Special Things to do with Loved One that don't cost the earth

**Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)** · 4th July 2006, 08:57

You would like to show the person in your life that you really care, but a large gift and a night out on the town is simply impossible.

Don't despair - there are many things you can do with very little money, a bit of effort and lots of imagination.

Things that will make you look like a real romantic - maybe even more so than champagne, red roses and an expensive night out.

Here's a list of great ideas.

Trinket triumph. Go to a bead shop where you can buy lovely beads with which to make a necklace or bracelet.

Light up her life. Make a special candle. A packet of plain white candles don't cost much and everything else you need you will probably have in the house, string, for example. Look on the internet for definite instructions on how to go about this.

Become a card carrier. Make a little set of redeemable cards on which you offer your time and effort. Write things like:
• feeding your cat when you go on a business trip
• giving a half hour massage, a dinner voucher (when the finances have improved)
• running five errands
• washing up when it is not my turn
• sex even if I am really tired
• inviting your parents for lunch.

Get romantic. Write a poem yourself, or photocopy a collection of your favourite love poems and put them in a cardboard folder tied with a red ribbon.

Plan an original evening out.Get moving. Drive somewhere beautiful and watch the sun set. It is still summer after all and even if you're not close to a beach, there are beautiful places all over the country.

Go potty. Paint an old plant pot in a bright enamel paint and repot a plant from your garden. And don't forget that markets can sometimes be the source of some of the best cacti, succulents, and gifts in general. Click here to read more about markets in New Zealand.

What's cooking? Invite your loved one for a home-cooked meal and really cook it yourself. You do not have to spend a fortune on ingredients. Roast chicken and vegetables will be more than adequate. Use candles and red ribbons to decorate the table.

Free concerts. Find out if there are free or low-cost outside concerts anywhere.

The DVD evening. Rent a really romantic video - not a tear jerker, but a real feelgooder.

Sandy shores. A picnic on the beach with wine, rolls and chocolate should not cost you an arm and a leg. Make sure you pick an extra sunny day with shelter from wind.

Go back to your roots. Go back to the place where you met. This is always a romantic thing to do, unless you met on a factory floor or a queue at the traffic department.

Massage!

Have loads of fun!

**Crisis management** · 4th July 2006, 09:37

Has my wife been talking to you???
I remembered our anniversary and her birthday and you want more!

I am not metro sexual, Im a male! It's a female conspiracy, RUN...

**placidfemme** · 4th July 2006, 09:39

Some of those tips are really kewl...

**Sniper** · 4th July 2006, 09:41

Jesus, and I thought buying her a diamond would work and now there is more to do?

**scumdog** · 4th July 2006, 09:42

Is that a hint to 'somebody' that ya need a little lovin'??

**sels1** · 4th July 2006, 09:49

Originally Posted by Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)

. Drive somewhere beautiful and watch the sun set. It is still summer after all

Dont worry blokes, I think this idea has time expired already.....

**buellbabe** · 4th July 2006, 09:53

Hey those are all pretty great... my Ex wrote the most incredible poetry for me and even wrote a song for me... sigh! I was putty in his hands... shame he turned out to be a pyscho control freak!

**Big Dave** · 4th July 2006, 09:56

I rate a healthy exchange or body fluids above the rest of the above.

Not being flippant - but I find some of those suggestions a turn off - fortunately, so would my wife. And some of the things we already do.

If I tried giving her beads or a voucher she would throw them at me.

**Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)** · 4th July 2006, 10:44

This was a blurb from xtra. It made me laugh cos some of the suggestions were a bit crazy, it also reminded me of when I gave a list to the ex husband on something similar (when I was with him) - total waste of time. I have since learnt to accept people, places and things exactly as they are!!

**Macktheknife** · 4th July 2006, 10:58

Group hug!
Bah humbug, all this mushy sentimentalism is bad for my masculine digestion, I'm off to have a good old fashioned fart and burp session!

**buellbabe** · 4th July 2006, 10:58

well some people might say "what alot of rubbish" but i believe its not so much WHAT ya do so long as you both make the effort to make each other feel special... it doesn't take much and it DOESN'T have to cost anything!

**Big Dave** · 4th July 2006, 11:07

Originally Posted by Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)

This was a blurb from xtra. It made me laugh cos some of the suggestions were a bit crazy, it also reminded me of when I gave a list to the ex husband on something similar (when I was with him) - total waste of time. I have since learnt to accept people, places and things exactly as they are!!

Thanks for not taking it the wrong way.

Co-pilot and I are closing in on our 24th Anniversary - we've never had to 'work' at our relationship - it's always just happened naturally from the moment we met.

And I began stalking her.

**Pwalo** · 4th July 2006, 11:13

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Thanks for not taking it the wrong way.

Co-pilot and I are closing in on our 24th Anniversary - we've never had to 'work' at our relationship - it's always just happened naturally from the moment we met.

And I began stalking her.

I'm with you on that Dave. The 'Missus' and I are approaching our 26th Anniversary, and I have a feeling that she'd view any such shennanigans witht the correct degree of disbelief and incredulity.