Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Frugal Dates for Couples… continued



Do Some Charity Work Together

Find a charity you both feel passionate about and find out how you can help. This September my husband and I volunteered for the California Coastal Cleanup Day. We worked at picking up trash at our favorite beach for 3 hours. We both felt really good about the work we did, we got some good exercise, we had three hours together to talk and we met some really nice people. It was all good. It is something we can’t wait to do again and we can’t wait to do it together. Some places online to find out where to volunteer are, http://www.zimbio.com/go/http:/national.unitedway.org/myuw, http://www.networkforgood.org/, http://www.volunteer.gov/ and http://www.charityguide.org/.


Have a Date at Home

Swap babysitting with a friend, family member or neighbor and get the kids out of the house for the evening, if you’re a parent that is a very great start. Some ideas I can think of for a date at home are to watch a movie you both love, have a quiet, romantic dinner, play some games, even watch your favorite show together without any interruptions, give each other massages, anything.
My favorite idea for a romantic date night at home starts with a really nice fire in the fireplace. Then move your mattress in front of the fireplace and make it up with your best bedding and spray a little bit of your favorite cologne or perfume on the sheets and pillows. If you have a few nice flowers in your yard cut them and put them in a little vase or even some small glasses. If you don’t have any flowers in your yard you can usually find fresh flowers at the grocery store for around $5.00. Turn the lights down low. Put on some great music. And let the fun begin!

Monday, March 9, 2009


Entertainment ideas for couples:

Have a Romantic Picnic Under a Tree at Your Favorite Park

Pack something to drink, a lunch and romantic snacks like chocolate covered strawberries or even grapes. Bring some romantic music and lie on a soft warm blanket and just enjoy the each other’s company.


Park With Your Sweetie in a Romantic, Secluded Spot and Make Out in the Back Seat (or wherever is comfy)

If you can’t get a babysitter even your garage is fine (just be sure to bring the baby monitor in case your kids need you and keep the engine off!). It is free and might bring back that old fire in your relationship. If not, it is still not a bad way to spend the evening. It is someplace very private where you can talk or just sit together and hold hands and where you don’t have to worry about interruptions or little ears hearing something they probably shouldn’t. Some nice things to bring to make the time more comfy and fun; a pillow, blanket, some light munchies to feed to each other if you get hungry like fruit or some nice chocolate and some great music.

Grab Some Culture

Many art galleries, museums and theatres across the country have free and discounted days monthly. This is a great opportunity to appreciate great art and culture in your area. Colleges in your area are also a great place to listen to fantastic music and watch wonderful plays. A little research will help your money go farther.


Go Out for Ice Cream

On Tuesday Nights from 6pm-9pm the Ice Cream Store, Baskin Robbins (31 Flavors) has $1.00 a scoop Tuesdays. You can also sign up for their Birthday Club on their website at http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Default.aspx and get a free scoop on your B-Day!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Fun and Frugal Entertainment Ideas for Couples!


Sometimes it is the simple things that mean so much. Having quiet time together where you can talk and just have fun will bring you closer and feel more satisfying than a lavish, expensive dinner at a fancy restaurant. It is simply having time as a couple that is so precious and so meaningful and those times together don’t have to mean spending a bunch of money. I know so many couples who fight over money and who have real financial troubles because they thought it was important to “spoil” themselves in order to feel like they had a good date or a quality weekend together. You can create romance and fun anywhere. I know it might be hard not to go out on lavish dates at first but just go simple and inexpensive a few times and I know you will end up loving it! Here are some of my ideas for that all important couple time.

Go for a Walk
Hold hands like you did when you were dating. Take a rest on a bench under a tree. It is good exercise, gives you time to talk and reconnect and reminds you how it was when it was just the two of you were just the two of you, and you were happy learning about each other and it is free.

Take in a Movie
Go to a bargain matinee. Sneak in some grocery store bought candy and a drink (go ahead and be bad, it feels good sometimes). It will feel like a nice treat and you will spend half as much as you would spend buying regular priced tickets and movie theatre treats and still have as much fun if not more.


Go on a Day Trip
Go somewhere new or to your favorite destination, it is up to you. Another fun idea is to let one of you plan the destination but don’t tell your sweetie where you’re going, let it be a surprise, there are so few of those in life. Just give them an idea of how to dress and what they should bring because no one likes to be caught unprepared, especially women, then go! This can be a good exercise for couples in letting go and trusting your partner.
When getting ready pack up plenty of soft drinks, a lunch and some of your favorite driving treats that you purchased at the grocery store instead of the gas station or stopping at a restaurant (you can save a lot of money by thinking ahead). The only costs you will incur is gas, day use fees if you are going to a State or County park (you can sometimes save that fee if you park in an area just outside the park entrance and hike in).
More Money Saving Ideas to Come...

Monday, February 16, 2009

Living Frugally is Always an Adventure!!

When you are living on a budget it is easy to feel sorry for yourself and get bogged down by what you can’t afford to do. But there are so many ways to have fun while living frugally!




In this blog I will give you some creative suggestions to save money while still enjoying the people and activities you enjoyed before you decided to join the adventure of living frugally!!


By living frugally you can:

  • Improve your bank account
  • Decrease your stress level by spending less and saving money
  • Spend more time with family and friends
  • Get some extra exercise and fresh air by doing more outdoor activities
  • Feel good about the choices you are making and the life you are living

The options are endless let’s have fun living frugally together!