Men ‘more likely than women to say they struggle to buy gifts for their partner’

Men are more likely than women to say they struggle to buy gifts for their partner, a survey has found.

Ahead of Valentine’s Day on Friday, the research found around a quarter (26.5%) of men and a fifth (21.7%) of women find it hard to buy gifts for their “other half”.

Nearly three in 10 (27%) people generally said they feel guilty if they receive a more expensive gift than the one they give in return and 11% feel social media trends put them under pressure to spend more money on gifts than they are comfortable with.

The research among more than 2,000 people across the UK, commissioned by TopCashback and carried out by Censuswide, found only 28% of people set and stick to a budget when giving gifts.

Adam Bullock, UK director at TopCashback, said: “Our gift-giving research shows just how generous we can be, but the pressure to spend big on romantic gestures can leave many feeling guilty.

“This often leads to overspending and missing out on simple ways to save.

“Nobody wants the stress of pricey presents to take away from celebrating love, so with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’d encourage people to set realistic expectations with their partners.

“Thoughtful alternatives like homemade gifts, setting a shared budget, or experience-based surprises can help keep costs in check.”