You do not need a lot of Money to do Something Thoughtful!

One of the things that I hear so often from people is if I had more money then I could do more for my husband/wife. I am hear to tell you that you do not need money to do something thoughtful for your spouse. Something that I do for my husband just about everyday is to pour him a glass of sweet tea (his favorite drink) in his favorite glass and have it sitting on the counter for when he walks through the door from work every evening.

You can do it too...you know your spouse the best, you know the simple things they like, so surprising them with something simple will probably mean more to them than a hundred dollars! I know is does to me and my husband.

More Thrifty Date Night Ideas

When our children were small, one of my favorite things to do for my husband {and myself} was to make his favorite dessert or chocolate covered strawberries and eat them in the bedroom..after putting the children to bed!

I still make his favorite dessert---but it usually doesn't make it out of the kitchen....Our children turned into teenagers and I cannot hide "things" from them like I used to be able too!

Here are a few more free low-cost date night ideas:

::Enjoy a walk in a nice park

::Rent a movie from Redbox and pop some popcorn or Homemade pizza and Netflix

::Go to an Italian restaurant and split a dessert

::Picnic basket and a drive in movie

::Buy a Groupon and Living Social deal

::Go to Starbucks and play checkers

::Progressive dinner: appetizer at a restaurant, burger at burger king, and ice cream cone from sonic or Brusters.

::Drive to your favorite spot and watch the sun set---make sure you bring some food...cheese, grapes and your favorite drinks...Diet Dr. Pepper in my case!

::Picnic at  lake or go for a boat ride---maybe even paddle boats!

::Walking around a farmer's market or antique mall.

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Keeping the "R" in Romance

My husband and I will celebrate 19 years of marriage in a few months and I wanted to share some things that we do for each other that has kept that "R" in our romance.

I am sure there are a ton of other things that I can list but here are a few ways that we keep romance in our marriage.

1. Say I love you--say it, text it, email it

2. Kiss--we like to kiss, most people tend to kiss in the morning when leaving for work and when they get home from work, but do it unexpectedly like in the middle of a football game, before you put the kids down, at church, etc...

3. Write a love note and give to your spouse or stick a note in his/her lunch and tell them to have a great day.

4. Buy them a gift--something small, maybe his favorite chocolate and give it to him right before bed or stick it in his lunch bag with a little sticky note with words of encouragement, or better yet, write something steamy on it. My husband gave me 6 yellow roses a couple of nights ago, for no reason--other than he loves me.

5. Give your spouse a neck rub or back massage---or better yet a foot massage.

6. Have candles lit in the bedroom, and leave the electric lights off!

7. Prepare his favorite meal or dessert

8. Constantly surprise each other---you know your spouse best, so surprise them: out to dinner, do the dishes for them, overnight trip, take the kids to a baby sitters and spend the night alone, go shopping together, grab a coffee together, etc...this list can go on and on.

9. Hold hands--my husband and I still hold hands whether at home or out in public, when we sit by each other, he will always put his arm around me (until his arm falls asleep!) (OY!)

10. Forgive One Another and make up like there is no tomorrow!
*Early in our marriage my husband and I would sometimes argue over different things (yes, I know we were very immature), but "loved" making up afterwards. We do not argue anymore (there's no point in it), so every now and then one of us will say, "Want to go make up?"

How are some of the ways that you have kept the romance in your marriage? I would love to know...Leave a comment below.

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11 Thrifty Date Night Ideas

This picture was taken in 2011 at Pensacola Beach, the first "alone" trip we had been on since having children---we had lots of fun!

Those first few months or even years of marriage (with no children) are great in the romance department, but then the kids come along and you both get busier and honestly, you are worn out by the time you and your spouse see each other again in the evening...that's there little energy left for anything romantic---but is does not have to be this way!

Speaking from almost 20 years of being happily married, I am here to tell you that you have got to keep romance in the marriage; it doesn't matter if you are the wife or husband, from time to time just initiate...something.

Here's a list of thrifty ideas, that will not take much time or finances to help keep that romance going.

1. Turn the lights off, light some candles have a dance party in your living room and dance to your favorite songs from high school.

2. Sit on the roof and watch the sunset together.

3. Pack some cheese, crackers, grapes and your favorite old quilt and have a picnic on the lawn, or in the middle of your living room floor (after the kids are asleep!).

4. Get dressed up in your most formal clothes and go to the coffee shop as if you’ve just been to a gala.

5. Play board games and see who is the ultimate Hungry, Hungry Hippos champion.

6. Go on a hike---seeing my man all sweaty, and smelling like the outdoors is a big turn on for me--just keeping it real folks!

7. Make s’mores over candlelight.

8. Dress up and visit the museum on free admission night.

9. Go to the book store and look at travel books, and then plan your dream vacation.

10. Go to a new restaurant and split a decadent dessert.

11. Cuddle on the couch and reminisce about when you first started dating.

What are your thrifty ideas for keeping the romance going after years of marriage---leave your ideas in the comments section below.

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