The other day I proposed that marriages could actually benefit from recession. To start us off on the right-thinking foot, I proposed giving thanks for what we have right now. (Mainly, each other and any time we spend together, because that’s precious in and of itself.) Sometimes it just takes looking at all the good we enjoy to realize everything else isn’t as bad as it seems.
However, I also hinted that I’d explore other ways a recession could benefit marriage. After giving the matter some thought, I’ve come up with some date night ideas. Ones that use the recession as an excuse for spending more time together in creative, romantic ways. Who knew cost-cutting could have so many benefits?
We’ll start with dinner…
Back to the Basics: Dinner at Home
When was the last time you ate at home? I know when I was a paralegal and worked outside the home, Wayne and I ate out five or six nights a week. After a long day at work the last thing I wanted to do was cook, and Wayne sure wasn’t going to do it.
Cooking became a necessity, though, when we decided to pare down to Wayne’s one income. Whether you find yourself in a similar situation due to a layoff, or even one day by choice as Wayne and I did, cooking doesn’t have to be grueling. Actually, it can be fun. On top of economical. And the sky’s the limit for together-time and romantic opportunities.
Candles always come to mind, but you don’t need them. Sitting around the table’s good too, but watching TV together can actually inspire more conversation. Working together in the kitchen, be it to prepare the meal, to clean up, or both serve dual purposes: it decreases chore time while increasing your together time.
Below are some suggestions for easy dinner at home ideas found in the Food Blog:
Chicken Cutlets in Sweet Basil Cream Sauce
Impress Your Guests with Stuffed Chicken Cutlets
Week Night Menu: Pasta Pomodoro and Stuffed Garlic Bread
Back to the Basics: Picnic It
When was the last time you went on a picnic? Picnics are perfect for people who don’t like to cook. All you need is some bread, meat, maybe cheese, fruit, veggies, crackers or chips, plus drinks, and you’re set to go. Heck, you can just take those items as is and do a build-your-own kind of thing. (Which might be fun watching what your spouse does and does not put on their sandwich. Conversation starter!)
And, sure, you can do the blanket spread across the grass in the park with the food in a fancy picnic basket. However, if you don’t have those items, don’t think your picnic will be any less perfect. (Remember, there is no such thing as perfect anyway.)
Also, if the weather’s too cold for the park, picnic in your living room. Have you ever even done that? If not, what a great thing to try! (For this one you might want to spread a blanket –old is fine– on the floor and cozy up together in front of either the coffee table or the fireplace. That might help set the ambience from just a standard dinner at home to picnic-ish tone.)
If you want to save money on gas instead of driving to the park, picnic in your backyard.
Whether at home or not, packing the food is key. That’s what makes a picnic a picnic!
In addition to sandwich fare, here’s some picnic take along accompaniments that I also found in the Food Blog:
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