Sometimes, when two people have been in a relationship together for a lot of years you can start taking each other for granted, and once that happens, I think that’s when the spark dies.
In the beginning, I think people generally make more of an effort to spend time doing things as a couple, but down the line, routine often takes over.
I think to keep the relationship strong, it is important to spend time together doing something fun, rather than just the day to day things. A lot of couples struggle with date nights, the most common reasons being time and money.
I think everyone wishes they had more time! But I also think if someone is important enough, you make time for them. Even if you only do a date night once a month, it’s something to look forward to.
The money one can be a bit more difficult. Often, the spare cash you do have left after the bills is ear marked for things other than fancy dinners, trips to the cinema and drinks out.
With that in mind, I have come up with a few ideas to keep the relationship fresh on a budget.
Have a Dinner Date – At Home
If you both enjoy going for meals, but find the budget doesn’t enjoy it much, recreate a dinner date at home.
Presumably you were going to eat dinner anyway, so there is no extra cost.
Dress up nice as though you were going to a restaurant, set the table, light a few candles, play some soft background music and open a bottle (or two) of wine.
The real beauty of this one is it doesn’t actually have to be a day. If one, or both, of you work daytimes, have a spa evening. Get the fluffy robes out and give each other facials, body scrubs and massages. Take it in turns to be the one getting the treatment, or dedicate two separate days to it, so each partner gets fully pampered one time.
I use the term theme night, but that may be the wrong word.
Do you have any shared hobbies? If, for example, you both enjoy painting, why not paint together. Or do some gardening together. Literally any hobby you both share. Even reading – rather than sitting in silence, choose some of your favourite books and read them aloud to each other.
Depending on where you want the night to go, you could make up silly voices for the characters and just have fun with it, or you could choose a Fifty Shades type scene.
This one can definitely be a lot of fun. You could choose board games, card games or video games.
Whichever you are both most into. A bit of friendly rivalry never hurt anyone. If one of you is a particularly bad loser, you might be best off going for the video game option and playing a game where you team up.
In between date nights, especially if you don’t have them very often, there are other ways to keep the romance alive.
Guys, buy her flowers or chocolates just because. Girls, do the same (you wanted equality right).
It never fails to amaze me how many of my female friends moan that their partners no longer buy them little things, yet when I ask if they buy things for their partners, they look at me like I’m crazy.
And last, but definitely not least, there’s the good old fashioned seduce the hell out of them.
Do you and your partner do things together to keep the spark alive? Any ideas to add to the list? Let me know in the comments 🙂
Great idea Debbie! i love them. I want to do a DiY spa with John. in fact we were just sent a product form a beauty company which i'm going to be using on him- it's more of a celulite/toxin lotion but it will be fun to do together in the home as i'm not the position to go out too often.
Angela xx
Thank you, I'm glad you liked them. That sounds like a fab idea for an at home spa, and I'm sure you two will have a lot of fun with your product 🙂 x
I really enjoyed reading this post! It's fantastic and it's cool how you always think of creative subjects to write about. Haha, I now want the OH to participate in a themed night – such fun! Grease or Dirty Dancing perhaps? Lol xx
Thank you 🙂 I think you should make him do both lol! x
Loving your "Relationship" theme. Another great post
Thanks for linking up with #ShowcaseTuesday
Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying it, it's really fun to write about too! Thanks for hosting 🙂
My husband and I were just talking about how we need a spa day! It'd be wonderful to just take a few hours to relax and enjoy some time together. Great list, Debbie! #sharewithme
Go for it, everyone deserves a bit of relaxation! Thank you 🙂
Stopping back from #positivelyposted! (And I'm still seriously considering the massage!!) xx 🙂
It's got to be done! x
Love your ideas Debbie. there's no need to leave the house to pay each other attention & love! Although, leaving the house is nice lol Visiting from #TheList x
Thank you 🙂 Yeah, its nice to get out as well! x
Love this – such a challenge for me and my husband. Very few people are brave enough to baby sit for our three kids! We did used to do a monthly at home date night but we have let it slide! I think I need to revive it!
Thank you 🙂 Lol, yeah I can imagine finding a babysitter to take on 3 at once could be quite difficult!
We regularly have date nights at home it is often the only time we can manage it around childcare, but we always try to make them really nice 🙂
#positivelyposted
There's a lot of fun to be had on at home date nights if you are willing to use your imagination 🙂
Great list here! Have not really been spending time ourselves alone, but my husband sometimes still buys me flowers, which is really nice. We do have board games too at home because when we were still sweethearts we used to love playing them, but it's now collecting dust. should put it out at some point… #SundayStars
Thank you 🙂 Now go get them board games out and have a reminisce 🙂
Love this! Dusting off the monopoly board as I type… Thank you! #TheList
Thank you 🙂 Have fun!
Fantastic ideas and I think its so important we all keep making an effort like this. Thank you so much for linking up to Share With Me #sharewithme
Thank you and thanks for hosting 🙂
Such great ideas and so important. We need to do much more of this! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
Thank you 🙂 It's not always easy to find the time, but I believe that by making the time for each other, your relationship becomes that much stronger. Thanks for hosting 🙂 x