How much does marriage cost? New research reveals the financial cost of a happy relationship

While it’s impossible to put a value on love, researchers have had a go, and suggest the cost of a happy marriage adds up to an astonishing £267,357 over a lifetime.

The study, carried out by cashback site Quidco, showed those in happy marriages spend an average of £21,257 laying the initial foundations, including the wedding, rings and honeymoon.

It showed the happiest couples then average three date nights together a month, including meals, drinks and cinema trips – with an average spend of £39 per date night, totalling £117 per month and £1,404 per year.

Researchers surveyed 2,000 married couples of all ages and revealed the cost of a lifetime of “wedded bliss” – including weddings, mini breaks, gifts and date nights.

Romantic nights in were cited as a major aspect of a good relationship, with the average happy couple spending three romantic nights in together per month.

The average spend per romantic night in was £15.50 – including Netflix, movie downloads, takeaways, wine, beers and snacks – totalling 46.50 per month – £558 per year.

And getting “date-ready” costs the average happy couple £267 per year, according to the report – with the majority of those in wedded bliss claiming to spend this amount on looking good for their other half.

The study also revealed time together with no children was integral to keeping a marriage alive – the average couple claiming one holiday a year and three mini breaks (average) was optimum – the yearly spend on breaks away totalling £2,337 per year.

Vix Leyton, spokesperson for Quidco said: “While the best things in life, in this case love, are free – ostentatious gestures to demonstrate it come at a cost. Half of people surveyed believe a dream wedding plays a part in setting you up for a strong marriage, but engaged couples need to keep a firm eye on budget when planning the big day to avoid starting their wedded life in debt.

“The good news is that by planning ahead, you can achieve a lot of the little touches that keep a relationship alive without breaking the bank. Booking holidays in advance, shopping around for the best deals and trying to keep a stash of savings specifically earmarked for ‘date nights’ and treats, can give you the margins you need for impulsive gestures like flowers and chocolates ‘just because’.

Encouragingly an impressive 84 per cent of those polled said they were in a happy marriage.

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