Love ? at a price

The best things in life are free, as the old saying goes. However, it appears that in the world of dating some things definitely have to be paid for to keep your partner happy.

According to a new study from Abbey Current Accounts, Brits aren't happy unless their partner spends a nice lot of cash on them. In fact, the research shows that 5.9 million people (18 per cent of those questioned) think that their partner doesn't spend enough.

And what's more, 792,000 respondents claimed that they have broken up with someone because their purse strings were too tight.

Currently, Brits spend an average of £1,569 on their partners a year, which goes towards paying for birthday and Christmas presents, as well as more day-to-day things such as wining and dining and trips to places like the theatre and the cinema.

Commenting on the findings, Steve Shore, head of banking at Abbey, said: "Love doesn't come cheap. It costs over £1,500 a year to be in a relationship and love keeps on getting more expensive as you get older."

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