My husband and I have just returned from the most relaxing and peaceful vacation we’ve had in a long time. My parents took our kids, and hubby and I were blissfully left home alone for six full days. Aside from the pleasures of sleeping in, drinking an entire cup of coffee while it’s still hot and eating whenever and whatever we wanted, one of the best parts of our week together is the fact that we barely spent any money.
Yet we feel refreshed, joyful and yes, in love. Maybe our affordable activities will inspire you to enjoy a cheap date night soon too.
Clean the House
Before you start groaning, I have to say that this was the highlight of our week. If your house looks anything like ours, you understand when I say that it needed some deep cleaning. Toys were scattered everywhere, play dough had found its way deep into the playroom carpeting and dust bunnies had invaded the space under the beds. We both felt stressed every time we walked in the door, so we decided to invest in our home and create some peace.
After turning on the radio, we spent a few hours de-cluttering, cleaning and freshening up our home. We ended the day by rearranging furniture in our living room, and the results of our hard work make us feel like we’re living in a new house. We laughed, talked and worked together to achieve a common goal, and that really made the day go faster, the work seem sweeter and the reward much more pleasant.
You can enjoy the same results even if you don’t want to deep clean. Instead, spend an evening decluttering the toy box, sorting books or raking leaves. Cleaning even one area of your home together gives you both a feeling of satisfaction, creates camaraderie and solidifies your partnership as you enjoy a few hours of together time at home.
Cook a Meal
I usually enjoy cooking homemade meals when the kids are home, but this week of vacation found us scraping leftovers out of the fridge just so we wouldn’t have to cook or spend money to eat out for every meal.
With all the leftovers and a few spices, we chopped veggies, sautéed meats and created a dish worthy of Michelin stars. Then, we poured a glass of wine, lit the candles and ate on the living room floor. That meal tasted delicious and saved us money, but the opportunity to spend time laughing and cooking in the kitchen before enjoying a romantic meal rivaled any fancy restaurant date.
Take a Drive
Our dating days often found us driving around the back country roads of our hometown. We both fondly remember those days of easy conversation and tender touches that somehow get lost in the shuffle of carpools, bills and life.
As a treat, we took one of those long drives this week. We revisited some of our dating haunts and snuck a few kisses along the way. The tension of daily life melted away as we drove the open roads. When we returned home, we felt carefree, relaxed and truly at peace with each other.
Date nights are all about rekindling the romance and reconnecting as a couple. You can make date nights a priority without breaking the bank, however. Simply look around for affordable entertainment. Maybe you won’t clean your house or take a drive on your next date night, but attend a free concert in a local park, tour a free art exhibit or simply take a walk around the block. You might be surprised at how connected you can feel without spending a dime.
Want to get ready for date night? Try this DIY Beauty Tip!
By Jen T. Free Stuff Finder Contributor
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