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Quiz: What’s the Real Cost of Love?

By Julie Anne Russell

  • PUBLISHED February 13
  • |
  • 3 MINUTE READ

Spoiler alert: The underlying answer to most of the questions in this quiz is that yes, love is expensive. 

From romantic date nights and diamond engagement rings to fairy-tale weddings and fully furnished nurseries, the trappings of romance and the arrival of little ones can cost big bucks. But the silver lining is that, for the most part, there are few things we’d rather spend money on than the ones we love. Find what love really costs these days with this quiz. 

  • 1Time to add up all those dinners out, new outfits and dating app costs! How much does the average unmarried American spend on dating per year?

    Answer D.

    The average spent was $1,596.

  • 2What’s the new rule of thumb for how much you should spend on an engagement ring? Hint: Conventional wisdom has changed.

    Answer D.

    While almost half of Americans expect to spend between $1,000 and $5,000, experts suggest going with what you can afford (in the style you like) is becoming more common.

  • 3Weddings are not known for being cheap. But the average cost of a wedding actually declined 5% from 2016 to 2017. What is the average amount spent on a traditional American wedding?

    Answer C.

    The average is $35,329.

  • 4With a national average cost of $15,163, which of these things is the biggest expense for a wedding?

    Answer B.

    While the venue is the most expensive—other costs add up. The average cost for a single guest? $268.

  • 5More than half of newlyweds pay for their honeymoons themselves. They spend on average $4,466. How much more is that than the typical vacation?

    Answer B.

    And 99% of couples who have a traditional marriage opt for a honeymoon.

  • 6It’s not just the bride and groom who rack up big bills for a wedding. What’s the average amount each guest spends to attend?

    Answer A.

    And if you’re attending a destination wedding, you can add another $673 to that.

  • 7You’ll need $233,610 to raise a child born in 2015—not counting a college education. For a middle-income family, what the biggest percentage of these costs?

    Answer A.

    Housing accounts for 29% of childcare costs. Second is food, at 19%.

  • 8True or false: The United States is the most expensive nation in the world in which to give birth ($10,808 on average).

    Answer A.

    True

Julie Anne Russell is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist. She writes on personal finance, small business, travel and more.

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