Mr. ModernTightwad and I were fortunate to celebrate our anniversary this past week, which brings up my favorite topic: Love, tightwad style!
In all honesty, we did not have the most frugal anniversary; we went to a moderately expensive restaurant that we have wanted to go to for our entire marriage, but we did use a coupon.
Love is a truly wonderful gift but it isn’t really free. Dating, marriage, all have a cost to the pocketbook, but creativity can mitigate a lot.
Many frugalists champion the “Love Coupon Book.” In all honesty, I’m not that big a fan. Not everyone (even in a relationship) like using coupons, and I’m prone to lose them. But the principle is still important: putting the other person first. Some things off the top of my head:
- Set up a picnic in your house.
- Set up a “Week of Dates” where you do one simple thing together each day.
- Take a camera to a park of local landmark and take pictures of each other.
- Write a list of the things that attracted you to or made you fall in love with the other person, and frame it.
Brainstorm with friends and family if you need.
THE NUMBER ONE, LEAST EXPENSIVE ROMANTIC TIP IS: BE ATTENTIVE!
It really is that simple. Oftentimes, whether you are reducing debt, concerned with whatever is going on around you economically, socially, or at work, we forget to check in and make sure the other person is okay. I never take for granted that my hubbin is my rock, and I never take for granted that my rock needs the foundation that we maintain. When we get overwhelmed or tired, we have a tendency to dump on the people closest to us because we believe they have to love us anyway. While love doesn’t have limits, the imperfect people we love may.
So tell someone you love how wonderful they are, that you recognize how much they are doing, and you appreciate them. It’s worth more than diamonds.
Photo courtesy of (kjunstorm)
