On The Money: Can you afford to be my Valentine?

Reuters

11-02-2025

NEW YORK, Feb 7 - This was originally published in the Reuters On the Money newsletter, where we share U.S. personal-finance tips and insights every other week. Sign up here to receive it for free.
Valentine's Day is around the corner, which means it is a perfect time to talk about love and money.
According to the latest LendingTree Survey, opens new tab, Americans in relationships plan to spend an average of $179 on their significant others for Valentine's Day. But more than half of them would skip the holiday altogether if they could.
Indeed, I am a reluctant Valentine. Flower prices soar, opens new tab around February 14, so I implore my husband not to shower me with roses. (I know! He is such a lucky guy.)
I'd rather not go out for a romantic dinner on Valentine's Day, either. In fact, I'm hosting a family meal that night. But I will never forgo chocolate, despite surging cocoa prices., opens new tab
And so many romantic things are more expensive these days — such as food, opens new tab and jewelry, opens new tab. No wonder WalletHub's Valentine's Day Spending Survey, opens new tab found that 39% of Americans say inflation is affecting their Valentine's Day plans.
The ruby-red Valentine's spotlight on relationships can lead to a lot of unnecessary spending, as well as some uncomfortable moments. To survive this mid-February minefield, here are a few pointers., opens new tab
What I'm reading and watching
Canadians cancel trips, ban American booze after Trump's tariffs
Vanguard slashes fees; expects its investors will save $350 million in 2025
Investors bet on Nvidia share recovery with buying of leveraged ETFs
Fed can be patient on rates while assessing impact of tariffs, Collins says
Trump's meme coin made nearly $100 million in trading fees, as small traders lost money
You can no longer buy paper inflation bonds with your tax refund, opens new tab (NYT)
European stocks step out from US shadow in 2025, but for how long?
Tariffs may make your Shein and Temu orders more expensive. Here's why., opens new tab
Younger generations are taking slang to a dizzying new level, opens new tab
If you date me, you date my debt, opens new tab (WSJ)
Pennsylvania thieves haul away precious loot: 100,000 eggs
The 40k(k) has reached a tipping point in its takeover of American retirement, opens new tab (WSJ)
Like what you're reading? Subscribe to On the Money here.
Video of the week
'Cozy games,' a growing subgenre, offers relaxing, constructive challenges. Recent research explores if these games can improve mental health and quality of life. Watch here.
I'm trying my best to keep up with ever-changing U.S. trade policies that threaten to upend industries, opens new tab from autos to consumer goods to energy. It is not an easy task.
Lucky for you: We've created a place to track the latest tariff news.
My friend Farnoosh Torabi explains how tariffs impact consumers. Note: Some proposals shifted since she posted it. And I'm sure they will change again and again.
On a related note: Hundreds of millions of small packages pour into the United States each year from China – some with fentanyl ingredients stashed inside. Now, a fight is shaping up over whether and how to undo the rule change that helped set off this deadly import boom.
Check out this special report on the trafficking of fentanyl from China.
Tariff talk
In my last newsletter, I asked how tariffs will impact you, and I got more than two dozen replies – mostly against tariffs.
Here are a few edited excerpts:
'Trade tariffs, especially those arbitrarily imposed, are a short-term one-way ticket to inflationary bubbles. Importers of goods on which tariffs are imposed always seek to pass on the full whack of any price increase to end consumers.' – Geoff
'Tariffs will kill us, financially. We live on Social Security, so we are on a fixed income.' – Terri
'A cheaper Chinese-made toaster won't help Americans if they don't have a job because the U.S. manufacturing base has been devastated.' – Craig
'We shop at Costco where many of our favorite food items come from Canada. I'm concerned some may become unavailable. In the U.S., the largest value imports from Canada are oil and gas as well as auto parts and cars. So tariffs will likely raise the price of gasoline and car parts.' – Kim
A$K LAUREN
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By Lauren Young