There are benefits to being in a relationship, but you may have to pay for them.  A new survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education and YourTango.com found that 70 percent of people spent an extra $600 a year while in a relationship.

Gift0giving has become part of relationships. (Fuse, ThinkStock)
Gift0giving has become part of relationships. (Fuse, ThinkStock)
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More than one in seven shelled out more than $3,600 annually on their significant other for things like restaurant visits and shopping sprees. Men were more likely to do so more often than women.

"Gifts are the language of love and they are a way to show, rather than tell, how you feel about the other person," said Dr. Martin Tashman, marriage and family counselor. "Unfortunately, I see a lot of infidelity among couples and part of it is because their lives become boring and they take each other for granted. Gifts are a nice way to let your significant other know you are thinking about them."

According to the survey, 89 percent of those who have been in a relationship say they spend monthly on things like dining out, entertainment, gifts, clothes, travel and personal services because they are in a relationship. Nearly half, or 45 percent, spend at least $100 or more a month on such things with men more likely to do so than women -- 57 percent versus 35 percent respectively.

Men are more likely than women to spend more when in a relationship on experiences (47 percent versus 35 percent) and things for their significant other (42 percent versus 28 percent). Women are more likely than men to spend on themselves for things like personal care, gym memberships and cosmetics when in a relationship.

There are good gifts and bad gifts. A good gift is either something of substance that you know your partner has always wanted or it is one of feeling that you know would make your partner feel cared about.

"Those kinds of things make relationships last. They break the routine. It's not because it's Christmas or a birthday. It's because you're thinking about that person on the check out line or when you're walking by a store. It's saying you really love this person and while you may tell them all the time, by buying them something, it shows them that you've thought enough about them to tell them you aren't taking them for granted," Tashman said.

Bad gifts are ones that do not take any thought.

"A bad gift is one that is purchased to either keep the other person quiet or one that is purchased with the idea of 'I bought you this gift so now you owe me,'" Tashman said. "If you have a choice, find a good experience like a mini vacation, somewhere to go, even dinner. It doesn't have to be a special place, just something that gives you time to talk with one another. The experience is great, because it's something that you remember and share together."

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