No need to get in the red as rose prices cut to a snip

WITH love in the air this weekend, there is no shortage of bouquet bargains and surveys telling men what women want.

Put simply, money is no excuse for cynical men anymore as there are bargains aplenty.

Even the major chains have followed the discounters’ lead, offering a flowers and booze combo to keep your wallet and love life on an even keel.

Tesco is offering a dozen roses ranging from €3.99 to €39.99 with a bottle of Premier Cru champagne for €17.49.

Dunnes Stores has also got offers for the cheapskate lothario, offering a dozen roses from €3.99. Throw in a bottle of sparkling rosé for a snip at €9.99 and you have a romance-filled evening and change from a €20 note.

As always, Aldi and Lidl offer bargains but this year, their roses are a little more pricey. Aldi’s Valentine’s Red Rose Bouquet comes in at €14.99. However, a bottle of bubbly comes in a little cheaper than Tesco, with a special offer on Carlin Premier Cru Champagne also at €14.99.

Lidl is also beaten by Tesco and Dunnes with a dozen red roses ranging from €5.99 to €34.99 for the deluxe dozen grand prix bouquet. For the paupers out there, a single red rose is just €2.99.

For the career-conscious, doctors are apparently the most attractive profession on the market for singletons.

According to one of the countless surveys issued for St Valentine’s weekend, doctors top the poll with both men and women as the most desired professional for a date, at 24%.

Accountants were deemed the next attractive with 16% of the vote, closely followed teachers with 15%.

In a bit of good news for George Lee, politics was regarded as the least attractive profession.

The survey, carried out by Irish Jobs.ie also revealed that the Irish workforce are a romantic bunch, with 79% prepared to sacrifice their job for their relationship. However, unsurprisingly, men seem to have less of a romantic streak, with 30% saying they would ditch their partner for their job.

In another survey, Caroline Morahan was chosen by the nation’s males as the number one celebrity to date. Ms Morahan pipped news presenter Sharon Ní Bheoláin and model Rosanna Davidson in joint second place.

For the ladies, Colin Farrell was the predictable choice with Irish rugby star Rob Kearney in second place.

However, thankfully President Mary McAleese had a few sensible words for the loved up Irish when speaking about National Marriage Week, which falls this week.

“But when the chocolates are consumed and the roses wilting, there are 364 other days in the year when the stresses and strains of everyday life can test, stretch and challenge that mutual love,” she said.

A sobering thought when Monday rolls around.