We're all feeling the pinch of the recession, and we're all making cutbacks - but this doesn't mean that romance has to go out the window. You may not be able to afford to whisk her off to Barcelona for a weekend; you probably can't afford to pay for a golfing break in France for him - but there are hundreds of affordable - or even totally free - romantic things you can do for one another. Here are our Top 10 ideas for romance on a budget:
1. Create a Spa day at home. Every woman loves to be pampered at a Spa, but the cost of this can be astronomical. So why not create your very own treatment centre at home? Buy some inexpensive massage oils, read a book on technique (or find info on the web), and then spend a night massaging your loved one's aches away. The spa sauna can be replaced by a steaming bath, and you'll already have robes at home too!
2. Draw your loved one's portrait. Totally free, and totally romantic. Don't worry if you're not a budding Leonardo Da Vinci, as it's the effort that has gone into it that counts, not the final result. There are many guides available on how to draw a portrait - try Amazon, or just give Google a go. You'll be creating a masterpiece in no time.
3. Pen a poem. Poetry is timeless - a romantic cliché that really works. Don't think that it's just for women, either, as lots of men love receiving poems. It doesn't matter if the last time you wrote a few lines was when you wrote that limerick back at school - just sit down, think about what that special person really means to you, and write.
4. Take them back to the place you met. Now, if you happened to meet in the Penthouse of the 6-star hotel in Dubai, then this probably would break our budget - but if you met in the supermarket, in the park, or virtually anywhere else, this is a great, simple and inexpensive idea.
5. Create a treasure hunt. Bear with me on this, because it doesn't sound too romantic from the title, but it really is. Simply design a treasure hunt around your house - or, better still, combine it with the tip above and do it at the place you first met, or somewhere special to you both. With each clue, include a few words about how special he or she is to you, and make the final prize be...you!
6. Rent a special film. And by this I don't mean 'The Specialist' with Sharon Stone, I mean a movie that is special to you both in some way. Perhaps it was the film you saw on your first date, perhaps it contains 'your song' - whatever the reason, if it holds a special place in your heart, then a romantic night in front of the TV is a cheap and lovely idea.
7. Take a passport photo of yourself. And not just any passport photo - hold a sign that reads 'I Love You' in the photo booth. Present your loved one with this memento for them to carry in their wallet at all times - they're really romantic gifts for her or him.
8. Cook a romantic meal. Yes, this does happen to be perhaps the cliché of clichés, but it really is one of the best. It needn't be expensive, either, as sourcing some top quality ingredients is always a lot cheaper than a Michelin-starred hotel. OK, you may not be an award-wining chef, but as long as you have candlelight and your loved one, then the night will be perfect.
9. Surprise them at work. Turn up in their lunch hour, or just when they're about to finish for the day, and go for a walk or a small bite to eat. Not only will it be a surprise - which everyone loves - but it also shows that you love them so much you just can't keep away!
10. Write a love letter. Another timeless tip, and one that doesn't cost a dime. Simply get out your writing paper (remember that stuff?), your nicest pen, and write about how you feel. When it's done, you can either leave it on her pillow in the morning, send it to him at work, or present it to her yourself (perhaps with a rose in between your teeth too!).
~Alan Law
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