A Great Date with Your Spouse
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A dozen roses. Dinner at a dimly-lit restaurant. A weekend at a Victorian bed and breakfast. My husband has given me all of these things at one time or another over our 18 years together—in fact, we have a tradition of getting away for each anniversary, and that usually entails at least one night at a romantic inn.
But at times in our marriage these big-ticket romantic gestures were just not possible. A few years ago we were flat broke. We were both unemployed and living solely from what we'd tucked away in our checking and savings accounts. Each month, as I subtracted in our checkbook register—never adding a thing—the quivering pit in my stomach grew. Especially as our anniversary approached.
I realize it was selfish even to think about bed and breakfasts at a time like that—as my girls each rotated three outfits for school, and we dressed extra warm in the house to avoid jacking up the furnace. Still, I wondered how we'd manage to make the day feel special.
The morning of our anniversary, I awoke with a heaviness in my chest, saddened that things had to be so different this year, and fearful of how long this uncertainty was going to last.
When I went to wash my face, I found something odd sitting on my hand towel. It was a tiny white scroll, tied with red satin ribbon. I slipped off the ribbon and unrolled it, holding my breath.
On the scroll, in a fancy, cursive font from our computer, were the words to one of my favorite love poems. It was written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning to her husband, Robert. Only the pronouns had been changed so that it was meant for me.
I couldn't rush down the stairs fast enough to find my man and shower him with my grateful, affectionate tears. He didn't spend a cent on that anniversary gift. But it was, quite literally, priceless.
In times of economic hardship, it's easy to think that we have to discard or at least suspend our attempts to pursue romance with our spouses. But the challenges can force us into a level of creativity that was lacking before. While I'm not one to turn down a dinner at my favorite Greek restaurant, it certainly doesn't take a whole lot of imagination to put that evening together.
Here are some ideas for romantic evenings that are either free or nearly free.
1. Location, location, location.
You don't have to go to a restaurant to make your dinner romantic. Do you have a porch, a sunroom, or even a little space in front of your fireplace? How about shoving some sofas around and clearing a place in the middle of your apartment's living room? Grab a little patio table and throw a cloth over it (or throw the cloth on the floor with some pillows!), and serve dinner there—by candlelight, of course. Add a favorite CD and some flowers or greenery from your yard. Better yet: don't tell your spouse you're planning this—just have it ready when he or she arrives home from work or running errands.
Related Topics:
date night, Dating, Food, Frugal, Fun, Romance
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Average User Rating:
Maxine
An excellent article. All great ideas for keeping romance in marriage and helping readers to feel encouraged. Not only can good times continue but there is no need to feel defeated if the money is in short supply.
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