How much should I spend on my partner this Christmas?

But Jess Brady, a financial adviser and founder of the online financial literacy program The Greenhouse, says the amount spent really shouldn’t matter.

“We have to stop associating how much money someone spends on someone to how much someone cares about someone,” she says.

“People spend so much money to try to prove and show love. And yet, if you look at what people keep, very often it’s mementoes, or beautiful cards that someone wrote, or a nice token that they really appreciate.

“It’s often not the really expensive things that people keep forever and ever.”

Brady says one of the best gifts she ever received was from a former partner who made a handcrafted box and filled it with cards listing inexpensive date ideas.

“That was amazing, and that blew me away. So much thought went into that.”

Finder money expert Rebecca Pike agrees. “If your bank balance is in no shape to splash out, think of other ways to show you care,” she says.

“Remember a little creativity goes a long way. Love shouldn’t come with a price tag. It’s also important to be discussing finances within a relationship, particularly if you’ve been together for a while.

“This means that if money is a little tight around Christmas or birthdays, you should feel more comfortable suggesting spending less on gifts or offering alternatives like handmade gifts or a cooked dinner at home.”

So, what about gifts for a person you’ve just started dating?

Finder found the average amount deemed appropriate for someone you started dating two or three months ago was $119.

And those surveyed believe you should have been dating at least one to two months before Christmas or birthday gifts are even considered.

However, 10 per cent said Christmas or birthday gifts were appropriate just one to two weeks after the first date.

Another 12 per cent said gifts should only be exchanged after a year.

If you’ve only been dating a few weeks, Brady suggests opting for something that deepens the connection without costing too much.

“You have to be careful of setting the [price] benchmark because then you’re setting the scene for the rest of the relationship. Less is more,” she says.

“Do something fun together, but I don’t think it needs to be inordinately expensive.”

For example, it could be a nice picnic, or if your date is particularly into a type of cheese or chocolate, it could be hunting down a delicious sample, or just slightly upgrading the sorts of places you go for dinner.

Just make sure you grab the bill.

Got a money-related problem around friends, family and relationships that you need help with? Please email mswise@afr.com. We will get experts to answer your question and keep your name and details anonymous.

This article is for general information purposes only and is not intended to be financial product advice. You should always obtain your own independent advice before making any financial decisions.