Valentine’s Day is easily one of the most expensive holiday celebrations in Nigeria and around the world, falling only a little behind Christmas and Eid.
Lovers everywhere scheme and plan in the days leading up to February 14 for the most heartfelt gestures to show their love for their significant other and potential love interests. What does this planning look like from a financial perspective? Has inflation and the current state of the economy impacted their plans this year?
We spoke to five Nigerians in relationships, and they walked us through their budgets for Valentine’s Day, breaking down the level of planning that goes into the day and how inflation has impacted their Valentine’s celebrations.
Oba, 31
Valentine’s Day budget: ₦70k
Plan: Indoor dinner and a few gifts
If there’s one thing Oba will do, it’s to shower his wife with gifts on special occasions like Valentine’s Day and her birthday. In 2023, he bought her a ₦450k HP laptop to practice UI/UX Design. In 2024, he bought her a wig and some dresses that cost him a little over ₦200k. It’s 2025, and he’s had to scale down his plans.
“There are more things taking my money these days. My landlord just increased my rent from ₦800k to ₦1.7m in November. Fuel is expensive, transportation costs keep climbing up, and we now have a child to spend on. So, I can’t do as much for Valentine’s Day this year as I’d have liked.
I’ll just order food from my wife’s favourite fast-food place and arrange it on our dining table with rose petals. In January, I bought about 200 fake rose petals for ₦4k. Last week, I placed an order for a ₦12k bento cake. The food should cost about ₦15k for both of us. I also bought her a ₦35k pair of shoes.
I planned to get one of those surprise planners to deliver the gifts and a ₦50k money bouquet to my wife’s office. But they charged me ₦250k. My wife would fight me if I even spent that much with how we’re just trying to get by.”
Clara, 26
Valentine’s Day budget: ₦200k
Plan: Surprise credit alert
Clara landed her dream job a month ago. But before that, her boyfriend financially supported her while she was unemployed for seven months. So, she plans to return the favour with a cash gift on Valentine’s Day.
“I started planning for Valentine’s Day from the moment I got my job in January. I set aside ₦200k to change two of my boyfriend’s car tyres for Valentine’s Day. He’d been complaining about getting harassed by the FRSC because his tyres were bad.
Two weeks ago, I realised I know nothing about tyres or what model would work for his car. I also couldn’t ask because it’d be too suspicious. So, I’ll just send him the money and indicate that it’s for his tyres. I can’t wait to see his reaction.”
Jonathan, 34
Valentine’s Day budget: ₦160k
Plan: Flowers for my women
Last year, Jonathan was in a serious relationship with his girlfriend of three years, so he pulled out all the stops. He used ₦125k — half a month’s salary — to buy moissanite earrings and pay for a beach date. Unfortunately, that relationship ended some months later. Now, he’s coasting through two semi-serious talking stages.
“Both women will probably be expecting me to do something for Valentine’s Day, so I plan to get them flowers. I got two bouquets at ₦75k each, and the vendor charged me roughly ₦10k to deliver to both of them.
I probably shouldn’t bother because I’m not officially in a relationship with either woman, but I’m sure they’ll ghost me if I don’t mark the day somehow.”
If you’re reading this and thinking, ”Must be nice to have that much money to spare,” then you should read how this 18-year-old made ₦6m in one year and get your money up.
Gabriel, 23
Valentine’s Day budget: ₦18k
Plan: Make a playlist and gift her perfume
It’s Gabriel’s first time celebrating Valentine’s Day with a girlfriend, and he’s worried his plans may not be good enough. As a ₦33k-earning corps member, he doesn’t have the leeway to make grand gestures.
“In December, my girlfriend sent me a screenshot of an ₦18k perfume she wanted for her birthday, but I couldn’t afford it. After I sort out transportation and data from my allawee, I hardly have up to ₦10k left to feed. She wasn’t happy I couldn’t get the perfume, but she understood why.
Thankfully, an uncle recently gave me ₦20k, so the perfume business is settled. My girlfriend loves playlists, so I’m making one with her favourite artists. She’ll probably love the gifts, but I wish I could do more. She’ll definitely see grander gestures online.
Chioma, 29
Valentine’s Day budget: ₦40k
Plan: Gift him a picture frame and food platter
Chioma used to have one rule for birthdays and Valentine’s Day: The gifts had to be items the recipient could use, like clothes, gadgets or accessories. She thought things like picture frames and customised throw pillows were lazy attempts at gifting. Now, she’s singing a different tune.
“My initial plan was to make my husband a set of Senator wear outfits, cuff links and shoes. But things are so expensive now that the shoes I bought for ₦15k in 2023 now cost ₦45k. I’m still shocked. When I calculated everything I wanted to buy, it came down to almost ₦100k. I had to calm down.
So, I’m getting him a picture frame even though I used to shout that it was a useless gift. The frame costs ₦10k.
I also plan to cook two different dishes and arrange them on a platter when he returns from work. He loves food, so he’ll be happy. The meals shouldn’t cost me more than ₦30k to prepare. Everyone will eat and be happy. At least that’s something.”
*Names have been changed for anonymity.
Subscribe to the Money by Zikoko Newsletter for more stories like this. It’ll only take a minute.
Now you’ve read how people spend their money. How about how they make them? Get tips from this 53-year-old who retired as a billionaire.
