NEW YORK (AP) — With Valentine’s Day less than three weeks away, it’s time to start planning what you want to buy your loved ones. Whether it’s chocolates, flowers or something else special, a big expression of love doesn’t have to come with a big price tag.

In 2012, the average person celebrating Valentine’s Day shelled out $126.03, up 8.5 percent over 2011, according to the National Retail Federation’s poll of shoppers conducted by research company BIGinsight. That was the highest level of spending in the survey’s 10-year history.