genders
Differences are not only found between different countries, but also among the different generations and genders.

• 1 in 5 among millennials (21 per cent) said their spending on gifts pushes them into credit card debt, compared with six per cent of Boomers. Millennials also felt their partner was more likely to leave them if they didn’t keep up the spending – 19 per cent said this; only four per cent of Boomers felt the same.
• Men feel more pressure than women to spend money on treats and gifts – 18 per cent said this is the main reason they go into credit card debt, compared with 12 per cent of women. Likewise, 16 per cent of men said if they didn’t spend as much, their partner would leave them, compared with 10 per cent of women.

Read more about the cost of love on intrum.com.

About The European Consumer Payment Report 2021
The European Consumer Payment Report 2021 is an instrument for gaining insight into European consumers’ everyday lives; their spending and ability to manage their household finances on a monthly basis. The report is based on an external survey conducted by market research provider Longitude in 24 European countries. A total of 24,012 consumers participated to the 2021 edition of the survey, which was conducted between 21st of July and 26th of August, 2021.

For further information, please contact:
Kristin Andersson, PR & Media Relations Director
+46 70 585 78 18
ext-kristin.andersson@intrum.com

Anna Fall, Chief Brand & Communications Officer
+46 70 996 98 21
anna.fall@intrum.com

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Intrum is the industry-leading provider of credit management services across 24 markets in Europe. By helping companies to get paid and support people with their late payments, Intrum leads the way to a sound economy and plays a critical role in society at large. Intrum has circa 10,000 dedicated professionals who serve around 80,000 companies across Europe. In 2021, revenues amounted to SEK 17,8 billion. Intrum is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange. For further information, please visit www.intrum.com.

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