By Jennifer Calonia, Go Banking Rates
Valentine’s Day has long posed a threat to an otherwise healthy savings account, and studies show the holiday is only getting more expensive. According to IBISWorld, Americans spent an average of $134.08 on Valentine’s Day in 2013 — and almost 10 percent of that was on flowers.
Valentine’s Day flowers. Photo from envygfx.com
According to Floral Management Magazine, flower sales saw a big bump last Valentine’s Day, with seven out of 10 florists reporting sales gains.
As Valentine’s Day planning kicks into full swing, budgeting for a romantic gesture at a practical price is a challenge that is easily won by following a few key guidelines.
How to Save Money on Valentine’s Day Flowers
Those searching for ways to save money on Valentine’s Day Flowers still have an opportunity this week to catch the best Valentine’s Day deals before the big day. Despite the popularity of this commercial holiday, finding arrangements that keep within a strict budget is doable.
1. Daily Deals for Floral Delivery Services
The first place to find Valentine’s Day flowers for less are on daily deal websites, like Groupon, LivingSocial and AmazonLocal Deals. City daily deal pages are littered with discount offers from major wire floral delivery services like FTD and ProFlowers, highlighting savings of about 50 percent.
When using these services, however, make sure to read the fine print of the offer before clicking “buy.”
2. Local Florists
To circumvent wire floral delivery service fees, contact a florist in the recipient’s neighborhood instead. In addition to avoiding delivery charges, you’ll get a bargain on the flowers themselves, since florists keep 100 percent of the profits instead of passing a portion off to a wire service.
When selecting a florist, ensure it has a traditional brick-and-mortar establishment. Local review sites like Yelp.com can help you find the best florist in the area.
3. Avoid Boxed Valentine’s Day Flowers
Boxed flowers delivered by mail are not the best Valentine’s Day deals in the floral market. Even though vases are not included in these orders, they are often marked-up to the point where they cost the same as a professional floral arrangement.
In addition to increased chances of getting damaged in transit, boxed flowers simply do not have the “wow” factor that hand-delivered arrangements provide that special someone.
When buying Valentine’s Day flowers, check for “delivered by florist” text to ensure the recipients get the experience they deserve.
Read the full article by Jennifer Calonia from Go Banking Rates.
