Romance tips to fit any budget

Who couldn’t use a few pointers on creating romance? Here at The Romance Place, we try to go beyond the obvious and give you real romance tips that will help you and your husband connect more deeply.

We’re as conscious of the recession as anyone, so we have arranged our romance tips into categories according to the budget you’re working with. Even if you have absolutely no money to spend, you’ll find tips here to create (or rekindle) romance. Please feel free to let us know what you think of the tips and ideas on this page; The Romance Place is always working to improve the quality of our content!

Budget Level: We have more month than money.

This evening, no matter how long your day has been, turn off the TV and put the laptop to sleep. Then spend your newfound free time telling your husband exactly why you fell in love with him in the first place—and what you love about him today.

Sincere, heartfelt compliments go a long way with some people. If your husband is one of those people, take advantage of this simple, free way to get those romantic feelings flowing. Often in the day-to-day grind of working and raising a family, we forget to compliment our spouses on the things we appreciate and admire about them.

For instance, is your husband a great dad? Does he look hot in his work clothes? Can he cook the best meal you ever ate? And husbands, what about your wife? Is she still beautiful to you? Are you amazed at how she works AND creates a loving home for you and your children? Does she work hard to stay healthy and active? Whatever you admire about your spouse, consciously take the time today to let him or her know.

Last time we checked, a loving massage was still free. Tonight when your husband lies down to go to sleep, gently massage his back, neck, scalp, shoulders—or wherever you know he could use a loving touch. It doesn’t have to be sexual (although it certainly can be); the goal is just to show you care and you’re willing to put a little work into making your husband feel good.

Get cooking! Even if you’re just making a pot of spaghetti, you can still create a romantic meal. Set the table with candles and any fresh flowers you have in the yard; use the good china; put on soft music. Include wine if you have some available. Make a dessert—even fresh fruit can seem special if you serve it in a pretty bowl. Remember: Romance does not require extravagance. It simply requires the desire to shower someone with love.

Work up a sweat. In addition to the obvious benefits working out together offers, you’ll find it pumps up the romance in your marriage as much as it tones your bodies. Plus, a gym membership isn’t necessary. As long as you have a road or trail to walk, run or bike on, you have the opportunity to get fit. Together.

Do good together. If you're not already volunteering your time to a cause you support, consider doing so as a couple. Aside from the popular soup kitchen and food bank volunteer opportunities, you'll find worthy organizations in need of help everywhere. Love animals? Help out at the Humane Society or a horse rescue operation. Feel strongly about giving disadvantaged kids a better chance? Volunteer with a literacy program reading to children. There are all kinds of nonprofits working to better the world--and they could all use the help of dedicated volunteers. Make it a goal as a couple to provide that help.

Budget Level: We have a little (a very little) money to play with.

Go out for a drink. Meet your husband after work at a bar or restaurant and sit together over your favorite drink. Conversation should flow naturally once you’re in a comfortable setting. If alcohol isn’t your thing, arrange your coffee break to coincide with your husband’s and connect during the workday. You’ll both enjoy looking forward to your mini-date, and that break from the ordinary is sure to put a smile on your face.

Take a drive. When was the last time you and your husband got away for the day to explore the world around you? Maybe you can only pay the babysitter for a couple of hours, but that’s plenty of time to find a nearby hiking trail or a town where you can stroll and talk. Have a few extra bucks? Stop for lunch. Counting pennies? Pack a picnic.

Bring home a book of love poems—Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Emily Dickinson, Pablo Neruda and Robert Browning (as well as many others) wrote timeless, lyrical poetry about love and romance. Read their work as a couple. You can’t help but feel some of the romance that inspired the greats.

Husbands: Go for traditional romance with chocolate and flowers. But don’t do the clichéd dozen roses or showy bouquet: instead, go to the flower shop and choose one perfect flower—a fragrant Stargazer lily, a delicate orchid, a single stem of larkspur—and pair it with two chocolate truffles from the local candy store. Include a note that lets your wife know you’d love to pamper her tonight, and let the romance begin.

Budget Level: Romance is a line item in our budget.

If you haven’t done anything special in awhile but have some money saved for travel or entertainment, why not plan a surprise weekend getaway? Many hotels are offering discounts now, and you can find great deals online at sites like Priceline.com, especially if you don’t mind booking a hotel without knowing exactly which property it is. (You can specify you want only four-star hotels, for example, which cuts down the risk of accidentally winding up in a dive.) Plus, just about every hotel and inn offers a romance or honeymoon package.

Put together a romantic gift basket for your husband, but don’t fill it with generic food or bath-and-body products. Make it personal and find items representative of your history as a couple. Did you meet in college? Tuck in a t-shirt from your alma mater. Did you spend a glorious weekend at the beach? Include a vial of sand or a shell bracelet. Maybe you spent your honeymoon backpacking in an isolated wilderness: Add a compass or a freeze-dried ice cream sandwich. If you’re parents, put in framed photos of your children (or frame their artwork!). The point is not to end up with an elegant basket of meaningless stuff, but to create a fun and loving trip down the memory lane of your unique romance.

Go out for dessert. You may go out for dinner and a movie from time to time, but odds are you go out for a decadent dessert much less often. Find a dessert bistro or a cozy restaurant with a romantic atmosphere, and share a slice of cheesecake or a luscious chocolate dessert. Linger over your treat, savoring the company and indulging in some stimulating conversation.

Go to the theatre—the kind where you can see a play or listen to the symphony. Getting dressed up and spending an evening steeped in the arts has a romance all its own.

Budget Level: Money is no object! Let's splurge.

Spend a week in one of the world’s great romantic places—Paris, Tahiti, Venice, Cyprus, England’s Cotswolds, the Bavarian region of Germany—or in a lesser-known (read: less crowded) romantic place, like the Cook Islands, the Seychelles or even Nicaragua’s León or Corn Islands. Pull out all the stops, with his-and-hers spa treatments, champagne breakfasts or a private cabana on the beach.

Rent a small piloted plane for the morning and see the sunrise from high above your city. Once the brilliant pinks give way to the blue sky of day, continue touring your region from the air.

Pack a gourmet picnic. Forego sandwiches in favor of truffles, shrimp cocktail (on ice), antipasto, smoked salmon or baked Brie with fruit. Include a bottle of your favorite wine or champagne or a non-alcoholic drink. If you really want to bring the romance (and luxury), arrange a flautist, violinist or harpist to provide romantic background music for your private al fresco meal.

We hope you’ve found something in these ideas to inspire your own romantic endeavors. Feel free to pull from our tips to create the perfect romantic experience for you and your husband. And be creative—romance is nothing if not personal.