Survey Finds Valentine's Gifting Shifts Toward Home Upgrades and Experiences

A company-conducted survey by iWallet signals a shift in Valentine’s Day gifting from perishable treats to durable home upgrades. The survey, presented in a press release datelined SAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 10, 2026 and distributed via EINPresswire, states that "home improvements have become one of the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts."

Prism News, in coverage published February 26, 2026, framed the findings as "a movement away from ephemeral romantic trimmings toward practical, longer-lasting Valentine’s gifts." Prism News also highlighted "core categories on the rise: tools and home improvement" and cited an iWallet consumer survey it described as published February 21, 2026. The press-release text was also syndicated on a Commercialappeal page with the notice that "The content on this page was provided by an independent third party and syndicated by XPR Media. Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content."

iWallet’s release stresses the contrast with traditional Valentine purchases, opening with the line "Valentine’s Day has long been dominated by cards, candy, and reservations that are hard to book and easy to forget." The company follows with "This year, many couples are choosing gifts that last longer than a bouquet" and gives a concrete example of what respondents consider thoughtful: practical upgrades that show care, commitment, and "an understanding of what actually needs fixing… like that leaky toilet."

The survey copy explicitly links the consumer preference to financing options. iWallet states "iWallet helps homeowners finance home improvement projects with simple and transparent payment options, making it easier to turn everyday plans into finished projects." The release closes with a consumer-minded flourish: "As this survey shows, Valentine’s Day gifts are evolving. Flowers wilt and chocolate gets eaten. Mood lighting sticks around… and definitely keeps things spicy."

Key limitations accompany those claims. The press release and syndicated pages do not provide a sample size, survey methodology, response rate, demographic breakdown, nor any numerical percentages or margins of error for the headline finding that home improvements top flowers and chocolate. The materials also do not specify which exact projects beyond the included examples—tools, mood lighting, and a leaky toilet—were measured, nor do they list typical spending amounts or financing terms.

For gift buyers, the takeaway reported by iWallet and echoed by Prism News is clear: shoppers surveyed by iWallet appear to favor practical, long-lasting additions to the home over ephemeral treats, and financial products from firms like iWallet are being positioned to enable those purchases. The claim rests on a company-conducted customer survey distributed in early February 2026 and should be read with the methodological caveats the release leaves unaddressed.