A new study has revealed the states spending the most on nonessential purchases on Valentine’s, with Maine topping the ranking.
Verified coupon site Coupons4Real gathered data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Federal Reserve Economic Data to calculate each state’s spending versus their average annual income. They analyzed the findings to rank the states spending the highest percentage of income on nonessential purchases, which includes all Valentine’s Day spending.
Florida comes in fifth place, as residents spend an average of 47.78% of their yearly salary on expendable purchases. This is a staggering $30,964 yearly for every Floridian, spent solely on nonessentials
Maine tops the ranking, earning first place as residents spend a staggering 49.38% of their income on personal nonessentials like Valentine’s gifts or decorations. This means Maine residents spend an average of $29,840 every year on these unnecessary personal purchases.
In second place is Michigan, where residents spend an average of 48.61% of their yearly salary on unneeded personal purchases. Each Michigan spender blows approximately $27,726 on nonessentials every year.
Third place belongs to Arizona, where spenders splash 48.01% of their average annual income on nonessential personal purchases. This means each Arizona spends $28,033 on unneeded things every year.
Spenders in Utah fork out 47.97% of their annual income to spend on unnecessary purchases, placing the state in fourth. This means each person spends an average of $28,520 a year on these purchases..
In sixth place is Hawaii, with the average person using 47.36% of their annual income to go toward nonessential personal purchases. Each Hawaiian spends approximately $29,274 on these types of purchases yearly.
Pennsylvania ranks seventh, with 47.35% of the average annual salary spent on nonessentials, meaning each resident spends a staggering $30,546 a year on unnecessary things.
Next is Illinois in eighth place, where 47.35% of the average salary is spent on unneeded personal purchases every year. In Illinois, the average person spends a staggering $32,034 on these types of purchases yearly.
In ninth place is Alaska, where each person spends 47.18% of their average yearly income on nonessential personal purchases. Every year, the average Alaskan spends $32,395 on these nonessentials.
Finally, New Hampshire takes tenth place. On average, 47.06% of salaries go toward personal purchases deemed as not essential, from vacations to electronics. New Hampshire residents spend $34,691 annually on these types of nonessentials.
Panayotis Nikolaidis, CEO and Founder of Coupons4Real, has commented on the findings: “Valentine’s Day isn’t just about love—it’s also about luxury, and some states go all out on non-essential splurges.
“From extravagant jewelry to last-minute getaways, spending trends show that certain regions prioritize indulgence over simplicity. While flowers and chocolates remain staples, high-end dining, designer gifts, and even spa retreats reveal which states truly embrace the holiday as a lavish affair. In the end, love may be priceless, but Valentine’s Day certainly isn’t.”
The states with the highest nonessential personal expenditure compared to their earnings were calculated and ranked.
Annual spending per capita and annual personal income per capita per state was taken from 2022 data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Federal Reserve Economic Data respectively.
The percentage of an average person’s personal income spent on nonessentials in each state was calculated and ranked from highest to lowest.
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