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Flowers, chocolates, and cards are some of the most popular presents to give on Valentine’s Day.  But is it what women really want?

According to a recent poll, 87% of women say the present they want most this year is a simple “I love you.”

The survey also found cards and poetry are the fastest way to most women’s hearts.

That’s a good thing, too, because Valentine’s Day can turn into an expensive holiday.

According to the National Retail Federation, the average American will spend nearly $69 on their significant other. Overall, with all friends and family included, the average person will shell out $116 this Valentine’s Day.

(See an interactive map with Valentine’s Day spending by year here)

Both of those figures are slightly up from last year, and they’re for the average person. How it breaks down by sex is much different.

Men are anticipated to spend about twice as much as women this Valentine’s Day. The average man will spend $158, while the average woman will shell out $75.

And let’s not forget about our furry friends. The average person will spend $5 on their pet, which is up nearly $2 from last year.

While flowers and chocolate-covered strawberries are some of the most popular presents, they’re not the most widely-given gift. Greeting cards are. Fifty-two percent of Americans will give the gift of a greeting card this Valentine’s Day.

Total holiday spending is expected to reach $15.7 billion this year. Here’s how some of that breaks down:

• Jewelry: $3.5 billion
• Dining out: $3.4 billion
• Flowers: $1.7 billion
• Clothing: $1.6 billion
• Candy: $1.5 billion
• Greeting Cards: $1.1 billion
   

How much did you or are you planning on spending this Valentine’s Day? We want to know if your budget is similar to the average American’s. Leave a comment below and vote in our online poll.