It's the Thought That Counts - Top Tips to Cut the Cost of Valentine's Day

News provided by

first direct

11 Feb, 2012, 07:30 GMT

LONDON, February 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

According to MoneySupermarket.com the average loved up couple spends nearly £135[1] on Valentine's Day each year and often on items that their partner neither wants nor needs.  With 28% of the UK population having less than £250 in accessible savings[2]first direct has come up with five money saving gift ideas which will hit the spot without busting the budget.

It's the thought that counts: 5 money saving gift ideas

  1. Instead of a dozen red roses buy one and write a heartfelt, personal poem to accompany it
  2. Forego expensive restaurants and get your 'Jamie Oliver' on in the kitchen
  3. Skip the designer chocolates, buy cheaper ones and individually wrap them yourself
  4. Rather than the latest MP3 player, channel your inner Lionel Richie and write a song especially for your loved one
  5. Get rid of the kids for the evening, switch off the TV and spend some quality time together…

A recent survey by first direct found that Britain's top two financial regrets in 2011 were not saving enough (52%) and not paying off their debt more quickly (33%)[3].  The direct bank argues that savvy savers will avoid splashing the cash on expensive, unwanted Valentine's Day gifts and instead use the money to improve their financial situation.

Bruno Genovese, Head of Savings at first direct commented:

"It's becoming more and more important for families to really think about where they spend their money.  It makes sound financial sense for loved ones to save the money usually spent on big ticket items and go for the more thoughtful and less expensive handmade gift instead."

Notes to Editors

[1]Source: MoneySupermarket.com based on research carried out by OnePoll in February of 1,000 UK adults in a relationship.  The survey found the average spend was £66.77 per person.

[2]Opinion Matters survey carried out on behalf of first direct of 1,069 UK adults in November 2011.

Based on 28% of households surveyed saying they had less than £250 in savings. All figures are based on number of UK households being 21,407,000 (DCLG).

[3] Survey carried out by Online Opinions for first direct amongst a sample of 1000 UK adults aged over 18 between 25th and 29th October 2010.

For the latest updates, visit the first direct Newsroom or follow us on Twitter.

first direct facts

  • Winner of the Which? Best Financial Provider award 2 years running
  • Ranked first in the Retail Banking Satisfaction Study by J D Power & Associates for two years running
  • first direct has 1.16 million customers
  • 950,000 of them use Internet Banking
  • 420,000 customers use SMS message banking. first direct sends around 3.5 million text messages to customers every month
  • first direct employs 3,200 people in 2,700 FTE roles at two sites, in Leeds and Hamilton (near Glasgow)
  • 44% of first direct's sales are via e-channels
  • more than 1 in 4 of first direct's customers join because of personal recommendation
  • over 89% of customer contact with first direct is electronic
  • first direct handles around 135,000 telephone calls every week
  • first direct takes over 54,000 calls (40%) outside working hours each week (Monday to Friday 08:00 - 18:00)
  • first direct takes over 1,700 calls a day from abroad
  • first direct has been in profit every year since 1995
  • first direct is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings Plc

first direct provides both telephone banking and internet banking services to its 1.2m customers. It offers a full range of personal banking products including its award winning Current Account and offset mortgages,

For further information please contact Rebecca Hirst on +44(0)113-276-6899, rebecca.hirst@firstdirect.com
or Amanda Brown on +44(0)113-276-6700, amanda.brown@firstdirect.com

SOURCE first direct