| Have an amazing anniversary on-the-cheap with these | | | | collect offers for free samples, merchandise and other |
| tips | | | | stuff. Check out free offer sites online and other deal |
| How many times have you taken your sweetheart out | | | | hubs, and put together a gift basket of free lotions |
| for a night on the town, only to realize the next day | | | | & skincare products you know your significant |
| that you'll be paying for it for months? It's tempting to | | | | other will love. "It's the thought that counts," was never |
| go all-out for special occasions like anniversaries, but | | | | truer than on your special day. |
| you can treat the one you love to a very romantic | | | | Frugal Dining |
| evening for less than you'd think. Here are tons of | | | | The candlelit dinner for 2 remains an integral part of |
| cheap and free activities and presents to get you | | | | the equation. Remember all those fancy dishes you |
| started! | | | | never use that are just collecting dust in the cabinet? |
| A New Romantic Hypothesis | | | | Grab them and whip up a creative culinary concoction. |
| First off, it's time to face the facts: A flower bouquet is | | | | If kitchen skills aren't on your resume, prepare an |
| unimaginative. I mean, it's a bunch of dead plants! This | | | | elegant meal of grilled cheese sandwiches (with a few |
| just won't cut it anymore, unless you're trying to say | | | | potato chips on the side to up the class factor, of |
| something like, "Here honey, have a token of my love | | | | course). Sprinkle a dozen cheap floating |
| and appreciation: beautiful red roses that will look | | | | candles;around the dinner table and you've got the |
| pretty and hopefully smell decent for approximately 18 | | | | recipe for a delicious meal. |
| hours before fading and drooping ... stems you'll feel | | | | Enticing Entertainment |
| obligated to keep on your desk far longer than you | | | | How does one celebrate an anniversary without |
| should because you know they cost me more than | | | | spending tons of money on going to a show or event? |
| our last dinner out, only to trash them exactly 4 days | | | | Watch your wedding video together (or hey, make a |
| later -- probably a few hours after they really start | | | | new home movie). Seriously, what's more romantic |
| rotting. Sigh -- isn't it romantic?" | | | | than a quiet evening at home reviewing your vows of |
| Sarcasm aside, it's time to redefine romance. How | | | | commitment to each other? Top off the program by |
| about some everlasting roses made with your very | | | | rewriting and renewing them. (You don't have to be a |
| own hands? (This will likely require a little sweat, too, | | | | poet, just sincere!) |
| which - frankly -- will mean a lot more than your | | | | Another idea is to start an anniversary tradition by |
| last-minute jaunt to the florist.) Go ahead, commit to | | | | planning a photo shoot that captures who you are as |
| making a dozen of them. Any old paper will do. Deliver | | | | a couple the 1st, 2nd, 3rd ... 33rd year you've been |
| them with a personalized love letter and you've | | | | together. Digital cameras make this an easy (and free) |
| concocted a potion for a perfect anniversary | | | | project. Do it at home, or photograph yourselves at |
| celebration. | | | | some of your favorite places. If you don't have a |
| If you're not the crafty type, home made gift cards | | | | camera with a timer, recruit a friend for this portion of |
| and coupons are another frugal gift. You can also DIY | | | | the evening. Just spend an hour taking silly pictures |
| by making a big stack of love coupons or a | | | | together. Have fun, dance, laugh, kiss. If they turn out |
| mini-scrapbook of how you met. Burn a CD of your | | | | terrible, you can always hit the delete button. |
| favorite love songs. Wrap yourself in a bow with | | | | You could also rent popular movies from the years |
| some chocolate and whipped cream. Make a collage | | | | each of you were born or the year you got together. |
| of things you've done together over the years | | | | Or take a walk after dark. Stargaze. Spend time |
| (invitations and mementos, concert ticket stubs, a | | | | talking and relaxing. Turn off your cell phones and |
| branch from that tree you planted together ... clean out | | | | computers and revel in each other. |
| the junk drawers and other collection areas of your | | | | These are just a few inventive ideas to help you save |
| house for good fodder for this project). | | | | money while you celebrate. And they all go to show |
| The point is, it's not the money you spend on a present | | | | that you can keep your wallet in your pocket (after all, |
| that makes an anniversary romantic -- it's the time, | | | | isn't that what Mom always said to do?) and make |
| thought and effort you put into each element of the | | | | memories that last a lifetime. |
| evening. There are tons of Websites out there that | | | | |