Valentine’s Day has a way of turning into its own financial event. Not necessarily because we want it to, but because of societal expectations - after all, 1 in 4 people say they feel pressured to spend more than they want to for Valentine’s Day.

This year, the UK is expected to spend £2.38 billion on Valentine’s Day, which would be a record and a 7% increase compared to last year.

That headline number is eye-catching, but, as always, there’s more behind the clickbait. So let’s break down what’s actually going on.

By setting financial targets, I now approach my work with a new, more thorough strategy - one that isn’t random, knowing I'm okay as long as I’ve “made enough” but one that is working towards something bigger; savings, pensions, holidays.