Why am I posting today about frugal and thrifty romance? Well, I’ll tell you!
Last week, Mr. Donovan got laid off after 13 years with the same company. Neither of us knew it was coming. It certainly wasn’t about performance: he’s a great copywriter, copy editor, and proofreader, besides being literally the nicest person anyone has ever met.
I can’t say I’m that worried. We’re not only resourceful, but naturally lucky. When there’s a big change in our lives, it always winds up working to our favor. I don’t know why, but that’s just the way it is.
Naturally, we’re cutting way back on our spending. And that’s what led to this list!
Everyone who knows this blog knows I love making lists. I started sharing the writing lists I made for myself, but I make them for other parts of my life, too. I hope this one be helpful for stay-at-home moms or dads or for anyone on a tight budget.
I have no problem with spending way less money, but I would have a problem with having less fun and romance. Fortunately, one doesn’t have to lead to the other. Mr. Donovan is funny, smart, romantic, interesting, and kind, so just spending uninterrupted time with him is always going good.
I am working on my plans to make 2018 my Best Year Yet, and one of my resolutions is going to be to enjoy a romantic date every week with Mr. Donovan. So that’s why I thought a list of 52 ideas would be helpful.
Here they are! Pin it now for ongoing romantic inspiration.
1. Take a long walk in a park or on a nature trail.
This is one of our favorite things in the world to do. In Kansas City, we might go to Powell Gardens, one of the nature preserves, the new park opening up next to us in the spring…there are a lot of options.
2. Go to a matinee movie.
3. Give each other massages.
There are all kinds of instructional YouTube videos. Now, I’m going to be honest: there’s a 100% chance that the “massage” portion of this date gives way to something else fairly quickly.
4. Holiday date: go look at Christmas lights.
5. Take in the view of the city.
In most cities, there are places you can go to take in the skyline. Here in Kansas City, there’s the observation deck at City Hall. We keep meaning to go!
6. Play gin rummy.
We did this a lot when we were first married. Actually, right before we got engaged, we played a game at a café in Venice Beach. I told the waiter, “He won,” and he said, “Looks like you both won.” 🙂
7. Play Scrabble.
We’re both writers. We both love words. So of course, we like playing this. And yet, we haven’t played in years! We lost some of the tiles to our old game, and we need to get a new one.
8. Do a puzzle and listen to an audiobook together.
I feel like you’re going to make fun of me for this one, but I would really enjoy it, so shut up. 🙂 Actually, I have the nicest regular blog readers in the entire world, so you probably won’t make fun of me.
9. Go to cheap museums.
The beautiful, world-class Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City is free. (I believe the Hall family, the owners of Hallmark Cards and related companies, gives the museum a ton of money.) The Kemper Museum of Art, founded by the Kemper family? Also free! Of course, we’d never go without donating something. In other cities, even museums that aren’t free often have free days.
I love your writing lists but I love this one even more. Have fun on all your dates. Best of luck to Mr. Donovan in whatever his future may hold.
Oh, thank you, Anne! I’m glad you liked it, and I appreciate the good wishes. 🙂
Kudos. This post brings back memories of how my husband and I made it through doc school raising six kids. We would do a free friday night wine tasting at our local wine store, then go grocery shopping and make dinner together. The only problem was that our six year old ended up becoming an expert on wine!!!
Lol, Marilyn. Sounds a lot like my ten-year-old…he’ll listen to conversations that my husband and I have and try to chime in, sounding like a 40-year old. We tell him to go be a kid. 🙂
That’s hilarious! I love this story.
After forty years of marriage, we are experts on cheap dates. We did a silly Valentines adventure that our kids couldn’t believe. First, we went to Walmart, picked out a couple Valentine cards, handed them to each other to read, then put them back on the shelf. From there, we went to Stover’s Candy store. My husband picked out some free samples for me to try. I think he even picked some wildflowers (which I love) and made a bouquet for me. Then we went to Sam’s Club for all the tasty demonstration samples. That was our appetizer course. After that, we went home where I cooked a Valentine’s dinner for my sweet hubby. We ate it sitting in front of a romantic Netflix movie.
Were we shameless in our frugality? You bet, but it was fun. We have photos to back it up.
We have a great time just being together. If you both have a sense of humor, you can find fun anywhere.
That’s so lovely, Bonnie! If my husband and I get to 40 years (there’s a bit of an age gap between us, but it’s possible!), I hope we’ll be doing sweet things like this. 🙂 The best fun is often just sharing the moment with your significant other.
Don’t discount it, Lisa. I’ve lived long enough to know that all kinds of miracles happen. Best wishes for a long and wonderful marriage.
Thank you, Bonnie! 🙂
Bonnie, this really made me smile. 🙂 You sound like a wonderful couple. Congratulations on 40 years!
Thank you, Bryn. We do have fun together.?
Great ideas. Best wishes to Mr. Donovan and you on the way forward.
Aw thanks, Earl! I appreciate the good wishes.
Love the ideas here, Bryn! In lieu of dates, my husband and I have resorted to 3-4 coffees on the deck per day, staring out at the mountains in the distance and re-connecting with each other in between him renovating and me writing. I love spending time with him and still get that little shiver when I look at him after almost 15 years of marriage. Having kids puts a serious damper on romantic activity – but then again, we have managed 4 of the little stinkers…lol They’re getting older, and we’re hoping when they can stay home alone, the two of us will be able to get out more often for a date-like event. That’s the biggest problem with: 1.) living literally 2 hours from anywhere that passes for a city, and 2.) having no family or close friends anywhere remotely nearby to help with babysitting. Oh well…we knew that when we moved here, and we’re happier than we’ve been for a few years. 🙂
Best of everything to you and Mr. Donovan! A shake-up like this can turn into a great opportunity to do something exciting that one wouldn’t otherwise do.
Hi, Lisa! That actually sounds wonderful. I love the mountains…I know every place one lives has its drawbacks, as you say, but still. I dream of living in a place like that someday! I’m glad you guys are happy there, too.
I totally agree that a shakeup can turn into a great opportunity. Thanks so much for the good wishes.
Love these!! We’ve actually done a number of them.
Loved this list. My hubby (of 54 years) and I have tried many of these across the years. Our latest version of a making a playlist together was to dust off the old vinyl records and only play vinyl records (no tv) while he worked on his puzzle and I played DJ playing our favorite rock music as well as love songs from the 60s, and 70s in our early years together. Best wishes to you and Mr. Donovan.