When your relationship’s lagging and
you’re wondering if your partner finds you interesting,
there’s no better way to reignite the spark than by building
new memories. Memories are a powerful antidote when boredom threatens
your closest relationship. But how to form great memories when
financial pressures loom? Here are ten inexpensive ways to create
precious memories with your partner.
1. Travel on a Budget: You may not be able to spend
a month in Italy, but it’s still possible to find travel
bargains if you try. Commit together to a vacation budget and challenge
each other to find fun things to do that don’t involve wild
spending. It’s freeing to know your trip won’t
cause financial pain back home, and the memory of your guilt-free fun
will linger.
2. Lend a Helping Hand: Sharing the experience of
volunteering brings couples closer, and also makes for some awesome
memories. Choose a cause you both believe in and offer your time and
talents. No fair simply writing a check! Give yourselves something to
remember, and help someone else while you’re at it, by
running in a charity marathon, building homes for the needy, serving
meals to the homeless, or becoming youth mentors. Whatever you do, find
a way to do it together.
3. Take Some Risks Today! Escape the relationship
doldrums by encouraging each other to do something out of character.
Taking little risks can add zing to a partnership. We’re not
just talking about hang gliding in tandem here; it could be something
as simple as wearing more colorful clothes, trying exotic cuisine, or
going somewhere different on vacation - perhaps a
romantic
cruise vacation. You just might have fun, and
you’ll have great memories to smile over!
4. Tag Team for Bargains: There’s almost
nothing more dangerous to a relationship than financial troubles. If
you’re constantly stressed about money, why not commit
together to get your finances back on track? Write a budget, and then
challenge each other to find new ways to save money. Become a
bargain-shopping tag team, negotiating great deals together. What a
great thing to look back on as a couple—the day you said
goodbye to debt!
5. Backyard Camping for Adults: Who says only the
kids can have fun setting up tents in the backyard? Persuade your
partner to set up camp just outside the back door and turn the night
into an adventure. Break out the air mattresses and sleeping bags, cook
hotdogs on the backyard grill and watch the stars come out while lying
on a blanket. Who cares if the neighbors think you’re crazy?
It’s cheap, it’s easy to plan and there’s
definite romantic potential in sleeping under the stars.
We’ll wager Mom & Dad’s campouts become
part of your family’s favorite memories!
6. Discover the Joy of Movement: Here’s
something to consider: couples who get fit together enjoy more
intimacy. If you can’t afford a gym membership, put on your
walking shoes or dig those bicycles out of the garage. A brisk ride
together each morning will help you see each other differently. Get a
move on…great memories are out there waiting!
7. Become Joined at the Spirit: There are few
things more deeply intimate than a shared spiritual experience. Explore
your spiritual dimensions together by attending worship, praying,
meditating or reading spiritual writings. Doing so can add depth to
your relationship, give you cherished memories of new insights shared
and help develop a spiritual base for dealing with life’s
difficulties.
8. Plant New Memories: On an earthier note, why not
discover your inner gardener working side-by-side in the soil?
Gardening need not be expensive or take up much space. Even couples
living in apartments can learn the joy of tomatoes picked from pots on
the balcony. Choose a few things to try and look online for the best
ways to grow them. Grow some wonderful memories by learning to garden
together.
9. Invest in Each Other: Even in today’s
insane economy, there are smart ways to invest. Consider joining a
local investment club together or spend some time learning about the
stock market. Set up an account that’s just for fun and
decide to spend part of your profits on each other. There’s
no need to start big, simply set aside a little each month in your
budget and watch your investments grow together.
10. Learn the Art of Silliness: Ever wish you could
lose your inhibitions? Learning to unleash some silliness can be
healing, not to mention fun! It doesn’t cost anything to
build fond memories of silly times as a couple. Make silly faces, sing
in the car together (even better if it’s off-key!), grab your
partner’s hand and run through the parking lot to the mall.
Give silly gifts for no reason and share jokes you’ve heard
at work. Send a cartoon to her iPhone; anything that makes your partner
laugh. Heal your hearts and strengthen your bonds by sharing humor
often.
Growing a lifetime of memories needn’t cost much money.
Explore new ways to tighten the bonds with your partner. It’s
an investment you’ll be glad you made.
About the Author: Publisher of
A1-Discount-Cruises.com,
Brian A Schmidt and his wife Carol live in a small community in
Southwestern Ontario Canada. They love taking vacations on the
magnificent
cruise
ships, building their online business and spending time with
their grown children, Danielle, Cory, and Todd and their four
grand-children. Married for thirty-four years, Brian also enjoys
woodworking, gardening and renovation.
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