I’m going to be straight with you. Trying to be romantic on a tight budget is hard work and at times it feels impossible. I don't know about you but I feel that the person I love is worth that time and effort.
As I mentioned in a previous post I am unemployed, so my boyfriend is paying all our bills. As a result our budget is really tight and with his birthday coming up I was feeling like I was letting him down. Going through the 5 stages of grief because I had no financial way of getting him a present. I started thinking of something I could do for him that wouldn’t cost us too much money but would make his day special.
The first thought I had was that of a romantic dinner for two. Fortunately Daniel loves my cooking and I am able to have a romantic evening at home with him.
A while back I gave him love coupons (it's a coupon with favors that are romantic, sexy and general) and told him that he was allowed to pick 3 as a birthday gift without the need to use the coupon. He went through all of them and gave me his choices, one of his choices was a romantic dinner for 2 and massage session. I also started going through our music to create a playlist of songs that reminded me of him to play in the background while we have dinner and for after.
Deciding on a budget, the meal I decided to make for him is Lasagna (his favorite meal) and Cheese cake.
So a few things to know about Daniel. He is Not a big fan of wine and because he has sensitive teeth he also does not like chocolate or anything that is too sweet. (Keep things like that in mind if you decide to do something like this)
A few tips to consider when preparing a night like this
Tip 1
When making love coupons consider things that you would enjoy as a couple as well as things your partner would enjoy as an individual. Keep in mind that these coupons needs to be realistic so unless you can afford it a night in Paris is not an option. Also keep in mind that these coupons don't necessarily need to be something that costs money.
Tip 2
If you choose to cook dinner yourself, make sure that you choose something your partner would enjoy that you are comfortable making, this will release stress on the day and you will have less chance of something going wrong.
Tip 3
Keep in mind what your partner would enjoy for dessert. To make it more romantic choose something you can share as a couple. Feeding each other chocolate covered strawberries or a slice of chocolate cake (this is a great option if you are not the best chef as you can buy it). If your partner is not one to share and you are okay in the kitchen, consider making something that is almost impossible to mess up and doesn't necessarily need to be shared e.g. peppermint crisp tart or ice cream sundae. This way you won’t get into trouble for using his spoon…
Tip 4
When choosing what to drink with dinner consider what your partner enjoys which will compliment your meal. If your partner does not like wine, get a bottle of sparkling grape juice to set the mood. If he is a beer guy, make sure you have a few in the fridge. (nobody likes a warm beer)
Tip 5
Get dressed up, or dressed down, whatever you know your partner would appreciate. You could also mix this up. Get dressed in something nice and later that evening get dressed into something more comfortable.
Tip 6
Do something after the main course, dance around the living room or go on a scavenger hunt for romantic notes. This will set a great mood for dessert and you will end up spending more time together.
Tip 7
If your partner chooses to have a massage after dinner, heat up the oil or cream while they get comfortable, freezing them beforehand does not improve the experience. The best way to heat oil is to put hot water in a basin and immerse the bottle under water for at least 5 min. Have candles in the bedroom or room where the massage will take place to set a relaxed mood. Your partner may choose to take a bath after, run a hot tub with bath salts and leave it to cool while you massage your partner. The bath should be the perfect temperature once your done.
Tip 8
Have fun and don't rush things. Life is too short and you only have small moments to show someone you love them.
If things don’t go as planned don’t freak out. Go with the flow it will definitely make your partner more relaxed and it will be a night you both will remember. Good luck
