‘Tis the season to be jilted.

Americans are expected to shell out $1,007 on holiday gifts this year - and that hefty price tag is causing some people to question just what their relationship is really worth. A recent eHarmony U.K survey found that one in 10 Brits have broken up with a partner to avoid buying them a Christmas present, which the dating site has dubbed “Scrooging.” The moniker refers to the infamous miser in Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” and eHarmony notes that this decidedly bah humbug-behavior is common among 18 to 34-year-old men, in particular.

Urban Dictionary has also had “Scrooge dumped” on the books, defined as “when a boyfriend/girlfriend dumps you right before Christmas because they are too cheap or too uncommitted to buy you a Christmas present. It usually occurs between Thanksgiving and will last until February 14th (Valentine’s Day.)”

“My best friend is the perfect example of this; he’s literally breaking up with his boyfriend for the holidays so that he doesn’t have to spend money,” Dr. Cooper Lawrence, psychologist and author of “Been There, Done That, Kept The Jewelry,” told Moneyish. She explained that her BFF isn’t cheap; rather, he started dating a guy a couple of months ago who makes a lot more money than him, and he has been stressing about buying gifts for his beau, his beau’s parents, and his four brothers and sisters, who are probably expecting expensive presents.

“He had to really sit down and examine this relationship and where it was going, which he normally would not have done if it was not this time of year,” she said.

Licensed psychotherapist and relationship expert Stacy Kaiser said she also sees this with her clients at this time of year. “But often times it also relates to just not wanting to put in extra time, money or energy to someone who you think really doesn’t deserve to be around anymore,” she told Moneyish. “People who are feeling an expression of love generally don’t break up over gifts and the holiday season. However, sometimes expectations play a role in these break ups: A person thinks that they are expected to buy an expensive or generous or meaningful gift, and they are just not on the same page, so it becomes easier to just break up.”

Social media is also rife with singles bragging about dumping partners during the holiday season to not only skip presenting presents, but to also avoid awkward holiday gatherings with a guy or girl who may not still be in the picture by Valentine’s Day.

When Moneyish reached out to a couple of these men and women on social media, they replied that they were “just kidding.” But dating experts and counselors note that Christmas is often a curse upon unstable couples. After all, family court lawyers have long reported that divorce filings increase in January. In 2013, statisticians analyzed Facebook breakup posts from 2010 -- and saw a surges in the number of splits coming two weeks before Christmas, with Dec. 11 tagged as the most popular day of the year to get dumped. Plus, Match.com has found that 76% of singles say their relationships fell apart before, during or after the holidays.

“This is a time of year when people really start reflecting on who they are spending time with, and thinking about the rest of their lives, and what do I want for myseIf in 2019,” said Dr. Lawrence. “It’s like shining a spotlight on your relationship and asking: is this person valuable enough to spend your holiday time with? And money is a metaphor for how you feel about people. People are not cheap when it come to the heart.”

If the cost of gifts is adding up, Kaiser suggests having the awkward money talk head-on: Cap the gift-giving at a maximum amount, or exchange sentimental or handmade gifts instead of material ones purchased at the store. “If a person is discovering that they are unhappy and therefore do not want to buy a gift, then breaking up is actually the right thing to do instead of continuing to lead a person on into the new year,” she added. “But don’t just ghost a person you have been dating. Tell them that you’re not a good fit for each other; that you have too much other stuff going on to continue this relationship; or something else of that nature that isn’t blame-filled or harsh.”

And if you have been dumped this season, Dr. Lawrence notes that, “You dodged a bullet.

“If someone can’t afford gifts this year, or they think it’s too early, then just say that it’s too soon or you are struggling. It’s a stressful time; people get it,” she said. “If someone is not even willing to have the conversation with you, that’s a deal-breaker, anyway.”